Nature and The Mind: New Book Says Nature Is Not An Amenity, It's A Necessity

There is a fascinating new book written by a University of Chicago psychology professor connecting nature with your mental and emotional well-being.

It's 10:40AM Wednesday and I returned from a monster 13.3-mile hike from my home into the Red Rock National Conservation Area and back.

My mind feels refreshed and rejuvenated.

I'm listening to University of Chicago professor Marc Berman on KNPR here in Las Vegas talking about the benefits of hiking and also bicycling in nature. His book is called, Nature and The Mind.

Berman's words are vaidating what I preach, that mobility in nature, on trails, around trees or amid mountains has a healing effect on your brain. For me, nature is my cathedral, a place where I reach peace and equilibrium.

I need nature every day. On Monday night I hiked and saw this image. How amazing. "Nature is not an amenity. It's a necessity," Berman said on NPR.

 

What's The Next Ban? Will Clark County Commissioners Ban Bicycles On The Strip?

 

Only four months ago, the Clark County commissioners banned electric bicycles and e-scooters from the Strip Corridor, which includes Las Vegas Boulevard. The county had already banned those upright Segway "Mall Cop" scooters and pedicabs, the giant trikes pedaled by a worker giving people a ride.

What's next? Bicycles?

The Las Vegas/Clark County area ranks very low for its bicycle networks, which consists of mostly a paved trail along a highway or bits and pieces of trails here and there with no bicycle trail continuity.

The RTC folks are supposed to be pushing bicycling as a way for locals to get around and they are very nice people. But these polite RTC staffers are too timid to take on the county commissioners, who are serve as the policy rubberstampers for the corporate hotel owners of the Strip such as MGM Resorts Interational and Caesars Entertainment.

The Strip is a public road. Las Vegas Boulevard, again, is PUBLIC.

But the county commissioners allow the hotel-casino property owners to use the road as their PRIVATE street, where alternative modes of transportation are banned.

Las Vegas needs to grow up and be a real big-league city, one that embraces all forms of mobility.

I bike on the Strip and you can see what it's like to bike the Strip here.

 

Just another day in a town with a one-trick pony economy where the hotel owners tell the county commissioners what to do and you can't even have basic public services like buses or a monorail shuttling visitors from the airport to the Strip and back.

Funny thing about this town called Las Vegas. It's run like a small village by a handful of people with the private interests of the hotels eclipsing the public service needs of the public locals.

  

Happy Labor Day From The Red Rock Scenic Drive

Happy Labor Day from the Red Rock Loop, also known as the Red Rock Scenic Drive.

It's 12.4 miles long and, technically, not an actual course loop. Its exit is about two miles down the road from the start of the scenic drive and its toll booths.

A terrific section is when you approach the Big Red Stripe around Mile 10 on the Loop. Here's a video of my approach this morning.

You enter the Red Rock Loop around 3,600 feet elevation and the top elevation is 4,771 feet. The overlook is ust about near the top at 4,763 feet.

At the overlook you will meet a cross-section of tourists and locals, people here for conventions and family gatherings to local bicyclists and drivers.

I have actually sold a few copies of my book, Bicycle Man, to a few folks I chatted with. If you ejoy reading and bicycle adventures, you will love this book. Just email me to buy your book directly from me.

  

 

For The Love Of Mountain Biking

 

I am a four-tool bicyclist -- road bicycling, mountain bicycling, commuter bicycling and Rivendell-style casual bicycling for the pure joy of biking.

Mountain biking is the one form of biking that I have increased in my life.

I live across from single-track dirt trails in the Red Rock Canyon area and pedaling my Surly Pugsley single-speed, steel-framed, shock-free twho-wheeled monster in the shadows of the Spring Mountains foothills is a source of immense inspiration from the scenery and spirituality from the mobile meditative powers.

I also have to observe mountain bikers are a different breed from road cyclists. Mountain bikers I meet on the trails are more friendly, easy-going and laid-back. Road cyclists are in a hurry and most don't say a word to you.

  

Robin Was Right: Bicycling Is All About Mobile Meditation

 

Mobile meditation. Robin Williams nailed it. So much emphasis is put on the physical energy it takes to propel a bicycle. Yet it's the meditative powers that's the secret sauce of pedaling a bicycle.

Joys Of Bicycling At Night: Cooler Temperatures (Under 100 Degrees For Las Vegas) Was Deciding Factor For This Bicyclist

Bicycle Stories note: Facebook friend and bicyclist Paula Lubbe posted a nice account of biking at night thanks to cooler temperatures (for the Las Vegas area). With her permission, here's Paula's account. 

The temps after work today were below 100F!

So I decided to take my Rising Phoenix (bike) out for an evening/night ride with lights. First night time ride on my road bike since leaving El Paso!

I had forgotten how fun and nice and beautiful night rides are in the desert!! I used to ride both road and MTB all the time at night back there.

The sun is setting here around 7:45 or so. I left just after 7.

I had a beautiful setting sun on the way to the gun range and it was dark as I was heading in and up. The temps were perfect!

And I always meet the coolest people when I’m out riding.

I was at the top of the gun range texting a friend when one of the county trucks pulled up via the jeep road and stopped. I thought I was in trouble for being in there after dark and after the front gate shut.

Nope. He saw my light and was just checking on me. They had night time shooters and he just wanted to remind me to be safe because people are stupid, his words.

His name was Dan and he’s a Navy Veteran with a deployment to Afghanistan back in ‘04 with a fascinating story of being over there with one of the Seal teams. Neat guy. We talked for several minutes.

Fun riding by the high school at night with a football game going on. Made me excited to be going home next month for my 40th HS reunion and will be going to our HS Homecoming game that weekend.

I felt safer riding at night being more visible with my lights than daylight when you blend in from a distance, even with daytime running lights.

Fun night. I was planning to swim tonight, but the ride was more fun.

Get active!

Move your body.

Hug someone you care about.

Peace and Love.

Ride On.

Let's Climb: Biking To Mountain Springs Summit At 5,490 Feet

 

It's Potosi time.

People call it Mt. Potosi.

The Web says it's Potosi Mountain.

I just call it bike-up-a-big-hill-from-my-home time, all nine miles along State Route 160 (which is Blue Diamond Road In Vegas speak).

Some people driving cars on SR 160 move over a lane to pass as required by Nevada state law. Others don't. You can size up a person real quick by seeing which ones move over a lane and which ones don't.

I wave my left arm and point to the passing (second) lane and some people do respond by changing lanes.

Others don't.

The Nevada Department of Transportation could educate drivers by installing "Change lanes to pass bicyclists" signs along SR 160.

It was terrific morning because of the terrific weather. We're already more than two months removed from the longest day of the year and my body can detect the new sun and light angles.

The day is off and rolling! 

Buy this book please