RIDE

The mountain doesn’t care about your FTP.


But it’ll show you who you really are.

This isn’t how to PR for your triathlon race.

It’s how to leave your ego behind.

CROW RIDE

1. Why We RIDE

We don’t ride to go faster.
We ride to go quiet.

After hour two, something shifts.
The numbers fade.
So does the voice in your head.

And what’s left — is real.

The mountain doesn’t care about your resume.
The wind doesn’t care about your playlist.
The road asks one question:
Will you keep going without needing credit for it?

Most people ride to escape.
We ride to return —
to stillness, to rhythm, to the part of us that only shows up when everything else shuts up.

We don’t ride to escape.
We ride to return — to God.

2. The CROW Framework

Cadence stays high.
Spin. Don’t grind.
Rhythm is everything.

Climbing? Get out of the saddle.
Sit for control.
Stand when it gets steep.
Breathe. Find your pace.

Nasal breathing = control.
If you’re mouth breathing in Zone 2…
you’re not training endurance — you’re chasing drama.

Comfort over aero.
You need to be comfortable at hour three.
Not fast at mile one.

Group rides can be dangerous.
Great for pushing pace.
Terrible if you can’t hold a line.
Crashes aren’t theory — they’re real.
Build your handling first.

This is a volume game.
Forget the fancy metrics.
Watch your HR. Ride often.
Don’t overthink it.

You can go longer than you think.
Every ride teaches that.

2 rides per week.
One long and calm.
One short with fire.

We don’t ride to impress.
We ride to endure.

3. GEAR

Kit
Look the part.
You don’t need Rapha.
Amazon bib and jersey are fine — just show up clean and consistent.

Visibility
Red flashing light, always.
Day or night.
The world’s not watching for you — make sure they see you.

Protection
Helmet. Sunglasses. Gloves.
This isn’t a fashion show. It’s skin vs pavement.

Sunblock.
You’ll regret not using it by mile 40.
Trust the tan lines — not the burn.

Hydration.
Carry more water than you think.
Don’t be the guy worried about weight and ends up sipping someone else’s bottle.

Fuel.
Always enough food.
If you bonk, it’s your fault.

The Machine
Carbon or aluminum. Doesn’t matter.
Disc brakes. Clip-in pedals. Keep it tuned — and learn your setup.

Tracking
Garmin 530 is enough.
GPS + time + HR. Don’t over-tech it.

Heart Rate
Chest strap > wrist.
Because smartwatches don’t know when you’re suffering — only when you’re moving.

Safety
Phone for emergencies.
Salt tabs in the saddle bag.
Earbud in one ear if it helps the mind settle — but never tune out the world completely.

You don’t need the nicest setup.
You need one that can carry you 4 hours without falling apart — including your mindset.

4. RIDE Commandments

1. Don’t obsess over time or data.
The numbers are a tool — not the reason.

2. Hold the line.
Hard climbs pass.
So do hard seasons.
Ride it out.

3. Don’t stare at the summit.
Look at your cadence.
Enjoy the work.
The mountain gives you back what you put in.

4. Be where your wheels are.
Ride long enough and you stop thinking about riding.
That’s when you’ve arrived.

5. Every ride could be your last.
Pray before you roll.
Ride like it means something.

6. Skip the fancy.
It’s not about gear.
It’s heart, mind, and legs.
That’s always been enough.

No one remembers your average watts.
But they’ll remember if you showed up with peace and purpose.

We don’t ride to escape.
We ride to return.

They say running reconnects you.
Lifting makes you ready.
But riding?

Riding is where everything falls away.
Where the mask drops.
And what’s left is…

someone worth building from.