Exploring the Globe with camera in hand, math in head
I’m a mathematician, at least by education. The process of becoming a mathematician has not always been easy: all too often, when others learn what I like to spend my time studying, I am greeted with the phrase, “Oh…so you’re one of those people.”
Yes, I am one of those people. I’m one of those people who like to do math for the sake of doing math, and can’t really explain why. But on a deeper level, I’m one of those people who seek to understand the meaning of things, who enjoys discovery of new ideas, and who isn’t afraid to get into it with someone over what the truth really is.
Maybe that’s why I like cycling so much. Growing up, I always enjoyed the feeling of the wind in my hair, the thrill of going fast enough to know it would hurt if I fell, and that awesome (but not completely in the best interest of the tires) way of locking the coaster brake and skidding to a stop. But most of all, I enjoyed the freedom that my bike gave me: I could explore. My bike gave enabled me to discover new things about my neighborhood, and to get to places that were too far to walk but inaccessible by car. I loved to just get out and ride, not necessarily with any particular goal in mind, but just to do it.
Now that I’m older, cycling is still a big part of my life, but I find that I don’t have as much time to get out and find new and great places like I used to. It is in that spirit of adventure that I am starting this blog. I will be conscientiously making time to ride around Orange County for at least 8 hours each week, and posting my experiences here. I hope that by actively documenting my experiences as I explore the county in which I now live, I can inspire others to get outside and see what their town/city/country has to offer to those willing to explore. Sometimes I’ll go out with a destination in mind, while other times I will simply push my bike out the front door and see where it takes me. I’ll take a camera wherever I go, and on this blog I will provide route information, photos of my favorite places and people I meet on the way. I also would like to begin riding to work a few days a week, so my posts will sometimes highlight the pros and cons of commuting via bicycle. And as often as I can, I’ll incorporate some math into my writings; whether it’s a discussion of optimum gear ratios or a simple calculation of the distance I’ve ridden, I’ll do my best to integrate my mathematical passion into this blog.
I currently own a decent road bike, but I think my perfect companion on this journey would be a simple, light bike that doesn’t take itself too seriously but is still able to get up to speed in the event I feel a little daring. I want a bike that is durable enough for unkempt paths and the occasional pothole, but doesn’t feel like a tank, and I don’t need all the race-oriented components of a road bike. It seems to me that a fixed-gear bike fits that bill pretty well; specifically, I’m talking about the Globe Roll. It’s sleek yet subtle, and it’s clear that Specialized/Globe put some good time into creating this bike. Although I’ve never ridden a Roll (in fact, I’ve never ridden a fixed-gear bike at all), I can’t help but think that it is the adult version of the bike I loved as a kid: easy to maintain, simple to use, and designed to just go.
As I embark on this project, my hope for this blog is that anyone who reads it will make it a goal to become “one of those people” who enjoy discovery, and that they would choose their bike to accompany them in that process.