Bicycle Blog

"America by Bicycle" Map of the TransAmerica Bicycle Route with a moving bicycle animation

Join me on my bicycle adventure from Oregon to Virginia on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail.

I post professional and personal reflections tied to the journey.

Prepare to feel invigorated, to embrace new challenges, and to grow your grit alongside me!

Controlling People: How to Recognize, Understand, and Deal With People Who Try to Control You

Save the Cat: The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need

How Democracy Ends

The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation

Necessary Endings: The Employees, Businesses, and Relationships That All of Us Have to Give Up in Order to Move Forward

Bring Back Our Girls: The Untold Story of the Global Search for Nigeria’s Missing Schoolgirls

The Every: A novel

Alive at Work: The Neuroscience of Helping Your People Love What They Do

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience

Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away

Live No Lies: Recognize and Resist the Three Enemies That Sabotage Your Peace

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It’s Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature

The Escape Artist: A Zig and Nola Novel

The Lightning Rod: A Zig and Nola Novel

Supernormal: The Untold Story of Adversity and Resilience

An Officer and a Spy: A Novel

The Exponential Age: How Accelerating Technology is Transforming Business, Politics and Society

Do Not Disturb: The Story of a Political Murder and an African Regime Gone Bad

Beautiful Resistance: The Joy of Conviction in a Culture of Compromise

Turnaround: How to Change Course When Things Are Going South

In Sheep’s Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People

Acceptance: A Memoir

The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America

Stories That Stick: How Storytelling Can Captivate Customers, Influence Audiences, and Transform Your Business

Do You Make This Regrettable Mistake with Your Routine Responsibilities?

For Quick Relief from Endless Work, Adopt this Agrarian Practice

Fight Your Kryptonite Like Superman: Overcome Adversity and Choose Joy

3 Ways to Grow Courage with Connections

Why Some People Almost Always Feel Inspired

4 Simple Reasons We Overlook Treasures Around Us: Which One Will You Avoid?

How to Get Unstuck When You Feel Like You’re Spinning In Circles

Create a Career Value Proposition You Can Be Proud Of

How Managing Your Energy Helps You Thrive

Reflecting on Salt: What Essential Ingredient Do You Bring To A Team?

Are You Ready for Wide-Open Spaces?

Your Life is a Song (Literally)

Cycle-Therapy vs. Psychotherapy: Why Riding a Bicycle Improves Mental Health

The Hope in Snow on the Mountain

Are You Prepared to Thrive When A Source of Strength Fails You?

Here’s a Quick Way to Extend the Benefits of a Mountain-Top Experience

You Don’t Need Superpowers to Move Mountains: Achieve the Impossible with 2 Key Ingredients

See How Easily You Can Keep Your Reservoir Full

When Forests are Scarred by Fires, They Create Beauty from the Ashes (And So Can You!)

How Understanding Urban, Rural, & Frontier Communities Can Help You Navigate the Tech Sector

Why Some Teams Almost Never Seem Stressed (No Matter How Ambitious the Mission)

Want to Have an Inclusive Team Environment? Here are 3 Levels of Belonging that Every Professional Ought to Know About

Wisdom from Waging War with Wyoming’s Winds

Are You Mining for What Matters (Or Could Your Life Soon Become a Ghost Town)?

Revisiting the Role of the Rearview Mirror: 3 Ideas on Purpose & Perspective

Get Rid of Your Fear of Personal and Professional Storms with These 5 Rainy-Day Tips

Are You Embarrassed by Your Imperfections? (Take This Tip from Old Faithful)

Face the Grumpy Bears & Ravenous Wolves at Your Workplace Like a Seasoned Forest Ranger

It Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely at the Top (Or As a Trailblazer or Under-Represented Demographic)

6 Sure-Fire Ways to Deal with a Pain in the Butt (On a Bicycle or at Work!)

Can You Guess the Most Frequently Asked Question I Get (About Riding My Bicycle Across the US)?

Get Rid of Bad Metrics Once and For All

Give Me 17 Minutes and I’ll Show You What to Pack for a Vacation by Bicycle

How I Managed a Blow-Out, Crashed a Wedding, Avoided a Landslide, & Escaped a Fire

A Perfect Pause: Appreciate, Assess, & Set Expectations

Generosity & Gratitude: On the Trail and at Work

The ExtrEmE 3E Challenge: Creating Goals that Build Confidence

A Bee in the Bonnet or a Hopper in the Helmet: 3 Silly Stories from the Saddle

Loving the Ups, the Downs, and the Vast In-Betweens

When Maps & Intelligence Fail You (Here’s the Solution)

Practicing Radical Hospitality (at Work!)

