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Cycling gives me cardio, endurance, VO₂ work, weight control and a useful capacity for suffering. All of those matter for health, but they also transfer surprisingly well to riding motorcycles.

Tibidabo naturally became one of my regular training grounds.

It is hard enough to hurt, but not so long that it requires planning an entire day around it.

And it is beautiful.

The strange thing is that familiarity makes that easy to forget.

Sometimes I travel somewhere, see a mountain, road or landscape and think:

Imagine having something like this close to home.

Then I come back and ride Tibidabo.

I already do.

I suspect we stop noticing some of the best things around us simply because they are always there.

Why 100?

There is no science behind it.

It was simply the first number that came into my head.

I probably climb Tibidabo around 30 or 35 times in a normal year, perhaps less.

So 100 is enough to change my behaviour.

It is also round, easy to remember and difficult enough to feel like something.

That is all the calculation I needed.

The important part: no deadline

My first instinct was to make it a one-year challenge.

Then I realised that would slightly ruin it.

I already measure enough things.

Bloodwork. VO₂ max. Strength. Investment returns. Business metrics. Training.

I am quite capable of turning almost anything into a spreadsheet.

I don't need another source of pressure.

So if 100 Tibidabos takes nine months, good.

If it takes a year, good.

If it takes eighteen months, also good.

The objective is simply to get to 100.

One number instead of ten

There is an obvious contradiction here.

I am trying to measure less by creating something else to measure.

But I think that is precisely why it might work.

Most gamification adds complexity. More metrics, more targets, more optimization.

This does the opposite.

Did I climb Tibidabo?

Yes or no.

That is enough.

A spare morning, a gap in my work schedule, a day when I am not sure what training to do.

Tibidabo becomes an easy answer.

Not because it is the scientifically optimal workout.

Because I have 100 of them to do.

Why make it public?

Mostly because saying something publicly makes it slightly harder not to do it.

Accountability works on me.

But I also like the possibility that somebody else sees the project and thinks of their own version.

Not necessarily a mountain.

Not necessarily cycling.

Just something nearby that is useful, enjoyable and perhaps a little too familiar to still feel special.

I don't know what 100 Tibidabos will do to my fitness.

I don't know whether climb number 80 will feel very different from climb number 8.

That is part of what makes the project interesting.

I am not trying to conquer Tibidabo.

I am trying to notice it 100 more times.

October 2026

Expertise Creates Blind Spots

The framework that made you successful can stop you from seeing what replaces it.

I was reminded of this while reading The Infinity Machine, Sebastian Mallaby’s book about Demis Hassabis, DeepMind and the history of modern AI.

For years, DeepMind was probably the most admired AI lab in the world. It had extraordinary researchers, Google’s resources and landmark achievements such as AlphaGo. Much of its success came from reinforcement learning, self-play and the idea that intelligent systems should learn through experience.

Then language models changed the game.

OpenAI pushed much harder on transformers, scaling and language. DeepMind had enormous expertise, but that expertise may also have shaped what it expected the next breakthrough to look like.

That is the interesting part.

Expertise helps us see more clearly inside a framework. But it can make the framework itself harder to question.

Success creates a lens

This happens far beyond AI.

A company becomes successful because it understands a particular customer, product, distribution channel or business model extremely well. The better it gets, the more knowledge accumulates around that model.

Processes improve. People are hired for it. Incentives reinforce it. The company develops an increasingly sophisticated explanation of why its way works.

Then something changes.

A new technology appears. Consumer behaviour shifts. A different distribution model emerges. A competitor attacks from a direction that initially looks inferior or irrelevant.

The incumbent often sees the new thing perfectly well.

It just interprets it through the old framework.

Investors have the same problem

Experience is one of the biggest advantages in investing. Pattern recognition matters.

But every pattern is based on a world that already happened.

A great investor can become so good at recognising yesterday’s winners that tomorrow’s winners look wrong.

“Not profitable enough.”

“Too expensive.”

“Not a real business.”

“No moat.”

Sometimes those objections are correct.

Sometimes they are evidence that the category itself is changing.

A circle of competence is useful because it defines what we understand. It becomes dangerous when we quietly redefine it as what is allowed to be true.

The problem is not expertise

The answer is obviously not to become less knowledgeable.

Expertise is enormously valuable.

The challenge is keeping enough intellectual flexibility to ask:

What would have to be true for my current framework to stop working?

And perhaps more importantly:

What am I dismissing because it does not fit the model that made me successful?

DeepMind did not suddenly become stupid when language models accelerated.

Quite the opposite.

It may have suffered from something much more interesting.

It was extraordinarily good at one way of seeing the future.

And sometimes that is exactly what makes another future harder to see.

August 2026

The Idiot Index of Cycling

How can a bicycle cost as much as a motorcycle when nobody in the cycling industry seems to be getting extraordinarily rich?

I recently came across an idea associated with Elon Musk called the Idiot Index, which he applied to rockets but can be applied with anything.

It compares the price of a finished component with the cost of the raw materials inside it. If a part costs €1,000 but contains only €20 worth of aluminium, the index is very high.

That does not necessarily mean anyone is being ripped off. Turning cheap materials into a precise, reliable and useful product can be extremely difficult. But a very high Idiot Index should at least make us curious.

It immediately made me think about bicycles.

I ride bicycles and motorcycles, so both compete for the same limited part of my budget. And there is one comparison that has always been difficult for me to ignore.

A top-end bicycle can cost roughly the same as a Honda CRF450 enduro motorcycle.

The bicycle may be spectacular. My first reaction when I see a €10,000 or €12,000 bike is usually: Wow.

But the motorcycle has an engine, gearbox, clutch, fuel system, cooling system, exhaust, electronics, suspension and thousands of components working together. The bicycle is a frame, two wheels, a cockpit, a saddle, tyres and a groupset.

They are different markets with different production volumes and different economics. I understand that. But when two products compete for the same money, the comparison is real.

By complexity and number of parts, the bicycle looks extraordinarily expensive.

Part of that difference can be explained. A motorcycle chassis can be produced quickly using highly industrialised processes. A premium carbon bicycle frame still requires a surprising amount of manual work. Sheets of carbon are cut, positioned by hand in a specific sequence, placed into moulds, cured, removed, inspected, finished and painted.

The bicycle is a simpler machine, but one of its main components can be remarkably artisanal.

Production volume matters too. Honda can spread engineering and manufacturing investment across large numbers of motorcycles and shared components. A premium bicycle frame may be produced in much smaller quantities, divided again by model, size and colour.

That explains part of the price.

I am less sure that it explains all of it.

You see the problem most clearly when building a bicycle component by component. The cost of the groupset can be brutal. Then you add premium wheels, a premium cockpit, a premium seatpost and a premium saddle. Almost every individual subsystem has become expensive enough to feel like a luxury product.

Shimano and SRAM dominate much of the performance groupset market, so the obvious assumption is that this is where the money goes.

Perhaps they are becoming extraordinarily rich from selling us derailleurs, brakes and cassettes.

But the evidence is not so simple. SRAM is privately held, so its full financial position is difficult to examine. Shimano publishes its results, and its cycling business is profitable, but it does not display the kind of effortless monopoly economics that the prices of premium groupsets might lead us to expect. In 2025, Shimano’s bicycle-component sales increased, while operating income from the division fell by about 21%. (Cycling Weekly)

Then you look at the bicycle brands themselves.

Many are dealing with declining profits, restructuring, excess inventory and heavy discounting. Retailers do not appear to be wonderful businesses either. Nor do distributors, who finance stock and risk being left with last year’s models.

The finished bicycle is extremely expensive.

Yet it is surprisingly difficult to identify who is capturing all that value.

This is where the Idiot Index becomes interesting. Musk originally used it to challenge engineers: compare the price of a part with the value of its materials and investigate the gap. A high ratio may expose inefficient manufacturing or unnecessary complexity.

In cycling, the gap may contain something else as well.

It contains low production volumes, manual carbon manufacturing, engineering, tooling, distribution and inventory. But nearly every physical industry has development, moulds, samples, errors, quality control, transport, warehouses, distributors and warranties. These costs are real, but they are not unique to bicycles.

The gap also contains us.

I have bought €85 bottle cages and €400 saddles. I was fully aware that they would not transform the experience of riding my bike.

Why did I buy them?

Weight matters. Reliability matters. Aesthetics matter. The brand matters. The feeling of owning the best matters. So do passion, illusion and the pleasure of looking at a beautiful machine.

And ego matters. Maybe, as the Ryan Holiday book, Ego is the Enemy.

Cyclists often want to be different and unique, while simultaneously wanting to use exactly the same equipment as the best riders in the world.

We are a little strange.

I am not making a moral argument against expensive bicycles. I have always believed that things are worth what people are willing to pay for them. If a company sells a bicycle for €10,000 and customers happily buy it, the market has justified the price.

Life is also too short to own bad bikes when you love cycling and can afford good ones.

But we should be honest about what we are buying.

A €10,000 bicycle will probably not give me twice the performance or twice the fun of a €5,000 bicycle. I know this. Most experienced cyclists know it.

And still, we want the €10,000 bicycle.

The difference may be irrational from a pure performance perspective, but humans do not buy only measurable performance. We buy design, identity, aspiration and emotional attachment. Those things have value because we decide they have value.

My own measure has increasingly become fun per euro.

That may explain why I have recently been buying more motorcycles than bicycles. For the same amount of money, the motorcycle currently gives me more novelty, more experiences and more fun.

But that is only my decision. Another cyclist may get enormous satisfaction from owning a perfect road bike, even when a much cheaper one would ride almost as well.

The question that remains is not whether premium bicycles are worth their price. The market already answers that every time somebody buys one.

The stranger question is why an industry can sell so many extraordinarily expensive products while its brands, retailers and suppliers often struggle to generate extraordinary returns.

Perhaps the Idiot Index of cycling is simply very high because carbon manufacturing is manual, volumes are small and components are complex.

