how i saved my cell phone from annihilation

There's nothing like taking a week away from something to get you all rejuvenated and motivated. I was not planning on posting every day - instead I would post when I had something to write about. And there has been plenty to write about. I learned something today...

Store valuables in a SAFE location
As shown in the photo to the right, there is a hole in the top of my backpack. I love everything about this backpack, and this specific hole serves a very good function: it allows you to store a h2o bladder inside the backpack and run the hose through this convenient hole and have ready access to the hose. If you can see enough detail, you may notice the seem is a bit torn and therefore this opening is a bit larger than originally. But these things happen when using a backpack (heavily and routinely) for 4 years.

On the inside of this backpack, just beneath the hole, is a convenient little pouch where one can store smaller objects, such as cell phones. Normally there would be no problem with storing anything in that pouch, but that is because the backpack is normally upright.

I pulled out onto one of the few major road ways I have to touch for a brief moment this morning, and stood up into a sprint. Because of my competitive cycling, I ride a pretty aggressive set-up on my road bike, which positions my back almost parallel to the road when I sprint. As I am dashing down 7th street at 28 mph, my cell phone slides out of the convenient pouch described above, and slides over my shoulder. Thankfully, my cat-like reflexes allowed me to snag the phone before it plummeted to a certain doom.

And that's why you always store your valuables in a safe location.

Even in spite of that near mishap, it was another great day on the bike.

ps - in case anyone cares, or in case someone from Dakine happens to read this post...the backpack I use is the Dakine Mission backpack and it is an awesome backpack. I think it can cure cancer, carry a man to the moon, and hold 100 oz. of water. The best backpack ever. So, Dakine rep, feel free to send me free products (can't blame me for trying, right?).