Sometimes the hardest part of creating isn’t the editing or the posting — it’s hitting record in the first place.

In this episode, I talk about the tension between cycling as an escape and content creation as both a passion and a full-time job. Why bringing a camera on a ride can change the experience. Why I sometimes don’t film even when I want to. And why my podcast moves slower than I think it should.

This is a conversation about creative friction, perfectionism, and the weird pressure to turn meaningful moments into “content.” If you’ve ever felt stuck between wanting to document your life and wanting to just live it, this episode is for you.

Not every moment needs an output. Sometimes creating slowly is part of the process.

In this episode, I share my thoughts about achieving a healthier version of myself without drastic measures. Instead of obsessing over making my bike lighter, I focus on making smarter food choices, enjoying my meals, and maintaining a love for cycling. It's about consistency, small wins, and finding a balance between enjoying life and being healthy. Join me as I discuss my realistic and sustainable approach to weight loss and overall well-being.

00:00 Introduction: My Road Bike and Weight Goals

00:44 The Real Reason Behind My Weight Loss Journey

01:47 Making Smarter Food Choices

04:50 Balancing Exercise and Enjoyment

06:06 Embracing Imperfection and Consistency

08:03 Small Wins and Long-Term Goals

09:15 Conclusion: The Journey Continues

We all are guilty of tweaking and moulding our social media presence to make things appear better than they actually are from time to time. And when it comes to places like Strava, we can really alter things to try to 'explain away' anything that might give the appearance that we are not incredible, speedy riders. Who are we trying to impress with this and why?

Let's chat about it.

Here are some people/channels where they don't shy away from showing lows along with the highs.

Amy Cycling Adventure - @amy.cycling.adventures

Orla Chennaoui - @OrlaChennaoui

From the Ground Up - @FromTheGroundUpProject

Contact me:

Joshua@JQCyclist.com

We have all been there, and many of us are there now - stressed and perhaps anxiety ridden, asking ourselves, "can I handle this, is this too much for me?"

I'm right there with you ad have some thoughts on this so, let's chat about it.

For over a decade I have been participating in the BikeMS rides here at home and across the country. I want to share with you some of the experiences I have had and talk about some of my favorite rides that I have done.

What location will I ride in this year? I haven't made up my mind yet so I am still taking recommendations.

Let's talk about it

Reach out to me:

Joshua@jqcyclist.com

How did it all go down for the 2024 Gran Fondo National Championship

So how did the ride go? Was it all that I had hoped for? Well, I did make personal history on this ride.

Let's talk about it.

So this is starting over.

Needless to say efforts didn't quite go as planned last year. I had all these grand plans to do a recording every week or at least every other week about my journey in prepping for the Gran Fondo National Series - I got 6 episodes in and then things all fell apart, along with my training.

However, life is about starting over and this is what I'm doing. Let's talk about it.

Is it time to do some upgrades on my bike to help with the hill son these Fondos, or do I just need to ride up grades more? I talk about some of the areas where I could make some changes to my set-up and some areas that are 'nice to have' upgrades but will they make that much of a difference given the cost. This is the never ending struggle and yes a little FOMO with bike upgrades and the usefulness of them.

So I started to do a little audio journal podcast .... thing. I am using this as a way to track and document my 2024 goal of seeing how close I can get to qualifying for the 2024 Gran Fondo National Championships.

If you have any questions or want to share your stories, please comment below or send me an email at joshua@jqcyclist.com

Thanks and we will chat again at the next cafe stop.