Perhaps too much money disappears into distribution, inventory and constant product renewal.

Perhaps the industry has been moving through inertia, launching new bicycles because that is what brands are expected to do, with everyone trying to lead while travelling in roughly the same direction.

Perhaps we cyclists create the index ourselves through our appetite for lighter, newer, more exclusive and more beautiful equipment.

Most likely, it is all of these things.

But I am not convinced that anyone fully understands the answer.

Not the consumers.

Not the brands.

Perhaps not even the industry itself.

The bicycle is simple. Its Idiot Index is not.

July 2026

Source: The Book of Elon, by Eric Jorgenson; Shimano FY2025 financial results.

Overregulation Is an Accumulation Problem

Every regulation may make sense individually.

That is what makes the problem difficult to see.

One rule for safety.
Another for fairness.
Another for transparency.
Another for environmental protection.

Reasonable, one by one.

But systems do not experience regulations individually.

They experience them cumulatively.

Elon Musk uses the image of Gulliver tied down by thousands of small strings.

It is one of the best metaphors for modern civilization.

No single string matters much.

Together, they immobilize.

The problem is not regulation itself.

The problem is that regulations accumulate much faster than they disappear.

Addition is constant.

Deletion is rare.

Over time, systems harden.

Governments harden.
Corporations harden.
Institutions harden.

Even software hardens when features keep being added without simplification or removal.

Complexity compounds.

Especially when nobody is responsible for subtraction.

Most regulations are created to solve local problems.

Very few people are rewarded for removing obsolete ones.

That creates an asymmetry.

The system naturally grows heavier over time.

This is particularly visible in Europe.

Not because every regulation is wrong.

But because the accumulation itself becomes friction.

Slower decisions.
Higher compliance costs.
Reduced experimentation.
More barriers for small builders and entrepreneurs.

Civilizations rarely collapse suddenly.

More often, they slowly lose flexibility.

They become harder to move.
Harder to adapt.
Harder to build within.

The same thing happens inside companies.

Processes accumulate.
Meetings accumulate.
Approvals accumulate.

Nobody questions whether the original requirement still matters.

People just optimize around it.

One of Elon’s best ideas is:

“The most common mistake of smart engineers is to optimize something that should not exist.”

That applies far beyond engineering.

Healthy systems do not just add.

They delete.

The real challenge is not creating new rules.

It is building systems capable of questioning old ones before complexity becomes permanent.

Because accumulation without subtraction eventually turns flexibility into rigidity.

And rigidity is what civilizations mistake for stability, right before they stop progressing.

May 2026

Intelligence is Not What You Think

We usually define intelligence too narrowly.

IQ tests.
Memory.
Analytical ability.
Academic performance.

Useful traits.

But incomplete.

Naval Ravikant once suggested a better definition.

Intelligence is getting what you want out of life

That changes everything.

Because suddenly, many supposedly intelligent people no longer look that intelligent.

They may have:

prestigious careers
high incomes
elite degrees

And still struggle with:

relationships
health
stress
freedom
peace of mind

If someone succeeds professionally but destroys their health, is that intelligence?

If someone becomes wealthy but remains anxious, is that intelligence?

If someone wins status while building a life they secretly dislike, what exactly did they optimize for?

The problem may be that society rewards narrow intelligence.

The kind that performs well inside systems designed by other people.

School.
Corporate hierarchies.
Standardized tests.

But life is a broader problem.

And broader problems require broader intelligence.

Real intelligence might include:

judgment
self-awareness
emotional control
adaptability
long-term thinking

And perhaps most importantly:

clarity.

Because before getting what you want, you first need to know what you actually want.

Which is surprisingly rare.

Many people optimize aggressively without ever questioning the target.

They climb ladders they never chose.

That is not intelligence.

That is efficiency without direction.

A highly intelligent person should not only solve problems well.

They should choose better problems.

The edge is not thinking faster than everyone else.

It is building a life aligned with what actually matters to you.

May 2026

Prices Didn't Double. Your Currency Halved

Lately, everything feels more expensive.

Food.
Energy.
Services.

The instinct is to blame companies.

Greed. Pricing. Margins.

Visible causes.

But there is a less visible layer.

The unit we measure prices in is not fixed.

Money changes.

Imagine a simple system.

10 eggs.
10 dollars.

Each egg costs 1 dollar.

Now increase the money to 12 dollars, without increasing the eggs.

The price is no longer 1.

It moves.

Reality is more complex.

Supply shocks matter.
Energy matters.
Logistics matter.

But money is part of the system.

And it is the least visible part.

We notice price changes immediately.

We rarely notice changes in the value of money.

Governments run deficits.

They issue debt.

Liquidity expands.

Not all of it becomes inflation.

Sometimes it goes into assets.

Sometimes it stays in the system.

Sometimes it leaks into prices.

The result is not linear.

But the direction matters.

This is where perception breaks.

We blame what we see.

Companies.
Prices.
Invoices.

We ignore what we don’t see.

Currency.
Policy.
Time.

The uncomfortable idea is simple.

Prices don’t just reflect value.

They reflect the unit we use to measure value.

The question is not:

“Why did things get more expensive?”

It is:

“What changed in the system that made prices move?”

The edge is not in predicting inflation.

It is in understanding that the system is bigger than the price tag.

April 2026

The Hardest Moment to Stay Rational

Most people think investing is about finding the right assets.

It isn’t.

It is about behaving correctly when the feedback is negative.

This quarter was a good example.

The portfolio was down. Prices moved against positions. Nothing looked right in the short term.

That is when most systems quietly break.

Not because they were wrong, but because behavior changes under pressure.

Volatility creates discomfort.

Discomfort pushes action.

And action, in those moments, is often the mistake.

The discipline is simple, but not easy.

Follow the system, then apply judgment.

Not the other way around.

In my case, the signal was clear.

Deploy capital. Increase positions in businesses I already understand.

Not because the quarter was good.

Because it wasn’t.

Bad quarters are not the exception.

They are the test.

The system does not break when performance drops.

It breaks when behavior changes.

That is the real edge.

And it is quieter than most people think.

Full context and portfolio update here.

April 2026

Engineering Is Not a Talent Problem. It Is a Prestige Problem

We say we need more engineers. But culturally, we signal the opposite.

Dyson points out something uncomfortable.

To be unable to change a plug, repair a machine, or hang a picture is often seen as a mark of refinement, as if distance from making things equals status. I was culprit myself and as an engineer I'm ashamed.

This is not a small detail. It is a signal.

Young people do not just follow advice. They follow what society rewards, what looks desirable, what carries status, and what gets attention.

And what do we reward?

Finance. Consulting. Influence. Abstraction.

Very little makes building things look aspirational. Very little makes manufacturing look like a place where ambitious people should go. Elon Musk looks like the most brilliant exception to me.

So we end up with a contradiction.

We say we need more engineers. But we do not make engineering desirable.

Dyson adds something more interesting.

Through the James Dyson Award, they see that young engineers are perfectly capable of inventing real solutions. The problem is not ability. It is direction.

And maybe also mindset.

Because breakthrough ideas rarely come from market research, business plans, or strategic investment.

They often come from intuition, imagination, and risk-taking.

From people willing to cut across what is considered the right way. From people willing to build before they fully understand.

This creates a second problem.

We do not just undervalue engineering. We also try to over-systematize innovation.

We want predictability. We want roadmaps. We want certainty.

But real innovation is messy. It is iterative. It is often irrational at the beginning.

You cannot fully plan something that does not yet exist.

So we end up with two gaps.

We do not value building things. And we try to control the process that creates new things.

Both work against each other.

This is not just about education. It is about cultural signals. What we admire, what we reward, and what we talk about.

In the long run, societies do not get what they need. They get what they celebrate.

Maybe we do not have an engineering shortage. We have a prestige problem.

April 2026

Flow Was Never Meant for Desks

I find it easier to enter flow riding a technical trail on a motorcycle than sitting at a desk.

That is not surprising. Flow was never designed for desks.

Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi described flow as the state where attention becomes fully absorbed in a task and performance rises dramatically.

Steven Kotler and other researchers later showed that flow tends to appear when certain conditions are present. Kotler describes many different “flow triggers”, but we do not need to list all of them to understand the basic structure.

A few elements appear again and again.

Clear goals.
Immediate feedback.
A challenge slightly above current skill.
Deep engagement with the environment.

Trail riding checks most of them.

Desk work usually checks very few.

Start with the challenge–skill balance.

If a trail is too easy, attention drifts. If it is too difficult, fear takes over.

But when the difficulty is just above your current ability, something interesting happens. Your mind locks into the present moment.

That narrow band between boredom and anxiety is where flow tends to appear.

A technical climb, a rocky descent, a narrow single track, or faster riders you are trying to follow all create exactly that condition.

You are slightly stretched, but still capable.

Then there is feedback.

On a motorcycle, feedback is immediate.

You feel traction changes instantly. You adjust body position instantly. You correct lines instantly.

The rear wheel sliding is actually normal in trail riding. In fact you are almost always sliding a little. That is part of control. But if you push too far the bike can over-drift, and the terrain quickly reminds you.

The feedback loop is measured in seconds. Miliseconds.

The brain loves tight feedback loops.

Most knowledge work works in the opposite direction. Feedback often arrives days, weeks, or months later.

By then the connection between action and consequence is weak.

Trail riding also creates deep embodiment.

Vision scanning the terrain. Weight shifting on the pegs. Hands adjusting throttle and clutch. Legs controlling and stabilizing the bike. Body reacting to traction changes.

Multiple sensory systems operate at the same time.

The body becomes part of the decision process.

This is very different from desk work, where cognition is abstract and disconnected from physical experience.

Then there is unpredictability.

Ruts appear suddenly. Mud changes traction. A corner hides a rock.

The terrain constantly changes.

Uncertainty forces attention into the present moment.

