This is a photo of my friend riding across Bixby Bridge last August during a bike tour down California’s central coast. Every summer, my friend, my brother and I go on a tour as a personal challenge, as well as to escape the stress and responsibility of our workaday lives. We all agreed that this stretch of coastline in Big Sur was by far the most breathtaking and memorable leg of any ride we’ve done so far. Despite contending with narrow shoulders, speeding cars, occasional flat tires, and schlepping 30+ pounds of extra gear up hills, the time spent alone with my thoughts while pedaling through such amazing natural beauty more than made up for these minor hardships. The freedom, joy and peace I experience during these annual cycling adventures is what helps me stay sane and centered throughout the rest of the year. This is why I ride.

—Michael Rippens