Human Powered Movement didn’t even have a website when I wrote the original “What is Human Powered Movement?” journal exactly two years ago. The platform was a covid-born concept to bring encouragement, inspiration, and positivity to our pandemic-rattled lives. The universal appeal of being active and our mission of “facilitating greater human powered experiences in all of us” hasn’t changed since those early days, but the evolution of HPM certainly has.

Last week I completed a seven-day self-supported bikepacking trip from my current basecamp in Charlotte, NC to my childhood home in Montoursville, PA. In addition to some of the lesser traveled rural northbound roads, the 650+ mile route was set to cover 230+ miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, 100+ miles of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park and 40+ miles on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. All, of which, are of the most beautiful and sought out cycling routes on the east coast. The bike was packed, the logistics were set, the mindset was dialed in. It was the perfect time for Hurricane Ian to come through and completely derail my plans.

We just wrapped the 2nd year of the Rocky River Shiver: A Hellacious Mtn Bike Event and I couldn’t be more stoked for where this event is heading! The hills, heat, and hecklers were out in full force, yet again, making for a day of exhaustion and carnage! Here is a little inside scoop on how the battle played out from the RD's (Race Director) perspective.

To be honest, I have zero self-control when someone asks, “do you want to go ride bikes and snag a beer?”. Maybe it’s the youth-like exuberance that continues to run rampant in me. Maybe it’s the desire to connect with people through sport and sweat. Maybe it’s the reward of exchanging stories and laughs over cold crafties.

​Whatever the reason, I’m increasingly inspired and stoked how the Human Powered Movement platform continues to bring people together over shared experiences. This past weekend was another perfect example. We rode bikes, we drank beer in the rain, we gave freebies away, we made new friends. It was glorious.