You cannot think about tomorrow’s meeting while navigating a technical section of trail.

The environment pulls your attention forward meter by meter.

There is also a social element.

When riding with others, rhythm matters.

You follow each other’s pace.

You share risk.

You move through the terrain as a loose system.

Sometimes this produces something close to group flow.

The ride becomes smoother, faster, and strangely effortless. Hours pass without noticing.

The lesson is not about motorcycles.

It is about environment design.

Flow tends to appear when certain structural conditions exist.

Clear goals.
Immediate feedback.
A challenge slightly above skill.
Embodied engagement.
Limited distraction.

Modern knowledge work often removes most of these conditions.

Then we blame ourselves for not concentrating.

But the problem is often the structure of the environment, not the weakness of the mind.

Trail riding simply makes the mechanics visible.

It reminds us that the human brain evolved to focus while moving through complex environments with real consequences. Not while refreshing email.

Flow is structural. Build the right conditions and it appears naturally.

Sometimes those conditions look like a narrow trail disappearing into the forest. And I love it

March 2026

The Serenity Prayer. The Ultimate Decision Filter

Most stress comes from confusing what we can control with what we cannot.

Not from complexity.

Not from workload.

From misclassification.

The Serenity Prayer is often framed as religious. I see it as operational.

God, give me grace to accept with serenity

the things that cannot be changed,

Courage to change the things which should be changed,

and the Wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

Remove the theology and what remains is a decision filter.

Three buckets:

What cannot be changed.
What can be changed.
The discipline to tell the difference.

Most people collapse these into one.

Bucket One: What You Cannot Change

Macroeconomic cycles. Other people’s personalities. Past decisions. Aging. Market volatility. Weather on race day.

Energy spent here produces anxiety, not progress.

Acceptance is not passivity.

It is strategic non-resistance.

You stop wasting cognitive bandwidth.

Bucket Two: What You Can Change

Your preparation. Your sleep. Your skill development. Your brand positioning. Your daily habits. Your reactions.

This is where compounding lives.

Calm focus on controllables reduces noise and increases long-term effect.

Bucket Three: The Hardest One

Wisdom.

This is the real work.

The boundary shifts depending on context, power, competence, and timing.

What you cannot change today may become influenceable in five years.

What you think you control may be illusion.

This distinction is a lifelong calibration exercise.

Why This Matters to Me

In investing, I cannot control markets. I can control allocation, patience, and behavior.

In cycling, I cannot control terrain. I can control pacing.

In building brands, I cannot control trends. I can control consistency.

The Serenity Prayer reduces emotional volatility because it forces a question before reaction:

Is this mine to solve?

If yes, act.

If no, accept.

Most stress disappears not because problems vanish, but because misdirected effort does.

A Non-Religious Interpretation

You do not need to believe in God to use this framework.

You need intellectual honesty.

Acceptance is strength when applied correctly.

Courage is strength when applied selectively.

Wisdom is knowing which one is required.

A Practical Application

When something triggers you, write it down.

Then ask:

Can I directly influence this?

Can I influence it indirectly?

Or must I adapt around it?

Answer clearly. Act accordingly.

This simple sorting mechanism prevents wasted years.

Direction improves when classification improves.

Most people do not need more motivation.

They need better filters.

February 2026

MotoGP Doesn’t Need to Become Formula 1. Or does it?

I’ve been a motorcycle fan for as long as I can remember.

I’ve owned bikes since I was 15 years old.

I spent years working in project management of new motorcycles.

I even collaborated with the Catalan Motorcycle Federation, back when kids like the Márquez and Espargaró brothers were still racing minibikes and dreaming big. My role back then was simple and unglamorous: making sure parents didn’t cheat by making their kids’ bikes faster.

So I don’t come to MotoGP as a casual spectator. I come to it as someone who has lived motorcycles from the inside.

And that’s why, watching the 2026 MotoGP team presentations, I felt a mix of disappointment and clarity.

Something feels stalled

On paper, MotoGP teams are incredibly successful.

But when you look closer, you notice:

A worrying lack of sponsors
Sponsors that feel uninspiring or dated
Very few new brands entering the sport

Compare this with Formula 1.

Under Liberty Media, F1 attracts:

Google. Amazon. WhatsApp. Revolut.

F1 gets a Brad Pitt blockbuster film. MotoGP gets a Spanish–Italian Idols movie whose trailer, frankly, made me cringe.

From a business and cultural perspective, the contrast is brutal.

And yet… MotoGP is still magic

Despite all of that, MotoGP remains the most exciting sport I know to watch.

And motorcycling remains the most intense (and strangely meditative) sport I practice.

But it’s clear now that MotoGP is not for everyone.

It’s for a smaller, more committed audience. And that raises an uncomfortable question.

Is mass success always desirable?

Imagine MotoGP becoming as “successful” as F1.

More eyeballs. More money. More influencers. Higher costs. Higher barriers to entry.

More people who don’t really care about motorcycles, but show up because it’s fashionable and disappear when the hype moves on.

Imagine a sport that becomes:

More boring to watch
More expensive to reach the top
More focused on spectacle than substance

Is that really progress?

Maybe MotoGP’s limitation is its strength

Motorcycling has always demanded something from you: Attention, respect, understanding, humility

It’s not easily digestible. It’s not easily commodified. And maybe that’s okay.

Maybe MotoGP doesn’t need to win the culture war. Maybe it doesn’t need Hollywood.

Maybe it doesn’t need to be everything to everyone.

A personal conclusion

I might be getting old.

But when I hear people say MotoGP should “learn from F1,” my instinctive answer is simple:

I hope not.

Because the day MotoGP becomes another polished entertainment product may be the day it stops being special.

And I’d rather have a sport that remains alive and honest than one that is bigger, louder — and hollow.

January 2026

Are We Living Through a Collapse of Hobbies… or Something Deeper?

Lately, I’ve been struggling to make sense of what I’m seeing.

On the surface, it’s a business concern. One of my companies operates in the watersports world, and results have been deteriorating steadily. Not suddenly, not because of one bad decision, but gradually, year after year. Fewer people practicing, lower engagement, shrinking demand for products that once made perfect sense.

At first, it’s tempting to look for tactical explanations: pricing, marketing, distribution, competition. And of course, those always matter.

But the more I think about it, the more it feels like the problem is not tactical at all. It feels cultural. Structural. Even civilizational.

The Smartphone Era and the Silent Death of Hobbies

There’s an idea that has been resonating with me strongly and today I read it in Samuel Gil's newsletter: the smartphone era has been a mass extinction event for hobbies.

Not just reading, but all activities that require time, patience, skill, repetition, and a certain tolerance for frustration. Sports, crafts, music, outdoor pursuits, anything that asks something from you before it gives something back.

Infinite scroll is frictionless. Hobbies are not.

And when time, attention, and mental energy are constantly fragmented, the first things to go are precisely those activities that once gave depth, identity, and meaning outside of work.

Watersports are a perfect example. They demand planning, learning, physical effort, and often depend on weather and conditions. They are deeply rewarding, but only if you commit. When fewer people are willing or able to make that commitment, the ecosystem around them inevitably shrinks.

This isn’t nostalgia talking. It’s pattern recognition.

A Generation That Struggles to Imagine an Exciting Future

What makes this moment particularly troubling is that the decline of hobbies doesn’t exist in isolation.

Young people today are growing up in a world where imagining an exciting, expansive future is increasingly difficult. Housing feels unattainable. Stable careers feel fragile. Starting a family feels financially risky. Even the idea of “doing better than your parents” no longer feels like the default.

When the future feels compressed and uncertain, long-term pursuits lose their appeal. Why invest years mastering something when everything feels provisional? Why commit deeply when the horizon feels foggy?

In that context, short-term gratification isn’t just tempting, it’s rational.

Families Under Pressure, Energy Drained

At the same time, family economies are stretched thin. Even households that are doing “okay” often feel one unexpected expense away from stress. When both parents are exhausted, when time is scarce, when mental bandwidth is consumed by logistics and finances, hobbies become a luxury.

Not because people don’t value them, but because they don’t feel they can afford them in time, money, or energy.

This creates a feedback loop: less engagement, less community, fewer shared passions, more isolation.

A Monetary System That Feels Unstable

Overlay all of this with a growing sense that the monetary and economic system itself is under strain.

Persistent inflation, exploding debt, asset bubbles, constant interventions to “keep the machine running.” Even people who don’t follow economics closely can feel that something is off. The rules seem to change constantly. Stability feels artificial.

When trust in the system erodes, so does the willingness to plan long-term. And hobbies, again, are long-term by nature.

Why This Matters Beyond Business

This reflection didn’t start as a philosophical exercise. It started with a balance sheet and uncomfortable questions about the future of a business I’ve built and cared for.

But it quickly became clear that this isn’t just about one company, or even one industry. It’s about what kind of lives we are collectively building.

A society without hobbies is not just less productive or less creative. It’s flatter. More anxious. More dependent on passive consumption for relief. Hobbies used to be where people found mastery, community, and identity outside of work. They were pressure valves. Anchors.

Losing them has consequences we’re only beginning to understand.

Not Everything Is Lost. But Nothing Is Guaranteed

I don’t believe everything is doomed. I don’t think all hobbies will disappear. What I do think is that we’re moving toward a world with fewer participants, but more intentional ones. Smaller communities, but deeper commitment.

That has implications for culture, for business, and for how we choose to spend our own time.

For me, this moment demands honesty. About markets. About culture. About what deserves energy and what might be a chapter coming to a close.

Because sometimes the right response to a difficult moment is not to push harder, but to step back and ask a better question:

What kind of world are we actually living in — and how do I want to show up in it?

December 2025

What I Learned From Red Bull’s Founder and Why It Hit Me So Hard

A few days ago I listened to one of the best podcast episodes I’ve heard this year: the story of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, told by David Senra on Founders.

