Comments for Sunnyside Sports http://www.sunnysidesports.com Bend, Oregon Bike and Cross Country Ski Shop Sat, 24 Sep 2011 06:47:31 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on POST RACE BLOG by Karihttp://www.sunnysidesports.com/2011/09/post-race-blog/#comment-154 Kari Sat, 24 Sep 2011 06:47:31 +0000 http://www.sunnysidesports.com/?p=1254#comment-154 Congratulations Don, Glad to hear you did well in the race!The day before the race you took an exceptional portion of your time to talk with my husband and I about mtn bikes -29ers, 26ers, and FS, even though you knew we were just "looking" for now. Gave us a lot of food for thought to mull over while we figure out what we want to do with regards to mtn. biking. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks, and again, Congrats! and hope you have gotten a well deserved rest after the race! Congratulations Don,
Glad to hear you did well in the race!

The day before the race you took an exceptional portion of your time to talk with my husband and I about mtn bikes -29ers, 26ers, and FS, even though you knew we were just “looking” for now. Gave us a lot of food for thought to mull over while we figure out what we want to do with regards to mtn. biking.
Anyway, just wanted to say thanks, and again, Congrats! and hope you have gotten a well deserved rest after the race!

]]> Comment on POST RACE BLOG by Matthttp://www.sunnysidesports.com/2011/09/post-race-blog/#comment-152 Matt Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:19:43 +0000 http://www.sunnysidesports.com/?p=1254#comment-152 Congrats Don, you raced with heart and that's what matters! Nice work. Congrats Don, you raced with heart and that’s what matters! Nice work.

]]> Comment on CRATER LAKE JUST A SHORT DRIVE AWAY. by Serenahttp://www.sunnysidesports.com/2011/08/crater-lake-just-a-short-drive-away/#comment-143 Serena Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:05:33 +0000 http://www.sunnysidesports.com/?p=1225#comment-143 Don, thanks for sharing. I totally understand the feeling you get when you are at Crate Lake with Kathy, because that is the same way I feel when I am at Opal Creek. It is just a place, but it is our place. Don, thanks for sharing. I totally understand the feeling you get when you are at Crate Lake with Kathy, because that is the same way I feel when I am at Opal Creek. It is just a place, but it is our place.

]]> Comment on New Phone Same old Deer. by Kathyhttp://www.sunnysidesports.com/2011/08/new-phone-same-old-deer/#comment-139 Kathy Tue, 09 Aug 2011 01:17:28 +0000 http://www.sunnysidesports.com/?p=1202#comment-139 Nice photo of BAAAAAAD Bambi's. And you know as well as I do there wouldn't be so many deer in our neighborhood if that # &*^%$# old lady up the street didn't feed them. It's bad for the deer and bad for neighbor relations. But I am glad you have a smarter phone. I won't mind looking at your feet as long as you call me when you are far from home.And you are my hero for being a manly dude fire fighter all those years ago. The forest is better for your efforts on that fateful day. Nice photo of BAAAAAAD Bambi’s. And you know as well as I do there wouldn’t be so many deer in our neighborhood if that # &*^%$# old lady up the street didn’t feed them. It’s bad for the deer and bad for neighbor relations. But I am glad you have a smarter phone. I won’t mind looking at your feet as long as you call me when you are far from home.

And you are my hero for being a manly dude fire fighter all those years ago. The forest is better for your efforts on that fateful day.

]]> Comment on Mountain Bike Nationals 2011 by Mountain Bike Nationals! | Swell Velohttp://www.sunnysidesports.com/2011/07/mountain-bike-nationals-2011/#comment-122 Mountain Bike Nationals! | Swell Velo Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:48:47 +0000 http://www.sunnysidesports.com/?p=1163#comment-122 [...] Don’s Blog This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. ← Purple Power – Pickett’s Charge LikeBe the first to like this post. [...] [...] Don’s Blog This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. ← Purple Power – Pickett’s Charge LikeBe the first to like this post. [...]

]]> Comment on Mountain Bike Nationals 2011 by Veronicahttp://www.sunnysidesports.com/2011/07/mountain-bike-nationals-2011/#comment-121 Veronica Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:02:40 +0000 http://www.sunnysidesports.com/?p=1163#comment-121 I am so proud and happy for you! Felicidades!!! I am so proud and happy for you! Felicidades!!!

]]> Comment on HEAD BUTTING AND OTHER TOUR THOUGHTS by Kathyhttp://www.sunnysidesports.com/2011/07/head-butting-and-other-tour-thoughts/#comment-117 Kathy Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:42:54 +0000 http://www.sunnysidesports.com/?p=1152#comment-117 Genius is not always accompanied by grace. Genius is not always accompanied by grace.