The Path of Pioneers: Necessary but Insufficient Attributes

Today I Fell (and This is What I Did)

Flowing Like a River to Adapt to Obstacles

The Secrets Cyclists & Magnificent Managers Both Know (about Power & Control)

Surviving Stone Storms

Pacific Waves and Rocks

The Journey Begins Now!

The year 2022 marks 30 years since I left for basic training and first raised my right hand to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. To commemorate, I set out to experience places and people across the nation at the speed of human-powered travel. I saddled up my bicycle and loaded my camping gear for a 4K-mile adventure from sea to shining sea. From the mountains to the prairies, I visited the communities and souls that motivate my service. I learned more about the history, richness, and challenges of the USA than I ever did in school.

Do You Make This Regrettable Mistake with Your Routine Responsibilities?

On Day 47 of the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail ride, I draw upon cycling experiences to illustrate the counter-productivity of taking responsibility too far.

Do You Make This Regrettable Mistake with Your Routine Responsibilities?

For Quick Relief from Endless Work, Adopt this Agrarian Practice

On Day 46 of the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, I consider wisdom from mid-western farm life to set milestones & experience the relief of finishing a project.

For Quick Relief from Endless Work, Adopt this Agrarian Practice

Fight Your Kryptonite Like Superman: Overcome Adversity and Choose Joy

On Day 45 of the TransAm, I discuss how I much I enjoy autumn even though it is also the territory of my archenemy. I explain how I overcome & choose joy.

Fight Your Kryptonite Like Superman: Overcome Adversity and Choose Joy

3 Ways to Grow Courage with Connections

On Day 44 of my bicycle ride on the TransAmerica Trail I reflect on connections and how they are one of the most important ingredients for growing courage.

3 Ways to Grow Courage with Connections

Why Some People Almost Always Feel Inspired

On Day 43 riding the TransAm Trail I spent the evening at Casador Lake. I consider what I can learn from the local wildlife and share how I stay inspired.

Why Some People Almost Always Feel Inspired

4 Simple Reasons We Overlook Treasures Around Us: Which One Will You Avoid?

On Day 42 of the TransAm Trail, I consider the many amazing treasures that are all around us and reasons why we fail to see the value right in front of us.

4 Simple Reasons We Overlook Treasures Around Us: Which One Will You Avoid?

How to Get Unstuck When You Feel Like You’re Spinning In Circles

On Day 41 of the TransAm Trail I admired many wind turbines & offer a way to get unstuck when you feel like your wheels are spinning & traction is elusive.

How to Get Unstuck When You Feel Like You’re Spinning In Circles

Create a Career Value Proposition You Can Be Proud Of

On Day 40 of the TransAm Trail, I consider the beauty of joining components to create something new. This applies to machines and your professional skills!

Create a Career Value Proposition You Can Be Proud Of

How Managing Your Energy Helps You Thrive

On Day 39 of the TransAm Trail, I saw many methods of generating power, so I’m thinking about the importance of energy management on a bicycle and at work.

How Managing Your Energy Helps You Thrive

Reflecting on Salt: What Essential Ingredient Do You Bring To A Team?

On Day 38 of the TransAm Trail, I learn that Kansas is rich in salt. The value/versatility of this mineral has a corollary with our professional strengths.

Reflecting on Salt: What Essential Ingredient Do You Bring To A Team?

Are You Ready for Wide-Open Spaces?

On Day 37 of the TransAm Trail, I discuss the joys of wide-open spaces and the importance of reflecting on how different surroundings influence creativity.

Are You Ready for Wide-Open Spaces?

Your Life is a Song (Literally)

On Day 36 of the TransAm Bicycle Trail, I discuss how your life is a unique song made up many different frequencies, rhythms, melodies, harmony, & a tempo.

Your Life is a Song (Literally)

Cycle-Therapy vs. Psychotherapy: Why Riding a Bicycle Improves Mental Health

On Day 35 of the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail I share my hypothesis on why bicycling can boost mental health even more than other types of physical exercise.

Cycle-Therapy vs. Psychotherapy: Why Riding a Bicycle Improves Mental Health

The Hope in Snow on the Mountain

On Day 34 of my TransAm Trail trip, I wake up to a fresh blanket of snow, the 1st of the season, on Pike’s Peak. I made it out of the Rockies just in time!

The Hope in Snow on the Mountain

Are You Prepared to Thrive When A Source of Strength Fails You?

On Day 33 of the TransAm Bicycle Trail, I share my experience of losing a source of external strength (my pedal-assist system) and what I did for recovery.

Are You Prepared to Thrive When A Source of Strength Fails You?

Here’s a Quick Way to Extend the Benefits of a Mountain-Top Experience

On Day 32 of the TransAm Trail, I reach the highest elevation point. I reflect on how to make the most of mountaintop experiences and return to daily life.

