So here's a thing, I love mountain biking, I love bikepacking, I don't mind a bit of hiking either. The longer I leave it between rides or hikes, the harder it is to get myself out of the door. I know that if I can just get myself out onto the trail, that I'll have a great time and be so pleased I forced the issue. But still, that getting out is the difficult part oftentimes. Getting out into nature is so important for my mental health. When I ride, not one thought is given to any other matter than to having fun. Motivation. My head isn't always in the right place and I just can't get...…So here's a thing, I love mountain biking, I love bikepacking, I don't mind a bit of hiking either. The longer I leave it between rides or hikes, the harder it is to get myself out of the door. I know that if I can just get myself out onto the trail, that I'll have a great time and be so pleased I forced the issue. But still, that getting out is the difficult part oftentimes. Getting out into nature is so important for my mental health. When I ride, not one thought is given to any other matter than to having fun. Motivation. My head isn't always in the right place and I just can't get...WW…

If like me you're on a tight budget, and can't afford the luxury of different sets of camping gear for the different seasons, it's worth evaluating if you can layer your gear to make it work for summer and winter. We are all different. We all have different tolerances to cold. Some sleep hot, some sleep cold. I seem to waver between both. I wanted to do two things with my summer bikepacking gear, before venturing on a snowy hike and overnight snowy camp: 1) Was to see if I could fit it all in my Exped Lightening 60 liter Backpack, along with my snowshoes and snowfeet 2) Was to see how my...…If like me you're on a tight budget, and can't afford the luxury of different sets of camping gear for the different seasons, it's worth evaluating if you can layer your gear to make it work for summer and winter. We are all different. We all have different tolerances to cold. Some sleep hot, some sleep cold. I seem to waver between both. I wanted to do two things with my summer bikepacking gear, before venturing on a snowy hike and overnight snowy camp: 1) Was to see if I could fit it all in my Exped Lightening 60 liter Backpack, along with my snowshoes and snowfeet 2) Was to see how my...WW…

Have a 'Late-Pack' piece of luggage This has transformed my ability to venture out at short notice. I can have my bike mostly packed up except for my rear bag and backpack, that will carry items that cross-over to other disciplines of outdoor pleasure such as hiking, car camping and mountain biking. Make a packing list If you would like to download my packing list to Excel click here. Knowing what is carried where has many benefits, for instance you won't be half packed up at camp, only to find there's no room left in your luggage for the rest of your stuff. Don't be afraid to carry a...…Have a 'Late-Pack' piece of luggage This has transformed my ability to venture out at short notice. I can have my bike mostly packed up except for my rear bag and backpack, that will carry items that cross-over to other disciplines of outdoor pleasure such as hiking, car camping and mountain biking. Make a packing list If you would like to download my packing list to Excel click here. Knowing what is carried where has many benefits, for instance you won't be half packed up at camp, only to find there's no room left in your luggage for the rest of your stuff. Don't be afraid to carry a...WW…

Take the measurement from the most prominent toe point to the most prominent heel point. Your feet usually swell during the day, so take the measurement in the evening. If you are going to wear particularly thick socks, measure with these on. Most of us have one foot larger than the other. It would be quite unusual to be able to buy two different size shoes as a pair, if this is possible it would be ideal, alas, normally it is not possible, so buy for your largest foot. My right foot measures 248mm, going by the chart at the bottom of the page, this roughly equates to a UK size 7. My...…Take the measurement from the most prominent toe point to the most prominent heel point. Your feet usually swell during the day, so take the measurement in the evening. If you are going to wear particularly thick socks, measure with these on. Most of us have one foot larger than the other. It would be quite unusual to be able to buy two different size shoes as a pair, if this is possible it would be ideal, alas, normally it is not possible, so buy for your largest foot. My right foot measures 248mm, going by the chart at the bottom of the page, this roughly equates to a UK size 7. My...WW…

July 23, 2020This story also ran on .The predictions were dire: Coronavirus lockdowns would put millions of Americans out of work, stripping them of their health insurance and , the health insurance program for low-income people.In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration projected that the pandemic would force about 2 million additional people to sign up for the state’s Medicaid program, called Medi-Cal, by July, raising enrollment to an all-time high of 14.5 million Californians — more than one-third of the state’s population.But July is almost over, and Medi-Cal enrollment has...…July 23, 2020This story also ran on .The predictions were dire: Coronavirus lockdowns would put millions of Americans out of work, stripping them of their health insurance and , the health insurance program for low-income people.In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration projected that the pandemic would force about 2 million additional people to sign up for the state’s Medicaid program, called Medi-Cal, by July, raising enrollment to an all-time high of 14.5 million Californians — more than one-third of the state’s population.But July is almost over, and Medi-Cal enrollment has...WW…