]]> Comment on THE THING NOT SAID by Adamhttp://www.sunnysidesports.com/2011/07/the-thing-not-said/#comment-115 Adam Sun, 03 Jul 2011 15:58:30 +0000 http://www.sunnysidesports.com/?p=1149#comment-115 Contador is going to have to eat a lot of contaminated meat to be in it this year. Contador is going to have to eat a lot of contaminated meat to be in it this year.

]]> Comment on THE THING NOT SAID by Kathyhttp://www.sunnysidesports.com/2011/07/the-thing-not-said/#comment-114 Kathy Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:35:22 +0000 http://www.sunnysidesports.com/?p=1149#comment-114 If I were Andy Schleck, I would have had a hard time not saying, "neener" ............ If I were Andy Schleck, I would have had a hard time not saying, “neener” …………

]]> Comment on TRAINING, FUN AND SKILLS by Kathyhttp://www.sunnysidesports.com/2011/06/training-fun-and-skills/#comment-105 Kathy Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:11:11 +0000 http://www.sunnysidesports.com/?p=1125#comment-105 It has always amazed me, how much I have learned about music, and playing and teaching piano, from my bicyclist husband. When you live inside something as big and deep as music is, from earliest childhood, you take it so much for granted that you can't always see it neutrally. It is so wonderful to have a 'privileged insider' to provide insight and commentary -- and that is what I have had from Don, these 40+ years, both about music, and many other things.As to why people resist working separately on technique, and only seem to want to 'play' -- whether on a bike or on their musical instrument? I think it's simple, really. It is the fun of the thing that calls us to these activities to begin with -- the sheer pleasure, physically, and the joy, mentally/emotionally/spiritually that we recognize instinctively when we first set foot on pedal, or finger on key. Once we learn the basics -- on a bike, how to balance upright and go forward; on a musical instrument, how to hold it and operate it to get a reasonable sound -- we dive right for the pleasure, and become impatient with what seems to be dull, uninteresting drills. We want to soar all the time, and skip the thoughtful part of the process. Run ahead, don't think. Leap, don't look.After decades of teaching students of all ages -- and believe me, adults are just as bad as kids -- I have concluded it's just human nature ......... probably combined with a generous dose of good old American impatience and 'can-do' attitude. Interestingly, this is not so much the case with many Asian students, and those from European countries where 'classical' music is part of everyday life.As American life gets faster and faster (matching our techno-toys), it also seems to get shallower and shallower. Riding a bike ...... skiing ...... making music for one's own pleasure .... walking in the woods ..... these are things that can take us back, deep within ourselves. Skills get us deeper, faster. OK students, get out those technique books and do those scales. All together now: A, B, C#, D ..........Great post, Don (the apple of your teacher's eye) It has always amazed me, how much I have learned about music, and playing and teaching piano, from my bicyclist husband. When you live inside something as big and deep as music is, from earliest childhood, you take it so much for granted that you can’t always see it neutrally. It is so wonderful to have a ‘privileged insider’ to provide insight and commentary — and that is what I have had from Don, these 40+ years, both about music, and many other things.

As to why people resist working separately on technique, and only seem to want to ‘play’ — whether on a bike or on their musical instrument? I think it’s simple, really. It is the fun of the thing that calls us to these activities to begin with — the sheer pleasure, physically, and the joy, mentally/emotionally/spiritually that we recognize instinctively when we first set foot on pedal, or finger on key. Once we learn the basics — on a bike, how to balance upright and go forward; on a musical instrument, how to hold it and operate it to get a reasonable sound — we dive right for the pleasure, and become impatient with what seems to be dull, uninteresting drills. We want to soar all the time, and skip the thoughtful part of the process. Run ahead, don’t think. Leap, don’t look.

After decades of teaching students of all ages — and believe me, adults are just as bad as kids — I have concluded it’s just human nature ……… probably combined with a generous dose of good old American impatience and ‘can-do’ attitude. Interestingly, this is not so much the case with many Asian students, and those from European countries where ‘classical’ music is part of everyday life.

As American life gets faster and faster (matching our techno-toys), it also seems to get shallower and shallower. Riding a bike …… skiing …… making music for one’s own pleasure …. walking in the woods ….. these are things that can take us back, deep within ourselves. Skills get us deeper, faster. OK students, get out those technique books and do those scales. All together now: A, B, C#, D ……….

Great post, Don (the apple of your teacher’s eye)

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