Here’s a Quick Way to Extend the Benefits of a Mountain-Top Experience

You Don’t Need Superpowers to Move Mountains: Achieve the Impossible with 2 Key Ingredients

On Day 31 of my TransAm bicycle journey, as roll along passes built in the mountains, I think about the two primary ingredients required to move mountains.

You Don’t Need Superpowers to Move Mountains: Achieve the Impossible with 2 Key Ingredients

See How Easily You Can Keep Your Reservoir Full

On Day 30 of the TransAm BikeTrail I camp alongside a reservoir and reflect on the importance of mimicking nature’s replenishment cycles with regular rest.

See How Easily You Can Keep Your Reservoir Full

When Forests are Scarred by Fires, They Create Beauty from the Ashes (And So Can You!)

On Day 29 of the TransAmerica Trail, I ride through a fire-scarred wilderness that is now teaming with new growth. I reflect on the hope of new beginnings.

When Forests are Scarred by Fires, They Create Beauty from the Ashes (And So Can You!)

How Understanding Urban, Rural, & Frontier Communities Can Help You Navigate the Tech Sector

During Day 28 of the TransAm I discover differences between frontier & rural communities. I consider how urban, rural, & frontier also apply to tech firms.

How Understanding Urban, Rural, & Frontier Communities Can Help You Navigate the Tech Sector

Why Some Teams Almost Never Seem Stressed (No Matter How Ambitious the Mission)

On Day 27 of the TransAm Bicycle Trail, I ask a pointed question about your leadership presence & the effect it has on the stress levels of your teammates.

Why Some Teams Almost Never Seem Stressed (No Matter How Ambitious the Mission)

Want to Have an Inclusive Team Environment? Here are 3 Levels of Belonging that Every Professional Ought to Know About

On Day 26 of the TransAm Bicycle Trail I realized the principles of allowing, inviting, and respecting are stages of thriving whether at work or on a bike.

Want to Have an Inclusive Team Environment? Here are 3 Levels of Belonging that Every Professional Ought to Know About

Wisdom from Waging War with Wyoming’s Winds

On Day 25 of the TransAm Bicycle Trail I reflect on the difference between persistence & stubbornness as I wage a foolhardy battle against Wyoming’s Winds.

Wisdom from Waging War with Wyoming’s Winds

Are You Mining for What Matters (Or Could Your Life Soon Become a Ghost Town)?

For Day 24 of the TransAm Trail, I consider mining communities (such as Jeffrey City, Wyoming) & what we can all learn from boom-bust cycles & ghost towns.

Are You Mining for What Matters (Or Could Your Life Soon Become a Ghost Town)?

Revisiting the Role of the Rearview Mirror: 3 Ideas on Purpose & Perspective

On Day 23 of the TransAmerica Trail, I consider the role of the rearview mirror & offer 3 tips on how to leverage reflection to make great decisions today.

Revisiting the Role of the Rearview Mirror: 3 Ideas on Purpose & Perspective

Get Rid of Your Fear of Personal and Professional Storms with These 5 Rainy-Day Tips

As I ride in the rain on Day 22 of the TransAm journey, I share 5 tips to grow grit & resilience to help weather the storms of life, at work and on a bike.

Get Rid of Your Fear of Personal and Professional Storms with These 5 Rainy-Day Tips

Are You Embarrassed by Your Imperfections? (Take This Tip from Old Faithful)

On Day 21 of the TransAmerica trip, I observe that we enjoy the beauty of the Old Faithful geyser only because of earth’s imperfections, cracks & fissures.

Are You Embarrassed by Your Imperfections? (Take This Tip from Old Faithful)

Face the Grumpy Bears & Ravenous Wolves at Your Workplace Like a Seasoned Forest Ranger

On Day 20, I discuss grumpy bears in the wild and at work including: 1) when you should be most vigilant & 2) how to respond to different types of attacks.

Face the Grumpy Bears & Ravenous Wolves at Your Workplace Like a Seasoned Forest Ranger

It Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely at the Top (Or As a Trailblazer or Under-Represented Demographic)

On Day 19 of the TransAmerica Bike Trail, I discuss the importance of solitude, how it creates conditions for thriving, and how it differs from loneliness.

It Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely at the Top (Or As a Trailblazer or Under-Represented Demographic)

6 Sure-Fire Ways to Deal with a Pain in the Butt (On a Bicycle or at Work!)

On Day 18 of the TransAmerica Trail, I draw from experience to share 6 tips on how to deal with a pain in the butt, whether on a bicycle or at your office.

6 Sure-Fire Ways to Deal with a Pain in the Butt (On a Bicycle or at Work!)

Can You Guess the Most Frequently Asked Question I Get (About Riding My Bicycle Across the US)?

On Day 17 of my journey along the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, I reveal the question that I’m asked most frequently about this trip, along with my response.

Can You Guess the Most Frequently Asked Question I Get (About Riding My Bicycle Across the US)?