If you haven’t listened to it yet, here it is — do yourself a favor:

I’ve always admired David Senra’s work. He has the ability to get inside the minds of the world’s greatest builders through their biographies and extract the operating system behind their success. I’ve learned more from him than from most business books combined.

But this episode… this episode was different.

It felt like someone had taken my own entrepreneurial instincts: the good, the bad, the messy and presented a perfected version in human form.

Dietrich Mateschitz is probably one of the greatest founders ever under the radar.

A man who reinvented an entire category, ignored all conventional wisdom, and built a global cultural force on the back of one idea, one product, and one worldview.

Below is what resonated with me, what I already do well, and — more importantly — where I still fail miserably.

1. Category Creation > Competition

Mateschitz didn’t invent a drink. He invented a new category. An “efficiency product” with a philosophy behind it.

He understood something most founders never do: If you create your own lane, you get to define the rules.

Where it resonates with me

With AMS and RSPro, I’ve always tried to avoid the commodity trap. I don’t want “another grip” or “another traction pad.” I want something with its own logic, its own feel, its own design language.

Where I fail

I still hesitate to fully, aggressively claim the category.

Sometimes I play too small.

Sometimes I talk like I’m competing instead of defining.

Mateschitz reminds me: You either build your world or you live in someone else’s.

2. Marketing as a Universe, Not a Channel

Red Bull is not a brand. It’s a world you enter.

Mateschitz built: events, athletes, media, extreme sports, film studios, stunts, even a guy jumping from space.

Not to diversify, but because attention compounds when you build culture, not campaigns.

Where I already do well

I naturally love building content.

My product descriptions, my long writeups, my experiments… this part comes easy. I enjoy it. It feels aligned with how I think.

Where I fail

I still sometimes treat content as something I “should” do, not as the core engine. I sometimes hesitate to go bold or weird or provocative. I still fight the instinct to be “practical” instead of “memorable.”

Red Bull didn’t grow through practicality. They grew through story, spectacle, and constant motion.

3. No Debt, No Masters

One of the most powerful parts of the episode was Dietrich’s obsession with independence: no loans, no dilution, no compromises, reinvesting everything for 15 years, refusing to sell or IPO, running Red Bull the way he wanted, keeping total control over messaging and environment.

Where it resonates with me

I hate debt. Not in a theoretical way: in a visceral way.

Whenever I’ve had debt in my life or business, I’ve felt chained. And paid it back as fast as I could.

Running AMS and RSPro independently has given me freedom I’d never trade.

Where I fail

Sometimes I operate too cautiously. Avoiding fragility is good. Avoiding calculated risk isn’t.

And sometimes the fine line between them hast it easy to confuse me.

Dietrich didn’t fear risk. He feared losing independence. Big difference.

4. The Founder’s Identity Is the Brand

I loved how Senra highlighted this: Red Bull’s tone, visuals, values, secrecy, discipline, even elegance ... are all extensions of Mateschitz’s personality.

He didn’t try to build a “market-friendly” identity. He built something that looked like him.

And that authenticity created a cult.

Where I resonate

The only way to be truly unique is by being yourself. There's only one you in the World.

My taste, my minimalism, my love for aesthetics, my obsession with feel, my disdain for bullshit, my preference for small circles, my love for cycling, surfing, moto, my hatred for discounts and gimmicks.

Where I fail

I sometimes hide too much behind the products. I forget that my personality: as a rider, expert, entrepreneur is a moat.

People connect with humans, not SKUs.

I should show more of how I think, how I ride, how I conceptualize, how I test. People buy the story behind the gear, not the gear itself.

5. Outrageous, Memorable, Worth-Talking-About Actions

Red Bull didn’t buy attention. It engineered moments people couldn’t help but talk about. Felix Baumgartner jumping from space is not “marketing.”

It’s mythology.

Where I fail

I leave too many ideas on the table. I tend to rationalize myself out of the bolder ones.

Sometimes I think: “No, too much.”. “No, too risky.”. “No, nobody will care.”. But the lesson is the opposite:

If it scares you, if it feels too weird or too bold, it’s probably the thing that creates momentum.

Memorable > safe.

Always.

6. Fitness as a Founder Responsibility

Something I didn’t expect from the episode: Dietrich’s philosophy about fitness.

He trained indoors to enjoy life outdoors: skiing, moto, climbing, sailing, adventure.

This felt extremely personal to me.

Where I resonate

My hobbies define me: cycling, moto, SUP surfing and I dedicate more and more time to fitness and health not the beat PR's but to be always ready for my hobbies.

They are my “real life.”

Work indoors → freedom outdoors.

Where I fail

I earned more time playing but I fail to do so. Next year, next month, next week. a lot. I surf. I move. But structured, intentional fitness sometimes slips. I planned to get at least one working day a month to ride moto. I still have to fins the right moment.

Why This Episode Mattered

This wasn’t just another founder story. It was a mirror.

I saw: what I admire, what I unconsciously emulate, what I’ve ignored, what I’ve done well and what I need to fix.

Dietrich Mateschitz lived, and built, on his own terms.

That’s the ultimate goal for me too.

This episode reminded me of something simple and powerful:

If you build something authentic, different, durable, and aligned with who you really are, you don’t need to chase anything.

You just keep climbing.

Because, as Dietrich said:

“The journey is the destination.”

December 2025

I Trained for a Road Race. I Ended Up Falling Back in Love with My Gravel Bike

It started, like many bad ideas and great stories, with a coffee.

Four months ago, I was having a relaxed Saturday morning latte when, out of nowhere, I messaged my lifelong friend Jaume — now a diehard cyclist living in Andorra.

“3 Nacions?” I asked.

“Let’s go,” he replied.

That was it. I didn’t even own a road bike. But I signed up anyway.

Three countries. One massive loop. Spain to Andorra to France and back. Smooth tarmac. Endless climbs. Hairpin descents. A roadie’s dream.

Thanks to my friends at Unica, I got hold of a proper race-ready road bike. Light. Twitchy. Made for speed.

I told myself: If you’re going to ride fast, ride the part.

I started training.

I adjusted cadence. I chased watts. I shaved seconds.

And then something weird happened.

Two gravel riders passed me. On a climb.

Chunky tires. Big smiles. And me—on full road setup—getting dropped.

I thought it was just a one-off.

But it wasn’t.

When Everything Looks Right — But Feels Off

Every stat said I was doing well. The numbers were there. But something in me wasn’t clicking.

I didn’t feel stronger. I didn’t feel faster.

Worse — I didn’t feel anything.

I was ticking boxes, but the joy wasn’t following.

It felt like I was riding someone else’s bike. Like I had borrowed someone else’s idea of fun.

And that’s when a thought crept in — quietly at first, then louder:

What if I took the OPEN U.P. out for one of these rides?

The Ride That Changed Everything

It was a Wednesday. Blue sky, warm air — same training loop, different mindset.

I rolled out on my U.P.

650b wheels. Knobby tires. More drag, more flex, less “speed.”

Or so I thought.

Ten minutes in, I wasn’t just moving — I was flying.

Maybe not on paper. But in spirit.

I climbed steady. I descended faster — more confident, more grounded.

And this time, I was smiling.

No watts. No segments. No noise in my head.

Just me, the bike, and the road.

It didn’t feel like a guilty pleasure.

It felt like home.

A Bike Without Labels

It’s funny how we get trapped by categories. “Road.” “Gravel.” “Race.” “Adventure.”

But a quote from Gerard Vroomen, OPEN’s co-founder, hit me recently:

“You’ll pick a bike based on tire clearance rather than anything else. And that will be determined by your preference and use, rather than picking a bike by category or label.”

Exactly.

The U.P. doesn’t fit in a category.

It fits me.

What I’ve Learned

1. Comfort is speed.

You ride longer, harder, happier when your body isn’t negotiating with your setup.

2. Fun is underrated performance.

The best bike is the one that makes you want to ride again. And again.

3. One bike really can do it all.

If it’s the right one — and if you’re honest about what you truly love.

The Aftermath

I did the 3 Nacions. It was beautiful. Brutal. Worth it.

But something had changed.

I wasn’t chasing KOMs anymore. I wasn’t obsessing over drivetrain efficiency.

Now I was choosing rides based on how I wanted to feel — not how fast I thought I should go.

And every time I rolled out, it was back on my U.P.

Because somewhere between watts and wonder, I remembered why I fell in love with cycling in the first place:

Not to win. Not to suffer. But to feel free.

And the OPEN U.P. gives me that — every single ride.

The Conclusion: One Bike. And It’s an OPEN.

I’m now convinced: one bike is enough.

And for me, it’s the U.P. — simple, versatile, true to itself.

So yeah, I’ll keep riding mine.

And maybe, just maybe… start saving for the next one.

You know — that new version I know is coming.

See you soon, Andy and Gerard.

June 2025

From Visors to Lycra: The Unexpected Evolution of a Mountain Biker

At the bottom of the trail, I pulled off my goggles, clipped them to my handlebar, and laughed with my riding buddies about how insane that descent had been. We were dusty, sweaty, pumped full of adrenaline. This was my world: enduro mountain biking. Baggies, long-sleeve jerseys, helmets with visors and goggles. Elbow pads, mud, risk. I wasn’t just riding bikes — I was living a lifestyle.

That was me. Or at least, that’s who I thought I was.

Then came a random trip. A surf-focused journey. Somewhere along the way, I walked into a surf shop, and there it was: a Cannondale Slate gravel bike with a lefty carbon fork. It looked so out of place among wetsuits and boards, but somehow it called to me. I didn’t need a new bike. But I kept thinking about ir for months until I bought it. I guess part of me was curious.

That’s how I rediscovered cycling.

Not as a tool for descending faster or riding sketchy lines, but as a way to explore. A way to gain fitness, aerobic fitness. Gravel riding unlocked a forgotten memory — the feeling of being a kid on a bicycle, riding just to see what was out there. No plan. Just curiosity. One minute you’re on pavement, the next on a dirt path, then a random trail through a field. Every ride is a choose-your-own-adventure.

