And the Why

I rode my bike last week (just shy of) 600 miles from San Francisco to San Diego. Okay okay, yes for those of you paying close attention, I forewent the final push from Los Angeles to San Diego and instead rode the Nosco Ride with some great friends who I consider family, in honor of Mike Nosco who was killed on a bike a dozen years ago. It was a moving inspirational day, and so cool to wrap up the riding portion of this trip with such a great group of people.That entire five day trip was a blast, ahem, minus the first day when the wind was blasting in our faces and the rain was coming down in a piercing fashion, but truth be told, the trip was never meant to be solely self-serving. You see, I was due in San Diego for a home build over the weekend with the group Hope Sports. Guy East started this group after he found his cycling career was frequently taking away more than it was giving back. It was an honorable exit from cycling, and he's stayed well tied in with the cycling crowd and lots of his former friends, colleagues, and teammates. Based in Rosarito, Mexico this group brings together athletes who want to also give back.It's easy to say that we're generous with our time as professional athletes. That we help promote the sport, develop wellness, endorse beneficial change for the world. Those are all uplifting truths, but another reality of any sport is that they're often an all-consuming endeavor. For success we need to focus on our individual needs. Our time is precious, training and intervals immediately segue to necessary recovery and proper relaxation so that when it's time to perform we can focus deeply within ourselves excel. Me, me, me, I, I, I, need, need, need.Another stark reality is this:This family doesn't know about the critical one hour window for optimal post-exercise glycogen uptake. They don't complain about the additional price tacked onto flying with a bicycle, nor do they know what's wonderful about a ceramic bearing, nor how much of a bummer it is to hit a bump and double flat. Admittedly, all important things from a particular perspective, but not the kind of stuff that should dictate one's mood in a day. A house burning down -- a home, all of one's possessions, in a set of circumstances where insurance was never even an option -- that's the stuff of importance.So a group of professional/elite/retired/up and coming/Olympic/international athletes came together...We were given tools, materials, and a specific set of instructions to step-by-step build a home. (Step one Ted, don't cut through the power cord with the power saw. Check!)Walls went up...Other walls went up. Conveniently, four in total...The family worked right along side us to ensure that they were intricately involved in building their future...I measured some stuff, got on a ladder, then borrowed Audley's herculean strength and height to help secure the upper walls into place...We were as stoked with our handiwork as I was to not get punched by this heavyweight gold medal Olympian...And the house took shape!Just as this entire group came together and a home took shape.Door to door, it was 1pm Friday until 11am Monday. And to be honest, this trip was served up on a silver platter to us. We were safe and well taken care of throughout the weekend, and we all had an incredible time. With a handful of our athlete build crew on a return 2nd, 3rd, 4th trip, they explained time and again that we would get more out of the trip than we were giving to this family in the form of a home. That turns out to be the unequivocal truth.I know I'm already back to a contemporary reality that includes lots of bike riding, worldly trips, fun events, and plenty of time with friends on two wheels. Perspectives change thanks to an experience like this. Step by step, without a whole lot of knowledge in how to build a house, gosh darn it, we built a house. Step by step, we can put a house together and we can make the world a better place. It takes a bit of time and a step out of one's comfort zone, but it's so uplifting and so worth it.I have some pretty incredible sponsors that allow me to do some pretty incredible things. I know I'm blessed and to them I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Additionally, I thank the sponsors of this weekend. Hope Sports, More Than Sport, Athletes in Action, Homes of Hope, all the builders, Guy and Todd for their persistence, and this incredibly loving family for making this weekend a reality. May it not be just the weekend.