Category: cycling

I’m fully vaccinated

On By Rick McIn cycling, ethics, government, health & fitness, hiking, travelLeave a comment

😀 Send me ALL the vaccine passports.

I got dose #1 of “Covishield”, the Indian version of Oxford–AstraZeneca, March 18th. NO — I’m not worried about blood clots.

I was in the first 7.76% of Canadians to get jabbed.

When Alberta started allowing the second dose of AstraZeneca after only 4 weeks, I signed up. Got jab #2 on April 16th.

Sounds like Vaccine Passports are a terrible idea.

But it’s inevitable that something like this will become required for international travel for many months. Or years.

My 1st SERIOUS Tripod

On By Rick McIn cycling, hiking, product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

The MeFOTO RoadTrip Air. Weight 2.5 lbs (1.1 kg)

It get’s well deserved GREAT REVIEWS.

I got the RoadTrip rather than the Backpacker — even though it’s a half pound heavier — mainly for the superior ballhead.

Details.

I’ll use this day-to-day at home. And on bikepacking trips.

Won’t likely carry it on long hikes because of weight, though the detachable selfie stick is an option.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Looks great. But — in reality — I use my Fotopro uFO 2 tripod 90% of the time.

I like it better than the GorillaPods I’ve used. You can attach to things more reliably.

And it’s only .5 lbs (227 gm)

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Paparoa Track, cycling New Zealand

On By Rick McIn cycling, travelLeave a comment

The Paparoa Track is officially New Zealand’s 10th GREAT WALK.

They really bungled that designation as one of the walks is actually a paddle.

Looks awesome for mountain biking.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

shooting vertical videos

On By Rick McIn cycling, videoLeave a comment

An old dog, I much prefer landscape videos.

But the whole generation who started with TikTok feel portrait is normal.

As an experiment, I shot and edited one VERT video.

YouTube is soon to launch a TikTok competitor called “Shorts”, but it hasn’t happened yet.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I HATE Running

On By Rick McIn cycling, health & fitness, hikingLeave a comment

But days are too short in November – January in Canada to do multi-day hiking or cycling trips. I’m stuck with it.

Semi-rad

Right now I’m alternating:

  • Runs up to an hour. Up to 10km.
  • Stairs series
  • 100m sprint intervals

For runs I head off from home towards my favourite park. Turn around at the half way point in time / distance.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

RELATED:

Click PLAY or watch running Parksville in the Spring on YouTube. Flowers!

Click PLAY or watch running Bermuda on YouTube.

Happy March 193rd

On By Rick McIn about Rick, cycling, hiking, McCharles familyLeave a comment

#ManPlansGodLaughs

I had big plans for 2020. All postponed.

Instead I’ve spent most of the year in small town Parksville B.C. at my parent’s home. All is well with me and family. We have had very few COVID positive cases in this part of Canada. Almost everything is open.

We’re staying safe as possible in these troubling times.

Since March I’ve made about 15 overnight bikepacking trips. And now feel very confident in this new-to-me hobby.

cycling Vancouver to Calgary 2020

As days grow short I’ll cycle less, run more. Add more playground conditioning. Add basketball. Perhaps add Golf.

I’d hoped to get to Nepal for November. But they can’t get the virus under control.

I’m now looking at Hawaii.

Stay safe.