Welcome back! In Part 1 of this post, I explained five of the life lessons I've learned from riding my bike:
Few things give you the simple freedom and joy you get from riding a bike. Having ridden thousands of miles, I can attest that cruising down the road is good for your body and mind. Riding a bicycle allows you to see the world in a new light – both the scenery around you and your own thoughts.
I’ve been a fan of City Market Coffee House since 2007 and it just keeps getting better. Built on a love and appreciation for good coffee beans, the folks at City Market Coffee House don’t do anything 'just because' or without considering the quality and source of their products.
My husband and I love camping. It’s not uncommon for one of us to text the other on a Friday afternoon with the message, “Camp tonight?” and within minutes we’ll decide to make it happen. We’ve become super efficient at packing up my truck and grabbing some Local Pig, beer and firewood on the way out of town.
Longboards Wraps and Bowls is hopping every time I go there, and with good reason. They aren’t messing around with their made-to-order Hawaiian- and Asian-inspired wraps and bowls. Follow them on Facebook and you'll see what I mean - pots of simmering goodness, crazy specials and legions of fans. Not only is the food super yummo, the atmosphere transports you to an island with no problems, mon. And who doesn't want to visit an island over their lunch break?
Cinder Block Brewery is aptly named after the founder's home brewing passion: what was once a small operation out of a cinderblock basement is now a top-of-the-line craft-beer establishment in North Kansas City. And it’s not just the quality beer that makes this place worth the trip. The open space allows for a full view of their beer-brewing operations, while big windows and a rustic bar give it a cozy feel that make you want to stay and hang out for awhile.
Kale chips are at the top of my list of favorite snacks. They are crunchy and addicting and super healthy. Kale is chock full of fiber, iron, vitamins K, C and A, antioxidants and calcium, so you really can't go wrong.
Long rides are sort of an initiation into the biking community. While bikers are generally friendly people, you get to a new level of cool when you can boast of your painful hours in the saddle, riding 50, 75 or 100 miles (or more for the real crazies). Working your way up to these long rides is challenging and intimidating, but can also be very rewarding. If you want to hear my story, you can read about my first century in my post, "My Love Affair With Bikes: The Beginning"
It wasn’t very long ago that the thought of a road trip made me kinda nauseous. Why would anyone want to sit in a car for hours on end… all I could think about was the boredom (dun dun dunnnnn).
Quay (pronounced 'key') Coffee is a destination for excellent coffee. Quay is not just another coffee shop; they care about the beans, the farmers, the process and the customer. Their passion for quality lends them the patience to do things right and you can taste it in every delightful drink they serve.