“I got to this point in the trail where I was not totally sure where to go. It wasn’t super clear. There was this old Peruvian man hauling a bunch of firewood back to his home and I asked him, ‘I’m doing this (hiking) loop…I don’t know if that means anything to you, do you know where to go?’. He just sort of smiled at me and said, “Sigue explorar” or in english “Just keep exploring”. I took it to mean, your intuition is right. He continued, “It looks like you’re headed to the right, just let that happen, you’ll be fine, don’t worry about it”. That’s all he said and he just kept hiking to his home. It wasn’t until afterwards, until I took that idea, that sentiment: trust your instincts, follow what is right, your going to be ok. I’ve tried to make that a big part of how I make decisions and how I live my life. It’s become a bit of a mantra.”
Britten explores the world via bicycle. He has ridden the length of the west coast of the US, from South to North, prevailing winds and all. He’s also ridden a bicycle from Colombia to the tip of South America.
“Riding a bike has sort of forced me to be ok with the extremes.” On Britten’s ride up the California coast, he experienced one of his most challenging days into the wind, with several uphill climbs. This went on for 30 miles, and it was hard, and wildly fulfilling. You may be familiar with the area, it’s called Big Sur. On this stretch of the journey, for Britten, it went from, “I would rather be anywhere else, doing anything else… to I would rather be no where else, doing nothing differently over the course of a day”. Being an ‘even-keeled’ individual, these challenges keep him glued to the adventures that cycling can provide. The physical ups and downs can sometimes lead to ups, downs, and all-arounds mentally as well. As he explores the landscapes of Earth, he explores the topography of his mind as well.
The notion of connectedness can also be amplified during his rides, “…there is some cosmic energy showing up as a newcomer on a bike, that in so many ways has restored my faith in humanity”. Britten shares the experience of what it’s like to show up as a newcomer on a bike; “You’re the vulnerable one. You’re the person that’s putting yourself out there, the automatic question is where are you coming from, and where are you going?’. Thus begins a conversation that so often leads to, ‘Hey I have a place in the backyard if you want to camp out there. You look tired, here’s some juice or coffee, or some food’. I’ve had people welcome me into their homes 30 minutes after having met them, and before I know it there’s a fire to be warmed by and a nice place to be.”
What else does riding a bike create for Britten? Stories. He thrives on what he calls, “being an active member of the plot”. Britten says that, “cycling makes you part of the story, with an active role in what is happening in any given place”.
With all of this experience and countless stories, he now shares his love for long distance cycling with his company, Revolución Rides. How has this all come to be? He says this has all happened with, “a willingness to pursue things, and only things, that I’m actually excited about. Motivated about. Curious about. That has totally led to everything that I’m doing”.
What medium enables you to write your own story, or to be a part of the plot? What brings challenge and delight that ultimately keeps you exploring and creating? Write three things that come to mind, and how you can incorporate them more into your life.
Love podcasts? Search Profound Perspective on the Apple Podcast app to hear more of Britten’s story.
Interested in exploring the world via bicycle? Check out Britten’s company: revolucionrides.com. If you’re looking for a place to work/hangout in Denver, Colorado, visit wayfinder-coop.com.
Thanks for sharing the discussion. The part about asking for help is valuable advice. Near the end about how riding connects him with surroundings reminds me of even walking and taking local buses – slowing down and experiencing the locals – gives you so much more experience that whizzing through enclosed in a car.