Some Strava Features That Would Boost My Self-Esteem And General Morale
byThanks for reading. If you’d like to help keep Semi-Rad going, forward this piece to someone who’d like it, consider making a Patreon contribution,…
Bicycling
A Bicycle Crash
byIn my memory of the house, which is from when I was much smaller, the retaining wall was always around three feet high. But…
Should You Do It In Jeans?
byThe bumper stickers about politicians skiing in jeans were first created more than a decade ago, but skiing in jeans has a much longer…
Alastair Humphreys On Traveling The World At 10 mph, Microadventures, And Not Quitting
byNOTE: In 2018, I started recording interviews with creatives (writers, filmmakers, podcasters, photographers, editors, etc.) in the adventure world. I’m publishing the highlights of…
The Hill That You Love To Hate
by“I hate this hill,” I said to the man pushing his mountain bike up the dirt road. He was trying to tell me that…
A Case For The Apple Fritter As Endurance Fuel
byAt about Mile 13 of the Colfax Marathon, I was starting to feel hungry. I did the math in my head—I had about 14…
Yes, A Friend Can Make Miserable Things Less Miserable
byI trudge forward, the muddy road tugging at my running shoes, splattering my ankles and shins, as I finish the uphill part of my…
Air Fresheners Based On Real Outdoor Odors
byBecause you know you want your car to smell like your weekend. —Brendan
If You Don’t Want To Dawn Patrol, You Can Dusk Patrol
byIt’s (hopefully) common knowledge that if you want to climb a Colorado 14er in the summer, you should be on your way down from…
The One Thing You Need To Know
byTo climb rocks: Use your feet. Despite what you may have seen in Cliffhanger, or depictions of climbing in energy drink ads, rock climbing…
How I Learned to Stop Worrying And Love The Strava
byI was hesitant to try Strava at first: Everybody’s heard about some jackass who almost ran over a kid on the trail because they…
The Shortcut Is: There Is No Shortcut
byHere’s something that didn’t happen: Tommy Caldwell, in the days following the first ascent of the Dawn Wall, being interviewed by a journalist about…
10 Basic Rules For Adventure
byEarlier this year, my book Surviving the Great Outdoors came out, representing about 12 years’ worth of poking around in the out-of-doors—climbing, backpacking, hiking,…
Chocolate Spokes: A Film About Bicycles
byIn early 2013, I walked into a tiny bike shop called Chocolate Spokes in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood because I heard the guy there…
Fake Merit Badges For Real Outdoor Achievements
byBecause we all deserve a little recognition for doing things well out there. —Brendan More stories like this in my new book, Bears Don’t…
Dear New Guy At The Climbing Gym:
byDear New Guy At The Climbing Gym, or lady running around the track at the park for the first time, or person trying out…
Announcing A New Book: The Great Outdoors: A User’s Guide
byToday, I get to share something that some wonderful people and I have been working on for almost two years: a big, fat book…
The Closest You Can Get To Flying
byI got a new bike a couple weeks ago, and if I do say so myself it’s a real work of art, handmade by…
Celebrating 5 Years Of Semi-Rad: 25 Favorite Quotes
byFive years ago this week, I started this blog, hoping a few people might read it and get something out of it: a laugh,…
The 12 Types Of Bike Commuters
byEveryone knows there are two kinds of people in this world, but did you know there are 12 types of bike commuters? That’s right….
Some Of My Best Friends Have Been Bicycles
byI walked up the stairs at my apartment building last Friday morning, five $20 bills in my hand, and paused for just a second…
Shout Out To Old Bikes
byA couple Saturdays ago, I got this e-mail from my friend Lee: Would you or anybody else you know be interested in this classic…
Here Is A List Of Fun Things You Can Do On Your Bicycle
by1. Jump it off something 2. Put foot pegs on the back and give a friend a ride 3. Ride to a bar with…
Anatomy Of A Sandbag
byWe all have that friend who may need a little encouraging to do something they’re a little apprehensive about. Or something they’re just flat-out…
Is Your Adventure Story Epic Enough?
byDo you find yourself reading stories about adventures in outdoor magazines and websites and feeling down about what you did on your summer vacation?…
11 Truths About Riding Bicycles
byDid you know you don’t have to wear lycra to ride a bicycle? That’s right. You can if you want to, and lots of…
How To Be A Terrible Adventure Partner
bySometimes, when you invite a new friend out skiing, biking, climbing, or backpacking, it goes really well. But maybe, during the course of the…