Still, I kept telling myself:

“Come on, you’re enduro. You’ll never wear lycra. Never wear a helmet without a visor. Never wear a bib short.”

Until… the visor started catching too much wind.

Until… the baggy jersey flapped around and chafed my chest.

Until… I gave in and tried bib shorts.

Then a tighter jersey.

Then no visor at all.

And before I knew it, I was transforming. I started enjoying speed — not just downhill, but across wide-open terrain. I fell in love with the feeling of flying over gravel at 35kph, feeling smooth and fast and alive. I started appreciating silence, efficiency, rhythm. I started to apprecite long rides. Alone or with my podcasts.

I became what I used to joke about: a lycra cyclist. One of those who checks tire pressure to the decimal. One of those who loves a good long flat section. One of those who says things like “rolling resistance.”

And you know what? I’m not even mad about it. I’ve even been dabbling with road rides lately. Yeah, road.

Sure, I keep saying “I’ll never become a real roadie. I’m gravel, deep down.”

But I also said I’d never wear lycra. So… you know.

Maybe this won’t be my last cycling transformation.

Maybe this is what cycling is all about: not locking yourself into one identity, but letting the bike take you to new versions of yourself — even the ones you swore you’d never become.

After all, even a caterpillar turns into a butterfly.

And maybe, if it keeps riding long enough, the butterfly evolves again.

May 2025

Timeless Strategy — Lessons from The Book of Five Rings for Business, Investing, and Life

I recently revisited a 17th-century classic: The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi — samurai, philosopher, and arguably one of the greatest tacticians to ever live. Written from a cave in Japan just before his death, the book is part martial manual, part philosophical treatise, and part meditation on mastery.

What struck me isn’t just how different his world was — feudal, brutal, highly ritualized — but how much still applies today, especially in business, investing, and the pursuit of a long, intentional life.

Business: Strategy is Clarity

“The principle of strategy is having one thing, to know ten thousand things.”

Musashi’s version of strategy is not cluttered with plans. It’s about understanding first principles, seeing patterns, and reacting from calm rather than chaos. In business, this means:

Focus on what doesn’t change (like customer trust).
Train your intuition through experience, not theory.
Make your “everyday stance” your “combat stance” — be prepared always.

Investing: Timing, Calm, and the Void

“There is timing in the whole life of the warrior… in the rise and fall of capital.”

Musashi knew the rhythm of battle; we now know the rhythm of markets. The lesson: Don’t rush. Don’t get caught up in the noise. Great investors wait for the moment — not with emotion, but with conviction.

His concept of the “void” — where nothing exists — can be read as the space between decisions, the mental stillness before you act. Markets reward clarity.

Longevity: Purpose in Practice

“Do not think dishonestly. The Way is in training.”

Discipline, movement, routine — they’re all forms of practice. Training is life, not a phase. The samurai trained thousands of cuts daily. We can train habits, nutrition, movement, even mindset.

Longevity is the byproduct of intentional living.

Life: Meaning through Mastery

“Today is victory over yourself of yesterday.”

This might be the core of Musashi’s message. Strategy is a lens for growth. Mastery isn’t dominance over others, but over the self.

In a world full of optimization hacks and dopamine loops, Musashi offers something rare: the value of slowness, simplicity, and intentional living.

Final Thought:

If you’re building something — a business, a body, a life with purpose — this book is not outdated. It’s a mirror. You’ll see yourself in it, and what still needs work.

April 2025

Build Forever, Be Happy Forever

We all chase happiness in one way or another. We set goals, envision a finish line, and strive to cross it. And then ...

I've been thinking a lot about this: what if the real secret to happiness is not about actually arriving anywhere, but about the act of building itself? In other words, happiness might be found in the momentum and progress of creation, rather than the final outcome.

There’s a special satisfaction in starting something from scratch, putting in the work, and watching it evolve over time. This could be a new business venture, a personal fitness routine, a creative project, or even refining skills at a slower, more deliberate pace. Every small victory—and every small failure—becomes part of the richness of growth.

When you’re building, you’re engaged. You’re focused on making something better today than it was yesterday.

Why “Arriving” Can Feel Empty

Ever noticed how finishing a big project can sometimes feel strangely anticlimactic? Maybe you’ve climbed the mountain, only to realize that what you truly enjoyed was the climb itself.

Reaching the summit—while meaningful—can leave a sudden void once it’s over.

This is why I argue that if building is what fuels your happiness, you might not want to “arrive” too soon. Instead, you want to:

1. Sustain the process: Keep growing, keep learning, keep creating.

2. Enjoy the ride: Treat each moment of building as an end in itself.

The Right Pace

One risk of endlessly building is burnout. If we sprint too fast and overload ourselves with endless goals, we risk mental and physical exhaustion. But if the ultimate point is to keep building forever, then the pace we choose is crucial.

• Fast enough that you see genuine progress, keep your excitement, and meet small milestones along the way.

• Slow enough that you can continue indefinitely—no crash, no “I’ve given everything and can’t go on.”

The sweet spot is a sustainable rhythm of progress—where each day’s work leaves you energized for the next.

Well, scrap this. The sweet spot doesn’t exist. It will be completely different based on the exact moment you’re living.

Never “Done,” Always Better

Adopting the mindset that you’re never fully finished doesn’t mean feeling perpetually unsatisfied. It’s about noticing and celebrating each step forward. You might launch a new product, refine your craft, or beat a personal record—then immediately see new dimensions you can explore.

• Celebrate each milestone.

• Embrace each plateau as a chance to refine or pivot.

By doing so, you remain curious, driven, and open to continuous learning—all of which fuel the fire of long-term happiness.

Ultimately, the act of building—whether it’s a passion project, your body, your brand, your relationships, or your future—becomes its own source of joy. You’re not fixated on a single “done” point but on the story unfolding each day. And in that story, you’re the active character, always shaping the next chapter.

If you can build forever, at a pace that feels right, maybe you can be happy forever, too.

What do you think about this “never done” approach to happiness?

Feel free to share your thoughts or experiences. Send me an email or reach by social.

April 2025

Deliberate Practice: Why Mastery Comes from What’s Uncomfortable

Last year, I decided to take up flat track motorcycle racing. I was 48, had zero experience with the sport, and quickly realized one brutal truth—I was the slowest in the group.

Every session, I struggled to keep up. I was slow in corners, get overtaken constantly, and hear feedback that stung my ego. It wasn’t fun. But something told me that this was where real improvement happened.

That’s when I stumbled upon the concept of deliberate practice—a method of training that focuses on targeted, structured improvement. It’s the difference between just going through the motions and actually getting better at something. And, as I learned firsthand, it’s not always enjoyable.

What Is Deliberate Practice?

We often hear that “practice makes perfect,” but that’s only half the truth. The right kind of practice is what actually leads to mastery.

Deliberate practice is not just repetition—it’s purposeful, feedback-driven, and mentally demanding. It’s the approach that top athletes, musicians, and experts in every field use to get better.

The 4 Key Elements of Deliberate Practice

Let’s break down deliberate practice through my own experience of learning flat track racing.

1. It’s Repeatable

Repetition is non-negotiable. If you want to improve, you have to drill the same skill over and over.

For me, this meant doing laps around the circuit, repeating specific drills, and practicing cornering techniques again and again. Even when it felt monotonous, I knew that each lap was reinforcing something new in my muscle memory.

2. It Requires Constant Feedback

Without feedback, you don’t know what to fix. Deliberate practice involves getting real-time corrections—whether from a coach, mentor, or your own observations.

During my training, my instructor pointed out mistakes I didn’t even realize I was making. He’d call out my body positioning, throttle control, and braking errors. Sometimes, his feedback felt harsh, but without it, I would have just repeated the same bad habits.

3. It’s Hard

If your practice feels easy, you’re probably not improving. Deliberate practice pushes you to your limits.

Flat track racing is not easy. I struggled to keep up with younger, more experienced riders. I got frustrated. I even questioned whether I should quit. But every time I pushed through the discomfort, I noticed small improvements—shaving off a few seconds per lap, handling corners more smoothly, staying upright when I would have crashed before.

4. It Isn’t Much Fun (At First)

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: getting better at something you suck at is rarely fun in the beginning.

I was the slowest on the track. I felt awkward. I failed a lot. And yet, I kept going. Why? Because deliberate practice is about training your weaknesses, and that process feels bad before it starts feeling good.

But here’s the twist—once you start seeing progress, that’s when the fun begins. The things that once felt impossible start feeling second nature. That’s when you realize deliberate practice works.

Why Most People Avoid Deliberate Practice

Most people don’t want to engage in deliberate practice because:

• It’s uncomfortable. No one likes to feel incompetent.

• It requires deep focus. Mindlessly going through the motions is easier.

• It takes patience. Progress isn’t instant—it compounds over time.

But this is also why most people don’t achieve mastery. The ones who do? They embrace the discomfort.

How to Apply Deliberate Practice to Anything

The beauty of deliberate practice is that it applies to everything—sports, writing, investing, business, even relationships. The formula is the same:

1. Identify what needs improvement (not just what you’re already good at).

2. Practice it repeatedly with intention (instead of just going through the motions).

3. Seek feedback and adjust (from mentors, coaches, or self-analysis).

4. Push through discomfort (because real progress isn’t effortless).

Final Thoughts: The Long Game of Mastery

If there’s one thing my experience with flat track racing taught me, it’s this: mastery is earned through discomfort, not avoided by it.

The people who get ahead aren’t necessarily the most talented—they’re the ones willing to struggle, fail, and push through when things aren’t fun.

So, whatever skill you’re trying to improve, ask yourself: Am I just practicing? Or am I practicing deliberately? The answer could change everything.

