The Comeback
June 4th, 2023
Support the Movement @ www.rideforbuffalocampaign.org
When I envision a trip east, from the Willamette Valley across the high desert to the Wind River Reservation and beyond, my heart was filled with excitement, lust for adventure, and a belief that cycling could be meaningful outside of my own need for speed and cathartic rhythm. Rosy-eyed, with dreams of wild Buffalo, the plan slowly became a reality as I bumbled through website creation, networking, and an increased training load over a 6 month period. Every step of the way I seemed to struggle, bogged down by big life changes but fully invested in the moment, caught up in the adversity of it all
I relish doing many different things. Challenging myself. Pushing through discomfort. As an obsessive young man, I put all my eggs in one basket and focused my energy on being the best cyclist I could possibly be. The mental and physical battle of attrition, the speed, the flow, the freedom, the metaphor, the addiction, the suffering. It would take me around the world and expose me to so many cultures, but ultimately I to confront some harsh realities. In a lot of ways, my life has been punctuated by chronic pain and it was no longer possible to ignore.
After the 2014 racing season ended, I was crushed and unsure about the future. Stubborn as always and refusing to give up, I began searching elsewhere for fulfillment, excitement, and adversity - something racing had always provided. My ego and selfishness as an athlete and privileged young man became blantantly apparent. It was time for more.
After years of searching, this defiant resilience and relentless passion led me to one of the most iconic symbols of grit the world has ever seen: The Great American Buffalo. Once spread across North America in the millions, Buffalo were reduced to a few hundred, only to be brought back from the brink of extinction by those who believed in BIG DREAMS of RESPECT… But the fight would continue and the battle is far from over. The disappearance of Buffalo would coincide with systemic oppression, political divide, agricultural commodification, a urban sprawl. This revitalization provides a catalyst for healing of the Land and its People. In these modern times of digital distraction, they represent a tangible hope, a real rebirth, and a legitimate solution to many of the issues westward expansion has created. As the country develops and more natural areas are converted to suit our extravagant lifestyles, We the People become more and more sick; suffocating on our own “success”. What better way to protect our American Heritage than by Bringing Back Buffalo.
In this current political climate it seems that we are more divided than ever, even if we do truly have a more in common than we do different.
Whatever you do in life, remember to do with LOVE because we are stronger TOGETHER.
Bikes and Buffalo Foever.
Support the Movement @ www.rideforbuffalocampaign.org
