New bike, new perspectives, new adventures.

Well, today I picked up my new bike: a 2009 Gary Fisher Paragon. The bike is a (somewhat early) graduation/Christmas present from my parents. Unfortunately, I had to work all day and I won't have the time to take it on the trails until Sunday. It's absolutely killing me to wait. Right now the bike count stands at 4, but that won't last for long: now that I have a proper offroad bike the hybrid will be kicked to the curb. After an extremely lengthy fitting (over 75 minutes; are all bike fittings this lengthy, or just the ones that involve girls?) I feel prepared to take on the world on this bike. Or at least the lower peninsula of Michigan. Ok, maybe a little bit of the upper part too.

While I was at work daydreaming about riding my new bike, I met a pretty cool customer. Turns out he owns (or at least manages) a switchgrass ethanol plant. Switchgrass is a better source of ethanol than corn because it takes far less energy to reach the end product. I learned a lot about switchgrass today—I had no idea it was being used as an alternative source for ethanol. We talked for a while about the earth, sustainable systems, politics, and the nature of the American auto industry. It was refreshing.

By now most of you know I've applied to take part in an expedition to Isle Royale with a research team to study the predator/prey relationship between wolves and moose on the island. The island is about nine miles wide and forty-five miles long, located in the northwest area of Lake Superior up near Canada. It's incredibly remote and home to the longest continuous study on predators and prey in the world. If I get accepted, it will be a week in August full of hard backpacking in serious backcountry, observing nature and collecting moose bones to bring back to Michigan Tech to study. I'm crazy excited. Wish me luck!

Photo from www.isleroyalewolf.org

What does a girl do when she's sick and it's raining?

Go mountain biking, of course.

For the past couple days I've had my hands on a 2009 Gary Fisher Superfly. It's carbon. It's got 29" wheels. And I'm pretty much in love. Unfortunately, I've also been sick with a cold, and it's been raining just about nonstop since Thursday morning. We're also in the midst of fall, which means the trails are carpeted in red, orange, and yellow foliage. This has brought me to the following conclusions:

1. I don't dislike mountain biking in the rain nearly as much as I dislike road riding in the rain.
2. In fact, I barely even notice the rain offroad.
3. A combination of mountain biking and tomato soup may not cure a cold, but it makes it a lot more bearable.
4. Wet leaves on top of gooey mud makes for a slick surface.
5. Very slick.
6. Fall colors are pretty much the best thing ever.

It's been a while—since my now-famous side injury—since I've hit the dirt instead of the pavement. In that time, I've lost about 15 pounds and gained a lot of muscle. And I've gotten a lot faster. (Well, "lot" being subjective in my case.) On my road bike, I've been averaging 17-19 mph. I could really feel a difference on the trail—I won't attribute the extra speed entirely to myself, I know the carbon 29er made a pretty big difference too. Those factors combined, and it makes for one of my best rides ever.

The bike. Gorgeous, right?

Aptly named the yellow trail

More beautiful fall colors

One thing I know now for sure: mountain biking, Iron and Wine on repeat, and the steady rhythm of rain takes me to my zen place.

Making a difference

Yesterday while walking down the street I passed a beggar. The lady was thin and frail, African American, probably sixty years old. I looked down and kept walking. But for some reason, after I got a half block down the street, I stopped and turned around.

I gave her my last cash, six dollars. She jumped up and hugged me. Hugged me as if she'd known me for years, as if I was her next of kin. She started to cry and thanked me. I saw her buy a pizza with the money, and the experience made my heart happier than it's been in a long time. It brought me to the conclusion that I'm not doing enough to help those in need, and that now is the time to start making a difference.

This experience also highlighted a moral dilemma I've been struggling with the last year. Most of you know that I work at a large retail store. I am a "Sales Consultant," which essentially means that my job is to eek money out of people wherever I see an opening. I convince people to want things they don't need, and persuade them they have the means to acquire it. Don't have the cash to buy this DSLR? That's okay, we have financing for that. Scared of dropping your phone? Don't worry, we can debit $15 out of your checking account every month just in case something happens to it. Why get the $600 laptop? This Mac that costs $1200 does so much more.

I feel I am personally responsible for people's debt. Sure, it's easy to argue the customer could just say no, but anyone who's been a salesperson knows there are ways to overcome any objection. I am making a difference in people's lives, but a negative one. I am fueling the consumerism that plagues our culture, and I want to stop. I can't stand walking into work. I can't stand taking people's money. It is making me sick.

I want a job that is virtuous. I am searching, and hopefully with my BFA it will be a little easier.

Introductions

Let me introduce myself—my name is Carrie, and I am a cyclist. That is probably the most important thing you need to know about me.

Just kidding, there's a lot more to it than that. As of this precise moment, I am a graduating senior at Michigan State University. In a few short weeks I will have obtained a piece of paper saying something along the lines of "Bachelors of Fine Arts" in great big blackletter type. I am a graphic designer, which means not only do I actually know what blackletter type is, but also that I despise it. I care a lot about the world and how we treat it. I care even more about the people in it and how we treat each other.

I enjoy exploring tangents and asking questions. I want to make a difference. I want this blog to be a place where I can talk about things that are important to me. Specifically: bikes, design, the environment, books, music, community, and politics. Hopefully those things are as interesting to you as they are to me.

So, there you have it. That just about sums me up for now.