February 2025

10 Key Takeaways from the “The Joys of Compounding”: The True Essence of Compounding

You might ask why this post is not on the Investing section. Read it and you'll understand.

The more I read Gautam Baid’s The Joys of Compounding, the more I appreciate its depth. It’s packed with so much wisdom that I know I’ll keep uncovering new insights on my tenth read, just as I did on my first.

What I love most about great investing books is that they’re never just about investing. They’re about the art of living, philosophy, history, and the fundamental principles that shape our world. They are treasures of knowledge — guides not just for financial success, but for a richer, more meaningful life.

1. Compounding Applies to Everything in Life

• Compounding isn’t just about money — it applies to wealth, knowledge, habits, health, and relationships.

• Tiny, consistent actions accumulate into significant results over time.

2. The Power of Long-Term Investing

• The earlier you start investing, the more time multiplies your wealth.

• Small differences in returns (e.g., 7% vs. 9%) lead to millions in the long run due to compounding.

• Avoid emotional investing and frequent trading — hold quality assets for the long term.

3. Knowledge and Learning Compound Over Time

• Reading, thinking, and continuous learning create exponential intellectual growth.

• Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger emphasize that lifelong curiosity and rationality are moral duties.

• Learning isn’t about instant rewards — wisdom builds up over decades.

4. Habits Shape Your Identity More Than Goals

• “Who you are becoming is more important than who you are today.”

• Good habits accumulate just like compound interest, and bad habits do the same in the wrong direction.

• Focus on small, consistent improvements rather than chasing quick results.

5. Health is an Investment, Not an Expense

• “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” — Jim Rohn

• Chronic diseases develop slowly, much like compound interest — your future health depends on today’s choices.

• Small habits like eating nutritious food and exercising build long-term well-being.

6. Your Mindset and Thoughts Compound, Too

• “The mind is everything. What you think, you become.” — Gautama Buddha

• Gratitude, optimism, and positive thinking compound into happiness and resilience.

• Negative thoughts, like bad investments, create downward spirals. Be mindful of what you consume mentally.

7. Relationships are Investments That Pay Dividends

• Social and intellectual capital compound over time, just like financial wealth.

• Many people stop nurturing relationships after school or marriage and regret it later. I did.

• “Who you surround yourself with will shape who you become.” — Invest in deep, meaningful relationships.

8. Patience and Persistence Lead to Success

• “The first thing to realize is that it takes a long time.” — Warren Buffett

• Success isn’t about big leaps — it’s about small, consistent actions over time.

• “Success lies just a little farther down the road from failure.” Keep going, even when it’s hard.

9. Self-Awareness and Meditation Help Focus on What Matters

• “The first thing you have to know is yourself.”

• Mindfulness helps separate what truly matters from distractions.

• Meditation trains the mind to stay focused on long-term goals rather than short-term impulses.

10. The Biggest Secret: Life Rewards Those Who Think Long-Term

• Whether in investing, learning, health, or relationships, compounding is the ultimate driver of success.

• Most people seek quick results, but those who stay patient and persistent reap the biggest rewards.

• The secret to a fulfilling life is starting small, staying consistent, and letting time work its magic.

Final Thought:

The best things in life don’t happen overnight. Whether it’s financial wealth, knowledge, relationships, or personal growth, everything meaningful follows the principle of compounding. The earlier you start and the longer you persist, the greater your results will be.

Bonus for my son Pol:

Hey Pol,

I wanted to share this powerful lesson from the book with you. Paul and Peter both invested, but Paul started at 18, while Peter waited until 30. Even though their total contributions differed by just $60,000, Paul ended up with $7 million, while Peter had only $2.2 million.

Why? Because of time and compounding.

This isn’t just about investing — it applies to learning, health, and life choices. The earlier you start, the greater the rewards. Small, smart decisions made today will shape your future.

Start early. Stay consistent. Let time do the work.

Here’s the full passage:

Paul is eighteen years old. He gets an after-school job and opens a Roth IRA. He saves $5,000 per year in it and continues doing this until he turns seventy years old. He is a know-nothing investor, invests in cheap, low-cost index funds, dollar-cost averages, reinvests his dividends, and earns the same nominal return the market has for the past century (around 10 percent). As a result, he ends up with a little more than $7 million in wealth.

Peter is also eighteen years old. He also gets an after-school job, but he doesn’t save anything as he wants to engage in instant gratification and a high consumption lifestyle during his “fun” years. He waits until he is thirty years old, at which point, he opens a retirement account, saves $5,000 per year in it, and then does all the same things as Paul. Peter is only $60,000 in total contributions behind Paul, and he still has forty years to go before he turns seventy, so he figures it isn’t too bad. When he reaches retirement, though, he has only $2.2 million.

A mere $60,000 difference between Paul and Peter in cumulative investment turned into a $4.8 million difference in net worth. This example shows, as John Bogle would call it, ‘the relentless rules of humble arithmetic.

January 2025

Re-Learning Motorcycle Suspensions and Geometry: How a Small Change Transformed My Ride

There’s nothing quite like the excitement of buying a new (or new-to-you) motorcycle. For me, that thrill never gets old — even after years of developing bikes like the Derbi Terra 125 and DRD 125 R/SM at Piaggio and riding everything from trail bikes as a teen to sport bikes in my twenties.

Recently, I picked up a used Honda CRF 300 Rally and, as always, couldn’t resist making a few tweaks to make it mine. But here’s the thing: what started as a fun project turned into a deep-dive lesson in suspension and geometry — one that I hadn’t anticipated.

The bike didn’t feel quite right. It wasn’t bad, but something was… off … or it was me after many years without riding?. The previous owner assured me it was due to a new rear shock he’d installed. He even threw in a supplement for the kickstand to “compensate” for the higher ride height. Sounded logical enough, right? Well, not so fast. It turns out the real issue had nothing to do with the shock. The culprit was a sneaky little change that most people wouldn’t think twice about: a tire swap.

A False Lead: Was It the Shock?

Let me set the stage. The Honda CRF 300 Rally is already a tall bike, but the previous owner mentioned that after upgrading to an Öhlins STX 46 Shock Absorber (HO 213), the rear end sat higher than stock. He swore this shock was the reason the bike felt slightly unbalanced. To “prove” it, he even added a kickstand supplement to compensate for the increased height.

Being a sucker for a good investigation, I decided to dig deeper. The Öhlins HO 213 has a listed eye-to-eye length of 413.5mm, so I needed to compare it to the stock shock. The problem? There’s no reliable data online about the original CRF 300 Rally shock length. Luckily, my friend Gustavo at Motorcycle Integral Services came to the rescue. We carefully measured the stock shock, and guess what? The eye-to-eye length was almost identical.

So, it wasn’t the shock. The ride height should’ve been the same. This left me scratching my head — what else could it be?

Maybe those knobby tires?

The Real Culprit: A Small Tire Change, Big Consequences

That’s when I turned my attention to the tires. The previous owner had upgraded from the stock setup (120/80–18 at the rear) to a pair of Michelin Trackers, bumping the rear size up to 120/90–18. At first glance, this seems like a harmless upgrade. More grip, slightly beefier look — what’s not to love? But here’s the kicker: that small jump from 80 to 90 in the aspect ratio adds 12mm to the rear tire’s radius. 🤦‍♂️

Now, 12mm doesn’t sound like much, but in the world of motorcycle geometry, it’s massive. That seemingly innocent change raised the rear axle, tipping the bike forward and effectively steepening the steering angle. And this is where things get really interesting.

Why 12mm Matters: The Domino Effect on Geometry

Motorcycle geometry is a finely tuned dance of numbers: wheelbase, rake, trail, and axle height all work together to determine how a bike feels and handles. When you change one of these, you’re throwing the entire balance off.

Here’s what that 12mm increase did to my CRF 300 Rally:

Wheelbase: Shortened slightly because the rear axle moved up. This can make the bike more agile but also less stable at high speeds.
Steering angle (rake): Became steeper, making the bike feel twitchier. Great for tight corners, but not so great for straight-line stability.
Trail: Decreased, which further amplified that nervous, less-planted feeling up front.
Weight distribution: With the rear end raised, more weight shifted toward the front wheel. This increased front-end grip in corners, but it also made the bike feel heavier and less forgiving when braking hard or riding on uneven terrain.

And my butt is way higher!!!

It’s like tightening the strings on a guitar — you want precision, but if you overdo it, you lose harmony.

Lessons Learned: Research Before You Wrench

This experience was a humbling reminder that even small changes can have huge consequences. And let’s be honest: when was the last time you double-checked the geometry impact of a tire swap? Most of us (myself included) focus on performance upgrades or aesthetics without giving much thought to how these changes interact with the bike as a whole.

So, here’s my advice: don’t change things blindly.

1. Measure everything. Whether it’s a new shock, tires, or fork adjustments, take the time to calculate how it’ll affect the geometry.

2. Consult the specs. Manufacturers spend years fine-tuning these numbers. They’re not random — they’re there to make the bike ride the way it should.

3. Use resources. I can’t thank Gustavo at Motorcycle Integral Services enough for helping me figure this out. If you don’t have someone like Gustavo on speed dial, there are great online calculators and forums that can help.

4. If in doubt, reach for professionals.

Why I Love Re-Learning

After decades of riding and building motorcycles, I thought I had a pretty solid handle on how bikes work. This experience proved there’s always more to learn. And honestly, that’s what makes motorcycling so rewarding. It’s not just about the ride — it’s about understanding the machine, the physics, and the craft behind it.

The next time you’re tempted to swap out a part or upgrade a component, take a moment to dig into the details. It’s worth it — not just for the performance gains but for the joy of getting to know your bike better.

Don’t underestimate the small stuff. In motorcycles, it’s often the tiniest details that make the biggest difference.

