My company has an office in Hood River, OR. I've been offered an interview with the guy who runs the office, and I'm pretty sure the job is mine if I want it. Knock on wood.
I've been a roadie for the last 3 years, and race for one of the best elite amateur teams in the Midwest. Took up MTB racing this past fall, and will be a Cat1 under the new MTB classification system this upcoming season. Simply put, I love riding and racing bikes. LOVE.
I have lived my entire life at approximately 700ft MSL. Never done a climb of more than 3 miles in length. The highest I've ever set foot is at the Mt. St. Helens observatory, when I was 10 years old.
There are several reasons that this opportunity intrigues me. First, the vast, mountainous wilderness that would literally be right out my door in HR. Where I live, the only topographic features are river valleys and moraines left by the retreating glaciers. Corn, soy, wind, and chip seal roads as far as the eye can see.
Second, and perhaps most importantly, is the fact that my life situation has left me with very few friends. Simply put, upon graduation from college, I had a core group of friends. One has moved to Bend; another lives downtown, and two are still in school. Whenever I was home, each and every summer, they were there too. At school, I never had to go out and meet people; I met people through class, through cycling, through other activities. Right now, at 10pm on a Friday night, I'm reading through the Count of Monte Christo. Great book, but that's a lazy sunday afternoon thing for a 23 year old dude.
I see this opportunity as a chance to change my life for the better. A challenge, even. I've grown too comfortable here.
So, let's hear it. Tell me about the rides, the weather, the town itself, the food, the racing scene (road and MTB...and track), the social scene as relevant to a young person (cough women who dig bikes cough), local culture, and anything else worth mentioning.
Thanks!
I've been a roadie for the last 3 years, and race for one of the best elite amateur teams in the Midwest. Took up MTB racing this past fall, and will be a Cat1 under the new MTB classification system this upcoming season. Simply put, I love riding and racing bikes. LOVE.
I have lived my entire life at approximately 700ft MSL. Never done a climb of more than 3 miles in length. The highest I've ever set foot is at the Mt. St. Helens observatory, when I was 10 years old.
There are several reasons that this opportunity intrigues me. First, the vast, mountainous wilderness that would literally be right out my door in HR. Where I live, the only topographic features are river valleys and moraines left by the retreating glaciers. Corn, soy, wind, and chip seal roads as far as the eye can see.
Second, and perhaps most importantly, is the fact that my life situation has left me with very few friends. Simply put, upon graduation from college, I had a core group of friends. One has moved to Bend; another lives downtown, and two are still in school. Whenever I was home, each and every summer, they were there too. At school, I never had to go out and meet people; I met people through class, through cycling, through other activities. Right now, at 10pm on a Friday night, I'm reading through the Count of Monte Christo. Great book, but that's a lazy sunday afternoon thing for a 23 year old dude.
I see this opportunity as a chance to change my life for the better. A challenge, even. I've grown too comfortable here.
So, let's hear it. Tell me about the rides, the weather, the town itself, the food, the racing scene (road and MTB...and track), the social scene as relevant to a young person (cough women who dig bikes cough), local culture, and anything else worth mentioning.
Thanks!
