2021 and Beyond: Adventures worth daydreaming about

The days are short, the COVID vaccine is coming but who knows when we’ll feel good about traveling, and we’re starting to miss that feeling of looking forward to an adventure we’ve planned. While we’ve been on lockdown, the list of future adventures - maybe to be in 2021, maybe farther out - just keeps growing. There’s apparently even a name for these… What are some adventures you’re dreaming about?

Looking down from the top of the Col du Tourmalet, circa 2015

Going back to Europe for Bikes and Culture

While in desperate need of a quarantine project, I decided to take a French class. While the idea of another 2.5 hours per week on Zoom wasn’t appealing, the class has been fun. And now I have a goal to be able to have a full on conversation in France….. and somehow figure out how to stay for a month. I may or may not be passing some of the time scrolling through AirBnB searches for Paris, Annecy, and Bordeaux, just for ‘fun’.

I could relax here, visit a boulangerie, and have a nice chat with a French person…

Racing Mountain Bikes at the BC Bike Race

While I’ve always been a pretty unadventurous mountain biker, I did have somewhat of a breakthrough in 2020. It was pretty much one of the only things to do, it was fun getting out into the woods, and I realized I could have goals that had nothing to do with racing. This has made me wonder if I’m good enough to toe the line at the BC Bike Race, one of the ultimate mountain bike racing adventures. For 2021 they even have a Van Life option!

The White Rim in a Day Adventure

Okay bear with me on this one, if you know anything about Moab’s White Rim trail, you know this one is kind of nuts. But our pals at Moots did it with a sick Baxter, and the scenery looks totally amazing. It’s only around 100 miles, with no water, no support, and endless views. Are we totally nuts? Maybe, but a bad idea is just a great story in the making, amirite?

Getting on a plane and going to Japan for like a really long time

There is often talk on TBD Slack about peacing out to Japan. Matt and Lisa’s photos from a previous trip are so incredible that I keep asking if I can play large adult child (okay, almost full sized adult child) and go with them for another one. There’s food, culture, skiing, and bikes. It seems like it wouldn’t be that hard to spend 6 months there.

Wandering around a new city in Europe, like maybe Copenhagen

You know that feeling when you get to a new city in Europe? You’re kind of dead from being on a redeye, so everything takes on a surreal quality. I always plan to spend the first day just wandering around and taking everything in. And maybe stopping for a leisurely coffee, which it feels like Americans haven’t really mastered. Especially now that every coffee is to go.

Copenhagen has been on my list for ages - like Amsterdam but not exactly, apparently the food is amazing, and as a bike person I’d love to ride around and experience a new city on my bike.

Going to a cross race with all our pals

The last time I was on a plane was in November 2019. Funny enough, while I don’t think I’m patient zero, I did come down with a nasty case of pneumonia after that trip! It was pretty much one of the best weekends I’ve ever had. We had great bike racing, freezing weather, cheering for and reuniting with old friends, and meeting people in person that I’d only met on Slack.

While there are lots of things I’ve missed in the last almost year in quarantine, what I missed most was hanging out with teammates and friends at bike races. Noho 2021, who’s in?