January 2025

The productivity trap, cultivating patience and atelic activities. My 4000 weeks book summary

In Four Thousand Weeks: Embrace your limits. Change your life. Make your four thousand weeks count, Oliver Burkeman explores the complexities of how we relate to time, productivity, and the existential reality of our finite lives. His core argument is that attempting to fully control and master time is a losing battle, one that leads to stress, frustration, and emptiness. Instead, Burkeman suggests that we need to embrace the constraints of our human existence — what he calls the reality of “finitude” — and work with, rather than against, these limitations. By changing our approach to time, we can lead lives that are more meaningful, fulfilling, and joyful.

The Illusion of Productivity

One of Burkeman’s central insights is the idea of the “efficiency trap.” Productivity culture convinces us that if we can just become more efficient, we’ll finally be able to stay on top of everything and find more time for the things that matter. But this is a fallacy. The more efficient we become, the more demands we take on, and instead of freeing up time, we end up creating even more work for ourselves. Whether it’s racing between meetings, ferrying kids to more activities, or trying to squeeze more output from our workdays, the result is often more stress and less satisfaction.

Technology exacerbates this issue. In theory, digital tools should help us stay organized and save time, but in reality, they tend to generate new layers of complexity and pressure. For instance, as Burkeman points out, the advent of email was supposed to make communication faster and simpler, but it’s become just another firehose of demands on our attention. The drive to stay “on top of things” becomes a self-perpetuating cycle that leaves us feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from what truly matters.

Burkeman argues that this obsession with productivity blinds us to an essential truth: time is finite, and no amount of efficiency will change that. Every task we choose to do means we must sacrifice another. The problem is that when we focus solely on getting more done, we often lose sight of the more important question: What should we be doing with our time?

Productivity is a trap

Facing Our Finitude

At the heart of Burkeman’s book is a confrontation with finitude — the reality that our time on Earth is limited. If we live to be eighty, that gives us about four thousand weeks. It’s a strikingly small number when considered in isolation, and the knowledge that time is always running out can feel overwhelming. Philosopher Martin Heidegger’s concept of “Being-towards-death” is central to Burkeman’s discussion. Heidegger argues that to live authentically, we must live with the awareness that we could die at any moment. Rather than something morbid, this awareness can serve as a powerful guide for how we choose to spend our time.

This concept also ties into Burkeman’s view of procrastination. Instead of seeing it as something to be eradicated, he suggests that procrastination is inevitable. Given the vast number of things we could do with our time, we will always be putting something off. The trick, then, is to become a better procrastinator: to choose more wisely what to procrastinate on. Rather than attempting to do everything, we should focus on what matters most and allow the less important tasks to fall by the wayside.

Burkeman also challenges the common perspective that four thousand weeks is too short, urging us instead to see it as a blessing. Compared to the alternative of never having existed at all, four thousand weeks is a gift — an incredible amount of time in which we can create meaning and joy, if we approach it with the right mindset.

The Trap of Distraction

In addition to the efficiency trap, distraction — especially digital distraction — has become a major obstacle to living a meaningful life. Our constant engagement with devices, social media, and other forms of entertainment pulls us away from the present moment and scatters our attention. Many of us are caught in a cycle of attempting to eliminate distractions entirely, but Burkeman argues that this is the wrong approach. Distraction is an inevitable part of life, and trying to rid ourselves of it entirely can lead to more stress than it’s worth.

Instead, Burkeman recommends accepting that our attention will always be drawn in different directions. The key is to be intentional about what we choose to focus on, recognizing that time is finite and that what we pay attention to ultimately shapes our experience of reality. Burkeman cites the ancient Greeks, who saw distraction not merely as external interruptions but as a failure of character — an inability to devote oneself to the things one values most.

The Importance of Rest and Play

While modern culture often equates leisure with idleness, Burkeman argues that rest is essential to living well. Although data suggests that people today have more leisure time than in previous generations, it often doesn’t feel that way because we’ve begun to treat our free time like another task to be optimized. Instead of enjoying leisure for its own sake, we use it as an opportunity for self-improvement, turning even hobbies into projects with goals and outcomes. I’m guilty of this.

Burkeman introduces the idea of “atelic” activities — pursuits that have no clear end goal other than the pleasure of doing them. Hobbies are a prime example of atelic activities because they exist purely for the sake of enjoyment. These activities are vital because they provide us with a break from the constant push toward achievement and allow us to exist in the present moment without worrying about the future.

Patience, too, becomes a form of resistance in a world that’s always speeding up. As Burkeman notes, society’s obsession with acceleration means that we are constantly racing against time, trying to pack more and more into each day. This creates an anxiety spiral: the faster we move, the more we feel like we’re falling behind. Cultivating patience allows us to resist this pressure and reclaim our time.

Patience is a superpower

Connection and the Fragmentation of Time

Another casualty of modern time management is human connection. The emphasis on individual time sovereignty — having complete control over one’s schedule — has led to increasing fragmentation of our lives. While we may have more free time in theory, our schedules are often so personal and disconnected from others’ that it becomes difficult to find shared time for connection. The result is a form of loneliness that’s paradoxically exacerbated by the freedom to manage our own time.

Burkeman underscores the importance of making time for relationships, noting that communal experiences — whether it’s sharing a meal, having a conversation, or working on a project together — are often where the deepest meaning in life is found. While we may feel pressured to “get things done,” it’s these moments of connection that often matter most in the long run.

Embracing Our Cosmic Insignificance

Finally, Burkeman offers a form of “cosmic insignificance therapy” — the idea that, in the grand scheme of things, most of the anxieties and pressures we feel in daily life are utterly insignificant. When we zoom out and consider the vastness of the universe, our problems shrink down to almost nothing. This realization doesn’t have to be depressing; rather, it can be freeing. The knowledge that we are small and that our lives are brief can help us focus on what truly matters and let go of the constant striving for control.

By accepting that we’ll never be able to fully master time, we can instead focus on living in the present, cultivating patience, and making space for rest and connection. Burkeman’s insights offer a roadmap for embracing the reality of our four thousand weeks and making the most of the time we have.

Practical Tools for Embracing Finitude

In the appendix of Four Thousand Weeks, Burkeman provides a list of ten tools for embracing finitude. These practical strategies offer ways to apply the ideas from the book to everyday life. For example, he suggests adopting a “fixed volume” approach to productivity — deciding in advance how much time you’ll dedicate to work and sticking to that limit. Another tip is to “serialize” your tasks, focusing on one big project at a time instead of juggling multiple priorities.

Burkeman also encourages readers to be deliberate about what they choose to fail at. Since we can’t do everything, it’s important to consciously decide which tasks are not worth our time and energy. He advises keeping a “done list”, which tracks accomplishments throughout the day, as a way of focusing on progress rather than the endless list of things yet to be done.

By following these strategies and embracing the realities of finite time, we can create lives that are not only more manageable but also more meaningful.

My take

Loved this book and will be near the top of my book list for sure. The title doesn’t make it justice as it’s far from a productivity book, it’s more like a philosophical one. I think it’s also a celebration of “We gonna die” one my lifetime key lessons. “We gonna die” has two very different meanings:

Life is finite, so live it to the maximum (whatever it means for you and for your moment in life).
Don’t take things too seriously, as anyway you’re gonna die.

In some sense it reminds me to Derek Sivers book “How to Live”: There are many ways on how to live. And all of them are good and valid.

October 2024

Charlie Munger’s Big Ideas worth Pursuit in All Disciplines: A Lifelong Journey to Mastery

Wasn't sure about publishing this on the Investing section or in the general Blog section, as it is about general knowledge and wisdom. Here we go, wherever is pubslihed:

I’m still finishing Poor Charlie’s Almanack book and this is already the second blog post about the book when I usually just write a summary when I’ve finished and digested the book. Yes, it’s that good.

As an investing and reading aficionado, I’m always on the hunt for wisdom from the best minds to improve my life and those around me. One of the greatest sources of this wisdom is Charlie Munger’s book, Poor Charlie’s Almanack. In it, Munger talks about mastering the “big ideas” from various disciplines to enhance decision-making and problem-solving. This journey is not just about gaining knowledge but about weaving it into the fabric of our lives.

Let me take you through these big ideas and how to make them a lifelong pursuit.

The Big Ideas Across Disciplines

1. Mathematics

Probability: Understanding the likelihood of different outcomes helps in making better decisions.
Statistics: Analyzing data to uncover trends and insights.
Algebra: Fundamental operations that help in understanding relationships and patterns.

2. Physics

Newton’s Laws: Grasping the principles of motion and force.
Thermodynamics: Learning about energy, heat, and work.
Relativity: Understanding the interplay between space and time.

3. Biology

Evolution: The process of natural selection and adaptation.
Genetics: The function of genes and heredity.
Ecology: The interaction of organisms with their environment.

4. Psychology

Cognitive Biases: Recognizing patterns of deviation from rational thinking.
Behavioral Economics: The psychological influences on economic decisions.
Influence: Persuasion and manipulation tactics.

5. Microeconomics

Supply and Demand: How prices and quantities are determined in markets.
Opportunity Cost: The cost of foregoing the next best alternative.
Marginal Utility: The added benefit of consuming an additional unit of something.

6. Business and Investing

Competitive Advantage: Factors that allow a company to outperform rivals.
Risk Management: Identifying and prioritizing risks.
Compounding: Generating earnings on an asset’s reinvested earnings.

7. Engineering

Feedback Loops: Circular processes where outputs are fed back into the system.
Optimization: Making efficient use of resources.
Systems Thinking: Understanding complex systems by examining linkages and interactions.

8. History

Historical Cycles: Recognizing patterns and trends over time.
Leadership: The impact of individuals on historical events.
Innovation: Technological and ideological changes.

9. Philosophy

Logic: Principles of valid reasoning.
Ethics: Study of moral values and rules.
Epistemology: The theory of knowledge.

