When cycling, my theory on hills is: Don't fear them.

That said, every single "newbie" cyclist I've ridden with (including myself when I was just getting into biking) has gotten so nervous and psyched out as they were approaching a hill that they usually weren't able to pedal efficiently through the hill.

That's how someone explained it to me once (Joe, was that you?). When you see a hill in the distance, prepare to pedal through it -- as if the hill isn't even there and you're just tunneling through the hill to the other side.

How do you do that?...

I have two hill-climbing strategies that get me through most every type of hill on a bike:

1. Focus on your pedaling motion, find a groove

2. Switch gears a lot when pedaling up hills

Generally speaking, the following tips are for those who know that they will be biking more than once a month or [gasp] a year.

These tips are for newbies in training (for say, a triathlon), as well as those who are looking for a fun new way to get fit (cycling is about the only way I can shed pounds fast, easily... and healthfully!), and cyclists who've been away from the sport for awhile (like me).

Whether you'll be doing short- or long-distance rides, doesn't matter. But if you'll be riding on the road (rather than a bike path or offroad), then these tips will come in handy. They should save you some money, and could even save your life!

My Best Tips For New (or Returning) Cyclists:

I used to be a long-distance cyclist. Not a great one. Nor a fast one. Just an average one -- who had a ball every time my wheels were spinning.

When I lived in Florida, I would ride 20 to 60 miles several times a week, a few Century rides (100 miles) each year, and on many weekends I would pack up my lightweight camping gear and participate in 2-day cycling events.

I did several bike tours and biking trips. My most challenging cycling event was a 3-day 300-mile bike ride from Orlando to Miami. I did it 2 years in a row and had the time of my life. (And made a lot of great friends.)

Truth is, I've never enjoyed life quite as much as those days when I was cycling regularly.

Fast-forward to today. And even though I've biked a bit around here since we moved to Tennessee, as I kept getting busier and busier, I kept pushing my bike farther and farther into the corner of our garage.  

Hoping to take Cornhole from the Midwest (Cincinnati to be exact, where it first became popular) all across the country, they've created a movie centered around the game of Cornhole.

Have you seen it yet?

Me neither. In fact, I don't think it's been released yet. But I'm looking forward to it!

Here's the inside scoop about Cornhole: The Movie...

I seem to have a fascination with 'natural' things these days -- like logs, fire (as in outdoor fire pits), sticks & twigs, and rocks.

Yes rocks.

There are plenty of fun things you can do with rocks:

Strategically place them in your garden

Use them as stepping stones for a walkway

Place larger ones in key areas and use as outdoor seating (patio, fire pit)

Place one on either side the path or steps leading up to your front door

Make fun centerpieces using stones and pebbles

Arrange them at the bottom of glass vases

Create outdoor water features

One of my most recent 'rocky' finds was the Inukshuk -- a unique arrangement of large rocks that signifies one's home turf or territory. (It's an old Inuit tradition that's still alive and well in Canada... on Rush's Test For Echo album... and in the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.)

Well, now there's a fun new board game that is along the lines of the Inukshuk. It's called Rukshuk.

We're always looking for new backyard games to try out. For the first time this weekend, I played this new backyard game called Chip Challenge. It was fun!

They refer to it as 'the horseshoes of golf'... and I guess it is, to an extent. It's soooooo simple. Yet fairly challenging at the same time.

And the best part: It's never the same game twice!

Happy Halloween everyone!