Trail Magic
In 2009 I was a sedentary being with an ever expanding waistline. I decided to do something about it and hopped on my bike for some exercise. I could barely get up the driveway. This had to change.
By 2011 I was training for one of the toughest mountain bike races in the world, the Tour Divide which spans across three countries. On 2013 I embarked on this race and suffice to say, it was indeed tough. What got me through it was a lot of preparation, mental fortitude but more importantly, trail magic. The amazing hearts of people I met along my journey kept me going when I was at my worst. When I got finished with the race I wrote a book about these amazing people I met who provided trail magic along the way.
And the Art of Soft Pedaling
Soft pedaling? What!? What is that? Why do it? And how do I master it? The short answer is “read the book.”
The long answer is an ongoing inside joke told throughout the story about how I kept going and going…which was essentially to softly move my legs and pedal easily so as to not burn through precious reserves of energy.
Soft pedaling through the Tour Divide allowed me to finish fourth place in a race covering 2,853 miles without obliterating my legs.
The secret to six pack abs and other myths
You can Google “Six Pack Abs” and you’ll get a slew of sights telling you they have the secret if you buy their book, dvd, webinar, seminar or food plan. I thought I’d give you their secret here: It’s a myth.
Okay, so maybe it’s not a complete myth but the thing is your vital organs are located all around your stomach area and that’s why you get fat there first, your body is trying to protect your organs (ain’t biology kah-razy!?).
Get the book!
Paperback
The paperback version is a standard book size (6×9 inches) and contains many images (black and white inside book) from the art inspired by the Divide and illustrated by Scott Thigpen. It has a full color cover and is in black and white. You can pick it up from the online distributor Lulu.com by clicking here.
Hardback
Hello book snobs! If you simply cannot read a book unless it has a foil embossed title on the spine of it’s hard cover and a dust jacket with full color art on it, then this is option for you! The book (same layout as the paperback, black and white interior – including the images) will bound in a beautiful hardcover format complete with a jacket to keep your book oh so warm during the colder parts written in the story (and yes, there’s some rather cold moments in there!). To pick this version up, also head on over to Lulu.com by clicking here.
eBook
Using Amazon’s Kindle app (or native Kindle tablet) you are able to read Trail Magic on your Apple, Android or Windows based phone or tablet. The eBook of Trail Magic comes with full color images, links to take you directly to information and instant free revisions that will contain photos from the race. For more information, click here.
The Story
Now available!
Much like the unsupported Tour Divide race itself, I (and the help of some very awesome volunteers) did everything on this book making it a truly independent project. The writing, illustrating and marketing was all done by me. The editing was by the help of some very special volunteers one including my awesome wife, Kate. When you purchase the book, you’re truly supporting an individual and not a mass media company who’s main focus is “market research to make the most money.”
That said, since it was an independent effort there may be some rough edges here or there. The book may have a few formatting issues or you might find a typo. If you do, please contact me in the social media buttons below.