![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/IMG_4259.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/a>Susan after a day of riding at Brandywine!<\/p><\/div>\n
Friday, I took off work to ride with my buddy Brice at Brandywine Creek State Park. Susan and I visited this park more than a few times in the past. Brice, and his wife Megan, just bought a new house in Wilmington, DE, so now they are closer to the trails at Brandywine. I met him at his new home, got a tour, and rode to the trails. Whether intentional or not, Brice made sure I had a good time. I appreciate that, buddy!<\/span><\/p>\n Sunday, I headed back up there to join Brice and our friend\u00a0<\/span>Matt Miller<\/span><\/a>, who is home from New Zealand visiting family for a couple of weeks. Matt is also who sets me up with\u00a0<\/span>training plans<\/span><\/a>. We had a great day of stories, laughs, and riding. It was great to catch up with Matt and hear the bits of an accent creep in through that classic NZ colloquialism he\u2019s been around the past four years.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s incredible how your perspective changes after losing your wife. I no longer care if I\u2019m in bumper-to-bumper traffic. I try to plan for it and focus on what is ahead, the time spent with friends. This is how Susan lived her life; she didn\u2019t sweat the small stuff. Life is short.<\/span><\/p>\n Life is short.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I miss her and am not afraid to admit that it\u2019s easy to get misty-eyed when I write like this. She was an amazing person and partner. When I look at photos of her, I still can not believe that she is gone. \u200b<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This weekend I celebrated Susan as we reached another one of her birthdays since her passing two years ago. I wanted to get outside and enjoy life a little while remembering her. It is...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2834,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[61,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life","category-trail-riding"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/6.jpg?fit=2048%2C1536&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1YdqL-R9","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3261,"url":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?p=3261","url_meta":{"origin":3295,"position":0},"title":"The Silver Lining","author":"Gerry","date":"December 2, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Silver Lining. It's the story of losing my wife Susan after a 19-year battle with late-stage breast cancer and how mtb friends stepped up to support me in my time of need. In the weeks and months after Susan passed, I learned how special the mountain biking community really\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Trail riding"","block_context":{"text":"Trail riding","link":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"From Left to right: Jeff Lenosky, Brice Shirbach and myself climbing at Brandywine Creek State Park.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ThreeAmigos-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C671&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ThreeAmigos-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C671&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ThreeAmigos-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C671&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ThreeAmigos-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C671&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/ThreeAmigos-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C671&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1887,"url":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?p=1887","url_meta":{"origin":3295,"position":1},"title":"Moving along…","author":"Gerry","date":"August 12, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"As I write this it's been 7 weeks since my crash. The physical therapy for my shoulder is going well and I'm seeing improvement. My range of motion and strength are back to where I was before the accident so I'm feeling good. As far as my fitness goes, right\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Trail riding"","block_context":{"text":"Trail riding","link":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/BrandyRideMap-e1409231617660.jpg?fit=1200%2C737&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/BrandyRideMap-e1409231617660.jpg?fit=1200%2C737&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/BrandyRideMap-e1409231617660.jpg?fit=1200%2C737&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/BrandyRideMap-e1409231617660.jpg?fit=1200%2C737&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/BrandyRideMap-e1409231617660.jpg?fit=1200%2C737&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":956,"url":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?p=956","url_meta":{"origin":3295,"position":2},"title":"Mavic Trans Provence video contest","author":"Gerry","date":"August 6, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Another video contest popped up that I had to enter! Mavic is giving away a spot to race in the Trans Provence All Mountain race which takes place in France. To give you an idea what this race is about, here's a little blurb from the contest page... \"The Mavic\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Enduro"","block_context":{"text":"Enduro","link":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?cat=14"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/dedicationToEnduro.jpg?fit=960%2C540&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/dedicationToEnduro.jpg?fit=960%2C540&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/dedicationToEnduro.jpg?fit=960%2C540&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/dedicationToEnduro.jpg?fit=960%2C540&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1679,"url":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?p=1679","url_meta":{"origin":3295,"position":3},"title":"My first XC race","author":"Gerry","date":"June 8, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"With a gap in my enduro & Super D race schedule I figured I would sign up for an XC mountain bike race. I had never done one so I planned it as a training day and worked my usual training schedule around the race knowing that I would be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "races"","block_context":{"text":"races","link":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/IMG_2307.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/IMG_2307.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/IMG_2307.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/IMG_2307.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/IMG_2307.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":299,"url":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?p=299","url_meta":{"origin":3295,"position":4},"title":"Hans Rey weekend","author":"Gerry","date":"March 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"This past weekend was one of those rare times where we had unusually higher temps for an early March weekend...like a carrot dangling before us as we know Spring is on it's way. We both planned to definitely be outside and take advantage of the great weather. On Saturday I\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 1 comment","block_context":{"text":"With 1 comment","link":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?p=299#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"Me and Hans Rey","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/meAndHans-300x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3346,"url":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?p=3346","url_meta":{"origin":3295,"position":5},"title":"Life After Cancer, Change is Hard.","author":"Gerry","date":"November 18, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A life consumed by cancer. Countless medical appointments, medications, and a whirlwind two weeks with Susan living out her final days at home all ending one morning in June of 2016. Now it was just me, and I needed a change. As you might imagine, living in the home where\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Trail riding"","block_context":{"text":"Trail riding","link":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/HeaderImage.jpeg?fit=1200%2C808&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/HeaderImage.jpeg?fit=1200%2C808&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/HeaderImage.jpeg?fit=1200%2C808&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/HeaderImage.jpeg?fit=1200%2C808&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.werideourbikes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/HeaderImage.jpeg?fit=1200%2C808&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3295"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3295\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3525,"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3295\/revisions\/3525"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.werideourbikes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nI\u2019m moving forward and am hopeful that I can sell our house soon. It\u2019s challenging to live in \u201cour home.\u201d I know that once I put the sale of the house behind me, I will close that chapter of our life together.
\nI look forward to brighter days and my new life.<\/p>\n