As mentioned during last Tuesday's loop, road trips can sometimes be planned or unexpected, tailored for pleasure or for business (or both), and how they can be controlled yet still lead your life towards an unforeseen direction. But regardless of the reason you are lead to the open road, it's always a good idea to be prepared, even if the trip is unexpected. 

I, myself, tend to hit the road at least once a month, occasionally unexpectedly. Just this year, I've driven to the Red Woods, Yosemite, Chico, Los Angeles, Orange, Bishop, and South Lake Tahoe. And although most of these trips were planned, a couple of them weren't. It is for this reason that I go through a pre-road trip ritual checklist the moment I know I will be hitting the road. 

Aside from packing my luggage and loading up a few snacks, the following pretty much covers my pre-road trip ritual checklist. They're helpful tips I think might come useful to some of you and your next road trip adventure. 

Bring a spare car key. Trust me, you'll thank me for this one when you accidentally lock yourself out of the car. 

Carry cash. The road can bring unexpected plans, sometimes that involves the need of physical money. To help avoid any delays, make sure to bring cash.

Make note of all Vista Points. Aim to stop at all Vista Points; they provide some of the most amazing views as you pass them on the road. You won't regret it if you stop. 

Announce your whereabouts. Let a family or friend know your destination or of any unexpected delays. In the very rare event that anything sketchy happens, it's good to have a public record of where you are. 

Check your vehicle. Do a run through of your vehicle to confirm that everything is running as it should be.

Have your entertainment ready. Downloaded podcasts and songs make great entertainment. Even downloaded shows and movies can come in handy when off the road.

Travel safe everyone!

In the past year I've become slightly obsessed with spin classes at TeamRide in Folsom. It's not the sort of spin class that you see just casually passing a side room at the gym, but the kind in a dedicated spin studio with instructors whose full-time job it is to be a spin instructor. 

In these classes, the bikes are arranged in an amphitheater style formation, all facing a platform where the instructor rides and DJs the class. The lights are low, the music is loud and curated specifically for the ride, and they purposely keep the studio pretty hot throughout the 45 minute class - only occasionally turning the fans on for a short respite from lots of sweating. 

My favorite instructor is Kristi. She's the lead instructor for all of TeamRide's Sacramento locations (Folsom, Midtown and East Sac) and runs the best classes. Not only are her classes the toughest and most physically demanding, but they're also mentally challenging as well.

She starts every class asking her riders to set an intention for the class - something to remember when you lose your breath and your legs start to go dead and your mind starts convincing you that it's fine to turn down the resistance and take a break. During the hills and the isolation intervals, she's in your ear, urging you to remember why you pulled yourself out of bed and to the studio on a Saturday morning or why you showed up for a 6:30 class on Tuesday night after a long day of work. 

Over the years, I've found that this is the sort of motivation I thrive on during a tough workout or in a tough life moment. Setting an intention for what you want to get from a spin class is no different than setting an intention for your week on a Monday morning. So this morning, take a page from Kristi's book and set an intention for this week - personally or professionally. Something you can call back to during the inevitable "down" moments the next 7 days will present to you. The success for your week starts now.

(And if anyone ever wants to try a spin class, you know where to find me! I promise it'll be the best sweat you'll get all week )

Greetings, SlideBelts fam. National Kool-Aid Day falls on the second Friday every August, which happens to be today - August 11th. So happy National Kool-Aid Day! Kick back with a nice glass of Kool-Aid on this beautiful Friday.