LIVING THE DREAM
LIVING THE DREAM
The Outdoor Life signifies a culture of men and women whose souls are restless and ache for a glimpse of sunshine & fresh air. I am the Average Joe living The Outdoor Life one day at a time. Waiting and planning for that next adventure. I am an avid cyclist, kayaker, surfer, hiker, backpacker, camper, swimmer, equestrian, hunter, fisherman, and photographer. However, it’s not about the activity; it’s about the adventures I experience during these activities. For me, The Outdoor Life is not something I do; it’s something I live!
This website started as “My Life on Two Wheels,” and as I progressed into different activities, I believe it is only right to give them the respect they deserve. With over 30 years of professional and recreational experience, I love being able to pass along information about great companies that fit into an outdoor lifestyle. I have hands-on experience with every product posted here. Companies send me products to test and others are products I feel can benefit my outdoors needs. However, it’s not all about product reviews! You’ll find information on different places to go, rides I have ridden, rivers I have floated and my experiences at each. I’ll show you how to get things done and on the cheap. You’ll watch as I succeed and fail, laugh and cry–but remember it’s about the adventure and the smile you come away with!
Thank you, Amanda, for putting up with my obsessed need to be free in the outdoors! You are the love of my life and will always be my 1st obsession!
(totals form multiple accounts)
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Be Your Own Mechanic
Breaking down my require a walk out to the truck, but in many cases, that can be avoided with a little know-how. Here are some tips for the do-it-yourselfer who wants to know, just a bit more.
Mountain Biking Balm Boyette Preserve
Balm-Boyette Scrub Nature Preserve Balm Boyette is much more secluded than some of the other. There is a 2-mile ride in on double track before you even get to the trails! Early morning rides are almost guaranteed to be filled with local wildlife including white-tail...
When did you start cycling?
I got the nod form Singletracks.com for a photo of me from the 90s – this is form the 1997 NORBA Nationals Big Bear Lake, CA. I took 3rd at this race. Now I’m 51 and still just as hard on the trails as I was back then. But a wee bit slower, ha! I was sponsored by GT Bicycles, Bullet USA and Qranc USA to name a few. The ZZYZX Fork was one of the first tripple-clamp forks on the market and made by Dan Hanebrink – this was an amazing time to be Downhill Racing!
Protect Your Frame
A while back I saw a really sweet Frame Bag designed with the Colorado Flag – and two thoughts came to mind. a) Would that fit on my bike (I ride a small frame)? b) What’s all that Velcro going to do to the finish of my carbon frame? After some digging I was able to find a smaller version of the frame bag called a 1/2 bag, but the whole idea of sand and crushed granite (Colorado’s dirt) didn’t sit well with me.
Body Weight
Mountain biking is a game of numbers; how far, how fast, how light, etc. In this world of numbers, few remember the most important – your body weight.
Adobe Lightroom Basics
I will cover, Importing, Keyword Tagging, Titles/Descriptions, Sorting, Filtering, Selecting, Editing and Exporting. This is great for any skill level for anyone shooting digital photos of any kind.
Unexpected Encounters
A world traveler in his own right (he did mention that he made to Acapulco once). I introduced myself as a local photographer and seen him in random places while riding my bike.
Alderman’s Ford Park Ride
There are not many places that you can get out and ride and not have to deal with too much traffic, but this little route is one of the better places on the East Side of Tampa Bay.
Planing the Route
You have a starting point and a destination, but what about the route in between? When exploring the backcountry on a bike expedition, a plan should be in place as to the specific route.
Riding the Flats vs the Mountains
I ride, Road, Cyclocross and MTB. I lived at 6,500 feet above sea level and my “home riding trails” typically started between 8-10,000ft with anywhere from 2-4,000ft of climbing (a lot for me).
Video: My name is Chris, I am a Clydesdale!
We are not riders that you will typically find in the front of the pack unless it’s a windy day and others want to draft off us. Nor will you’ll see us on the podium of the Tour de France because we’ll be spending too much time at the beer tents along the route.
Camping & Traveling by Bike
Camping & Traveling by Bike Bikepacking on the road or in the mountains, it's always an adventure! Bikepacking offers a unique way for solo and group adventure junkies to find and access new places, meet new people, and encounter new personal challenges anywhere...
Video: Kayaking Shell Key Florida
Shell Key has been designated as one of the state’s most important areas for shorebird nesting and wintering and it serves as an important study area for these species.
