Random thoughts,
work in progress,
and things I'm into.

Hey everyone,

I've been riding in NYC for nearly two decades and the same issues keep coming up - finding storage, getting a good mechanic, finding someone to help you get better, somewhere to wash the bike, etc. It's all word of mouth, random Craigslist posts, or googling.

So I'm building a site where you can find and book:

- Storage facilities

- Mechanics

- Detailers

- Riding mentors/instructors

Think Airbnb or upwork, but for bike stuff. Basically all the services we need as riders in one place. Providers set their own prices, you can see reviews, book online, and pay through the site. I take small commission to keep it running. Starting with NYC since that's where I'm based.

Is this something you'd use? What other services would you want on there?

The site is live ridementor.com and if it’s something you’d use, please sign up, as it’ll make it much easier to sign up providers by showing them that we have a ton of people interested in.

If you’re a provider, also sign up and reach out. I’d love to hear from you!

I take a ride from Brooklyn to Manhattan to pick up some ND filters for my osmo action 5 cameras. The motion blur that they will allow us to add helps translate the sense of speed when recording on a motorcycle. See the difference for yourself, the first half of the video is recorded without the filters at automatic shutter speed, the second half is recorded with the filters at 1/50 shutter speed (half of the recording frame rate). I'm getting ever so slightly better at this whole video production thing, I hope you enjoy!

This is so far my longest multi-day trip on the bike. On this leg of the journey, I get to ride an overnight auto train with my motorcycle from NY to Orlando, FL! I make my way to the Kennedy Space Center. Then I start heading up north to Savannah, GA. 

New video incoming shortly. I've finally figured out how to work with multiple cameras. I can't believe it was so simple!

Meanwhile. The bike looks great when it's clean. 🤔

I've been building things since I was a kid – first with LEGO, then actual computers as a teenager. I didn't start coding until I was an adult, but when I finally did, it clicked. Same satisfaction as snapping pieces together, except now the pieces are lines of code and the end result actually does something useful. Software engineering appeals to the same part of my brain that loved creating things from scratch, plus the field moves fast enough that I'm always learning.

When I need a break, I ride. My motorcycle is about freedom – wind in my face, open road ahead, and space to think. It's how I clear my head when the code won't cooperate. My bicycle serves a different purpose. Those long rides are meditative in their own way, just steady effort and clear thinking.

These interests complement each other more than you'd think. Coding trains me to break down problems methodically. Motorcycling gives me mental space and perspective. Cycling is about persistence and pacing yourself. Each one sharpens skills I use in the others.