Access To Coronavirus Testing Is Uneven As Communities Compete For Scarce Resources : Shots - Health News Access to testing is still uneven in the nation's largest state. Even as some urban counties offer tests to anyone who wants one, a rural county is testing raw sewage to track the virus.Anna Maria Barry-JesterAngela HartRachel BluthFromMonths into the spread of the novel coronavirus in the United States, widespread diagnostic testing still isn't available. California offers a sobering view of the dysfunction blocking the way nationally. It's hard to overstate how uneven the access to...…Access To Coronavirus Testing Is Uneven As Communities Compete For Scarce Resources : Shots - Health News Access to testing is still uneven in the nation's largest state. Even as some urban counties offer tests to anyone who wants one, a rural county is testing raw sewage to track the virus.Anna Maria Barry-JesterAngela HartRachel BluthFromMonths into the spread of the novel coronavirus in the United States, widespread diagnostic testing still isn't available. California offers a sobering view of the dysfunction blocking the way nationally. It's hard to overstate how uneven the access to...WW…

This story also ran on .Months into the spread of the coronavirus in the United States, widespread diagnostic testing still isn’t available, and California offers a sobering view of the dysfunction blocking the way.It’s hard to overstate how uneven the access to critical test kits remains in the nation’s largest state. Even as some Southern California counties are opening drive-thru sites to make testing available to any resident who wants it, a rural northern county is testing raw sewage to determine whether the coronavirus has infiltrated its communities.County to county, city to city —...…This story also ran on .Months into the spread of the coronavirus in the United States, widespread diagnostic testing still isn’t available, and California offers a sobering view of the dysfunction blocking the way.It’s hard to overstate how uneven the access to critical test kits remains in the nation’s largest state. Even as some Southern California counties are opening drive-thru sites to make testing available to any resident who wants it, a rural northern county is testing raw sewage to determine whether the coronavirus has infiltrated its communities.County to county, city to city —...WW…

April 8, 2021SANTA ROSA, Calif. — They knew the neighborhood would revolt.It was early May, and officials in this Northern California city known for its farm-to-table dining culture and pumped-up housing prices were frantically debating how to keep covid-19 from infiltrating the homeless camps proliferating in the region’s celebrated parks and trails. For years, the number of people living homeless in Santa Rosa and the verdant hills and valleys of broader Sonoma County had crept downward — and then surged, exacerbated by three punishing wildfire seasons that destroyed thousands of homes in...…April 8, 2021SANTA ROSA, Calif. — They knew the neighborhood would revolt.It was early May, and officials in this Northern California city known for its farm-to-table dining culture and pumped-up housing prices were frantically debating how to keep covid-19 from infiltrating the homeless camps proliferating in the region’s celebrated parks and trails. For years, the number of people living homeless in Santa Rosa and the verdant hills and valleys of broader Sonoma County had crept downward — and then surged, exacerbated by three punishing wildfire seasons that destroyed thousands of homes in...WW…

SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom is framing the burgeoning effort to remove him from office as a fringe Republican movement backed by right-wing extremists, Trump supporters and QAnon conspiracy theorists.This story also ran on . It can beBut Newsom isn’t telling the whole story about who supports his recall.Democrats and independent voters — who together dominate the state’s electorate — have also signed the , motivated by frustration with Newsom’s response to the covid-19 pandemic. Even Californians who helped elect Newsom to his first term in 2018 are angry over prolonged school...…SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom is framing the burgeoning effort to remove him from office as a fringe Republican movement backed by right-wing extremists, Trump supporters and QAnon conspiracy theorists.This story also ran on . It can beBut Newsom isn’t telling the whole story about who supports his recall.Democrats and independent voters — who together dominate the state’s electorate — have also signed the , motivated by frustration with Newsom’s response to the covid-19 pandemic. Even Californians who helped elect Newsom to his first term in 2018 are angry over prolonged school...WW…

The different disciplines encompassed by Mountain Biking range from a bimble on a woodland trail to the wild double-backflip free riding, with all sorts in between. They'll always be an exceptional 80 year old that can still perform tricks on a mountain bike, or an exceptionally able disabled woman that can shred Downhill with the best of them but here we'll be talking about the average John or Jane. There are no laws as to an upper age limit for starting out mountain biking!! If you can easily ride a bike on the road, then there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to ride a mountain...…The different disciplines encompassed by Mountain Biking range from a bimble on a woodland trail to the wild double-backflip free riding, with all sorts in between. They'll always be an exceptional 80 year old that can still perform tricks on a mountain bike, or an exceptionally able disabled woman that can shred Downhill with the best of them but here we'll be talking about the average John or Jane. There are no laws as to an upper age limit for starting out mountain biking!! If you can easily ride a bike on the road, then there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to ride a mountain...WW…