HUFFY 100: Just Ride! No sponsors. No gadgets. No excuses.

 


When I stumbled across a cheap gravel frame set online, you can guess what happened next. The allure of a fourth gravel bike—decked out with the latest tech—tugged hard. *N+1* (the cyclist’s creed that the ideal number of bikes is always *one more*) whispered seductively. But then, after sharing how I struck gold with a friend, it hit me: Cycling isn’t about accumulation. It’s not about how many bikes you own, how featherlight your carbon frame is, or how many widgets track your watts. It’s about the ride itself—the wind in your face, the crunch of gravel under tires, the rhythm of your breath syncing with the turn of the pedals. The essence of cycling lives in motion, not in gear. 


Somewhere along the way, our sport became a tech arms race. Carbon everything. Electronic shifting. Power meters that demand spreadsheets. It’s easy to forget that cycling, at its core, is a rebellion against complexity. It’s freedom. Exploration. The primal thrill of propelling yourself forward with nothing but your own legs and grit. 


And let’s be honest: Cycling has also morphed into a rolling fashion show. I’m not here to shame the lycra-clad perfectionists (guilty as charged!). But it’s worth remembering that you don’t need a $300 jersey or “aero” socks to feel the joy of riding. Bibs shouldn’t cost more than a used bike. The magic isn’t in the kit—it’s in showing up, swinging a leg over any bike, and letting curiosity steer you. 

That’s why I’m tackling a 100 km ride on a refurbished Walmart Huffy. No carbon. No tech. No frills. Just a Community Bike shop steel frame, my stubborn legs, and the open road. This isn’t a stunt—it’s a homecoming. A reminder that cycling’s soul lives in the ride, not the retail. 



Join the Journey

I’m documenting every wobble, chain slip, and hard-earned kilometer—from reviving the Huffy in my bike shop to crossing that 100 km finish line. Tune into my OutSpoken radio show on CKUW 95.9FM for raw audio diaries, follow the unfiltered blog series at SUP204, or the You Tube Vlog. Expect no glossy upgrades or gear evangelizing. Just the real, messy, exhilarating truth of what happens when you strip cycling back to its roots: you ride. 

Because cycling isn’t about what you’re riding. It’s that you’re *riding*. 

Stay tuned. Let’s roll. 

HUFFY 100: Just Ride.

 

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