After Struggling With His Mental Health, This Cyclist Found Freedom and Peace Through Bikepacking

My dad first taught me how to ride a bike sometime around 1995. When it was time for the training wheels to come off, I had a good bit of difficulty, and pleaded with him to let me ride with training wheels for the rest of my life and it wouldn’t be a big deal. Fortunately, he didn’t give up on teaching me, and helped me learn my first lesson about cycling that has carried over into today: “Don’t give up when the going gets tough.” I continued to cycle for years, and once I was in my teens, in the Boy Scouts, I did my first bikepacking trip. This was not exactly the self-supported type of trip that I am used to these days. We had a trailer follow us with supplies and gear—but it still offered a real sense of adventure. I was just a teenager, and I was riding my bike over 200 miles in a few days to complete the C&O Canal Towpath (a trail that stretches from Maryland to Washington D.C.), camping along the way. This was my first introduction to the true freedom and pure joy that cycling could bring me—and things were only getting started. I knew I needed more of this, and it was just a matter of time before I could become completely immersed in it. Fast forward a bit to when I became incredibly passionate about cycling, which was about five years ago. I had been cycling on and off throughout the years, but it was around this time that it became part of my identity. I purchased my first “real” bike (that wasn’t from K-Mart), and started kicking things off. [View in Browser]( [Bicycling]( [SHOP]( [EXCLUSIVE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [After Struggling With His Mental Health, This Cyclist Found Freedom and Peace Through Bikepacking]( [After Struggling With His Mental Health, This Cyclist Found Freedom and Peace Through Bikepacking]( My dad first taught me how to ride a bike sometime around 1995. When it was time for the training wheels to come off, I had a good bit of difficulty, and pleaded with him to let me ride with training wheels for the rest of my life and it wouldn’t be a big deal. Fortunately, he didn’t give up on teaching me, and helped me learn my first lesson about cycling that has carried over into today: “Don’t give up when the going gets tough.” I continued to cycle for years, and once I was in my teens, in the Boy Scouts, I did my first bikepacking trip. This was not exactly the self-supported type of trip that I am used to these days. We had a trailer follow us with supplies and gear—but it still offered a real sense of adventure. I was just a teenager, and I was riding my bike over 200 miles in a few days to complete the C&O Canal Towpath (a trail that stretches from Maryland to Washington D.C.), camping along the way. This was my first introduction to the true freedom and pure joy that cycling could bring me—and things were only getting started. I knew I needed more of this, and it was just a matter of time before I could become completely immersed in it. Fast forward a bit to when I became incredibly passionate about cycling, which was about five years ago. I had been cycling on and off throughout the years, but it was around this time that it became part of my identity. I purchased my first “real” bike (that wasn’t from K-Mart), and started kicking things off. [Read More](   [Your Muscles Will Thank You for Taking Advantage of This 20% Off Hypervolt Massage Gun Deal]( [Your Muscles Will Thank You for Taking Advantage of This 20% Off Hypervolt Massage Gun Deal]( Score 20% off for a limited time and find out for yourself why so many professional athletes love the brand's massagers. [Read More](     [An Arrest Warrant Has Been Issued for Mo Wilson's Killer—Here’s What We Know]( [An Arrest Warrant Has Been Issued for Mo Wilson's Killer—Here’s What We Know]( The Austin Police Department issued an arrest warrant for Kaitlin Armstrong, Colin Strickland’s partner. [Read More](   [Cycling Gear Is Up to 30% Off During REI’s Annual Memorial Day Sale Going On Now]( [Cycling Gear Is Up to 30% Off During REI’s Annual Memorial Day Sale Going On Now]( Save up to 30% on expert-recommended cycling gear, apparel, accessories, tools, bikes, and more now through Memorial Day. [Read More](     [The Best Bike Jerseys for Any Type of Cyclist]( [The Best Bike Jerseys for Any Type of Cyclist]( Stay cool, comfortable, and dry no matter where your ride takes you. [Read More](   [Spending Time in Nature Influences Your Food Choices, Says a New Study]( [Spending Time in Nature Influences Your Food Choices, Says a New Study]( Here's one more pay-off of getting fresh air on your next ride. [Read More](   [Discover a No-B.S. 3-week meal plan to pack on serious muscle mass.]( Follow Us [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Notice/Notice at Collection]( Bicycling.com ©2022 Hearst Magazines, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019