Get Rid of Bad Metrics Once and For All

On Day 16 of the TransAmerica ride my gauges give an example of how metrics can be maddening, yet when nested in the right context, become key to survival.

Get Rid of Bad Metrics Once and For All

Give Me 17 Minutes and I’ll Show You What to Pack for a Vacation by Bicycle

On Day 15 of the TransAm, I answer the frequently asked question “what do you take on a cross-country bicycle trip?” by unpacking my trailer item-by-item.

Give Me 17 Minutes and I’ll Show You What to Pack for a Vacation by Bicycle

How I Managed a Blow-Out, Crashed a Wedding, Avoided a Landslide, & Escaped a Fire

On Day 14 on the trail I crash a wedding then rely on new friends to overcome a flat tire, a forest fire, & a landslide on a dangerous section of the road.

How I Managed a Blow-Out, Crashed a Wedding, Avoided a Landslide, & Escaped a Fire

A Perfect Pause: Appreciate, Assess, & Set Expectations

On Day 13 of the TransAmerica Trail, I appreciate what’s been accomplished, the beauty of the present, & set realistic expectations for the journey ahead.

A Perfect Pause: Appreciate, Assess, & Set Expectations

Generosity & Gratitude: On the Trail and at Work

On Day 12 of the TransAmerica Trail, I reflect on the kindness & generosity of strangers, cultivate gratitude, & consider how to be more generous at work.

Generosity & Gratitude: On the Trail and at Work

The ExtrEmE 3E Challenge: Creating Goals that Build Confidence

On Day 11 on the TransAmerica Bike Trail I build my confidence through navigating the ExtrEmE. What ExtrEmE challenges will you create to reach your goals?

The ExtrEmE 3E Challenge: Creating Goals that Build Confidence

A Bee in the Bonnet or a Hopper in the Helmet: 3 Silly Stories from the Saddle

During Day 10 on the TransAmerica Trail I reflect on three funny incidents I experienced and the importance of having a sense of humor on and off the bike.

A Bee in the Bonnet or a Hopper in the Helmet: 3 Silly Stories from the Saddle

Loving the Ups, the Downs, and the Vast In-Betweens

On Day 9 on the TransAmerica Trail, as in life, I enjoyed the mountaintop potential, the refreshment of the valleys, and the vast ups and downs in between.

Loving the Ups, the Downs, and the Vast In-Betweens

When Maps & Intelligence Fail You (Here’s the Solution)

On day 8 on TransAm Trail, I discuss my planning process, the tools I use, & the importance of experience for both a bicycle journey & for tech innovation.

When Maps & Intelligence Fail You (Here’s the Solution)

Practicing Radical Hospitality (at Work!)

On day 7 of the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, after experiencing lavish hospitality, I wonder what could happen if we practiced radical hospitality at work?

Practicing Radical Hospitality (at Work!)

The Path of Pioneers: Necessary but Insufficient Attributes

On day 6 of the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail the Oregon Trail highlights the essential but insufficient traits required for pioneers to succeed.

The Path of Pioneers: Necessary but Insufficient Attributes

Today I Fell (and This is What I Did)

On day 5 of the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail I had my first crash of the trip. Here’s my story (and what to do when you fall).

Today I Fell (and This is What I Did)

Flowing Like a River to Adapt to Obstacles

Day 4 of the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail inspired thoughts about moving more like a river in our lives and careers–going with the flow around obstacles.

Flowing Like a River to Adapt to Obstacles

The Secrets Cyclists & Magnificent Managers Both Know (about Power & Control)

Day 3 on the TransAmerica Trail unveiled secrets that elite cyclists can share with great leaders about position, power, control, endurance, & efficiency.

The Secrets Cyclists & Magnificent Managers Both Know (about Power & Control)

Surviving Stone Storms

Day 2 on the TransAm Trail proved that life throws rocks at us. Athletes know when to push through pain versus when to draw from a coach’s wisdom to adapt.

Surviving Stone Storms

Pacific Waves and Rocks

Day 1 of the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail is the official start of this Pacific-to-Atlantic adventure. Insight: kiss the waves of adversity!

Pacific Waves and Rocks

The Journey Begins Now!

As I prepare to embark, meet my traveling companion for the journey across the United States, from Atlantic to Pacific, on the Trans America Bicycle Trail.

The Journey Begins Now!

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Mandy Birch is a global executive engineer and military veteran who builds teams, leaders, & multinational organizations that unlock the potential of disruptive ideas. She enjoys accelerating emerging technologies & strategic partnerships to drive multi-generational thriving for people & communities around the world.

Mandy's interests include: #innovation #leadership #technology #partnerships #quantumcomputing #career #growth #womenintech #veterans #entrepreneurship #creativity #future #foreignpolicy #democracy #geopolitics

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