How to Study These Big Ideas

Reading

Start by reading foundational books in each discipline. For instance, Richard Dawkins’ “The Selfish Gene” for biology or Daniel Kahneman’s “Thinking, Fast and Slow” for psychology. Here are more book recommendations for each discipline:

Mathematics: “The Drunkard’s Walk” by Leonard Mlodinow for an understanding of probability, and “How to Lie with Statistics” by Darrell Huff for insights into the misuse of statistics.
Physics: “Six Easy Pieces” by Richard P. Feynman for a solid grasp of fundamental physics concepts, and “Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach” by Yunus A. Çengel and Michael A. Boles for a deep dive into thermodynamics.
Biology: In addition to “The Selfish Gene”, try “The Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin for the foundations of evolutionary theory.
Psychology: Besides “Thinking, Fast and Slow”, “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert B. Cialdini is excellent for understanding how influence works.
Microeconomics: “Principles of Microeconomics” by N. Gregory Mankiw provides a comprehensive introduction to supply and demand and other key concepts.
Business and Investing: “Competitive Strategy” by Michael E. Porter for competitive advantage, “The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham for investment principles, and “Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk” by Peter L. Bernstein for risk management.
Engineering: “The Design of Everyday Things” by Don Norman for insights into systems thinking and optimization.
History: “Guns, Germs, and Steel” by Jared Diamond for understanding historical cycles and innovation, and “Team of Rivals” by Doris Kearns Goodwin for leadership insights.
Philosophy: “A History of Western Philosophy” by Bertrand Russell for a comprehensive overview of philosophical thought, and “Critique of Pure Reason” by Immanuel Kant for deep dives into epistemology and logic.

By reading these books, you’ll build a solid foundation in each discipline, setting the stage for deeper understanding and mastery.

You can also enroll in online courses or attend lectures on platforms like Coursera, edX, and Khan Academy, but start by reading, reading and then reading some more.

Practical Application and Interdisciplinary Approach

Apply these concepts to real-world problems. As much as you can. For example, use probability and statistics in your investment strategies or everyday decision-making. Engage in case studies and simulations to see how these principles work in different scenarios. Try to understand your behavior based on Cialdini’s Influence levers.

Look for connections between disciplines. For example, understanding how psychological biases can impact economic decisions or how principles of ecology can inform business strategies. Join discussion groups or forums where interdisciplinary ideas are discussed and debated.

How to Master The Big ideas

Continuous Learning, Teaching, Sharing and Critical Thinking

Make lifelong learning a habit. Continuously seek out new information and updates in these fields. Attend seminars, workshops, and conferences to stay current with the latest research and trends.

Teaching is a powerful way to solidify your understanding. Explain these concepts to others, whether through writing, speaking, or mentoring. Sharing your knowledge not only helps others but deepens your grasp of the material.

Regularly reflect on your decisions and thought processes. Consider how these big ideas influenced your choices. Practice critical thinking by questioning assumptions and evaluating the logic behind arguments.

Building a Mental Model

Developing a latticework of mental models is crucial for effectively applying the big ideas across various disciplines. A mental model is a cognitive framework that helps you understand and interpret the world. By integrating these models from different fields, you create a holistic understanding that allows you to approach problems from multiple perspectives.

To build this latticework, start by identifying key concepts in each discipline and understanding them deeply. Look for connections between these concepts, such as how psychological biases can impact economic decisions or how principles of physics can explain everyday phenomena. Apply these models to real-world scenarios to see how they work in practice.

Use tools like checklists and frameworks to ensure you’re considering all relevant concepts when making decisions. For example, when analyzing a business opportunity, think about competitive advantage, risk management, and market dynamics. Reflect on your experiences and continuously refine your models based on new information and insights.

Summary of Big Ideas and Books to Learn Them

Mathematics. Probability, Statistics, Algebra. “The Drunkard’s Walk” by Leonard Mlodinow.
Physics. Newton’s Laws, Thermodynamics, Relativity. “Six Easy Pieces” by Richard P. Feynman. I read it and I have to say, it’s not an easy to read book or a book that I can recommend. Here my summary.
Biology. Evolution, Genetics, Ecology. “The Selfish Gene” by Richard Dawkins.
Psychology. Cognitive Biases, Behavioral Economics, Influence. “Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman. I tried to read it several times, but did not ressonate with me and failed to read it in full.
Microeconomics. Supply and Demand, Opportunity Cost, Marginal Utility. “Principles of Microeconomics” by N. Gregory Mankiw.
Business/Investing. Competitive Advantage, Risk Management, Compounding. “The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham.
Engineering. Feedback Loops, Optimization, Systems Thinking. “The Design of Everyday Things” by Don Norman.
History. Historical Cycles, Leadership, Innovation. “Guns, Germs, and Steel” by Jared Diamond.
Philosophy . Logic, Ethics, Epistemology. “A History of Western Philosophy” by Bertrand Russell.

This journey of mastering big ideas from different disciplines is not a sprint but a marathon. It’s a lifelong pursuit that enriches our understanding of the world and enhances our ability to navigate through it. So, dive into these big ideas with enthusiasm and curiosity, and watch how they transform your thinking and your life.

If you’re as passionate about learning and growth as I am, I highly recommend diving into Poor Charlie’s Almanack. It’s a treasure trove of wisdom that will guide you on this journey.

Happy learning!

July 2024

Falling in Love with Japan: Respect, Culture and Food

The Impeccable Respect and Education in Japan

From the moment I stepped off the plane in Japan, I was blown away by the level of respect and politeness that seemed to be a way of life. Everyone says "Arigatou gozaimasu" (Thank you very much), not just a simple "thank you." It’s not just words; it’s in their actions too. Their attention to detail, which they show by the way they hand over your purchase tickets with both hands, the orderly queues in the metro, or how they always give priority to the elderly – it’s a kind of respect that’s deeply ingrained in their culture. These small gestures left a big impression on me.

(And made me feel very comfortable and act also with the maximum respect and education)

Temple Tranquility: My Favorite Sanctuaries

Japan’s temples are more than just places of worship; they’re peaceful retreats where you can really feel the country’s spiritual and medieval, Edo era, side. Three temples stood out to me:

1. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu in Kamakura: This place was incredibly serene. Walking through its spacious grounds, I felt a calmness that’s hard to describe. The majestic torii gates and the tranquil pond added to its beauty.

2. Hokan-ji Temple in Kyoto: Also known as Yasaka Pagoda, this temple has a stunning pagoda that towers over the city. The history and architecture here are captivating, making it one of my favorite spots in Kyoto.

3. Itsukushima Jinja in Miyajima: Famous for its floating torii gate, visiting this shrine was like stepping into a postcard. Seeing the gate seemingly float on water during high tide was a magical experience I’ll never forget.

Shopping Heaven in Harajuku-Omotesando

Harajuku-Omotesando is a dream for anyone who loves fashion, design and cafes. Here are some of the standout shops: Bearbricks, Evisu, Bape, Liberty Walk, Kith, World of Flight or Dover Street Market.

I can spend days walking and exploring these 2 neighborhoods.

Culinary Delights: Matcha Latte and Sushi

Japan is a food lover’s paradise, and my taste buds were on a constant adventure. Matcha latte is everywhere, but the most memorable one was at Tsukiji Fish Market, made without milk, letting the pure, rich flavor of matcha shine through. The sushi, especially maguro (lean tuna), toro (fatty tuna), sea urchin, salmon roe, and unagi (eel), was outstanding. The quality was consistently high everywhere we went, making each meal a delight.

The Enchanting Streets of Japan at Night

The streets of Japan at night, especially after the rain, are like scenes from a movie. The wet tarmac reflects the city lights, creating a mesmerizing effect. Every corner seems to hold a special kind of magic, making even a simple walk an unforgettable experience.

And you can be lucky enough to meet a full tuned Liberty Walk car with its neon lights shining on the wet tarmac at night.

Personal Reflections and Activities

I still can’t understand why I waited until almost 50 to visit a country I knew I’d love. One of the highlights of my trip was SUP surfing in Kamakura, in really tiny a poor waves, but hey, I can say I surfed some waves in Japan!!!. And if you’re planning to visit Tokyo, make sure to allocate at least two full weeks to explore all the fascinating places the city has to offer.

Conclusion

My trip to Japan was a profound experience that left me in awe of the country’s cultural, artistic, and culinary excellence. From the deep respect shown by its people to the enchanting

My insta stories about the trip.

July 2024

Managing Pensions: State Responsibility or Individual Duty?

Recently, I was listening to a podcast and a comment by economist Juan Ramón Rallo caught my attention. Rallo suggested that if instead of the state investing or saving money for our retirement (in reality is not saving nor investing), this money should go directly to our accounts, making us responsible for investing and managing it. The premise is that, although not everyone, the vast majority would learn about finance and investment, where to invest, with what risks, etc. This idea prompted a reflection based on my experience and mental models about managing pensions and the role of the state and individuals in this process.

Would Individual Management of Pensions Be Efficient?

At first glance, it seems logical to think that the system would be more efficient if each person managed their own finances. In theory, this would encourage the population to become financially educated and make more informed decisions about their future. However, I wonder if this utopia of financially literate and responsible citizens is truly attainable. The reality is that not everyone has the interest, time, or capacity to acquire the necessary knowledge to manage their investments effectively. Additionally, people's financial behavior is often influenced by emotions and cognitive biases, which can lead to irrational decisions.

The Government as a Reflection of Society

I firmly believe that the low level of government management is a reflection of society. Contrary to what many believe, we're not better than our politicians. While it is easy to criticize the government's incompetence in managing public funds, we must ask ourselves if citizens would do better on a massive scale. I am sure that the majority would end up with zero savings, even worse than the government. Incompetence and lack of preparation are not exclusive to public officials; they are present at all levels of society.

A System Equally Deficient?

My reflection leads me to think that if retirement finances were managed by individuals themselves, the result could be just as deficient as the current system managed by the government. The lack of financial education, fear of risk, and lack of long-term planning are common problems in both individual and public management.

A possible solution to this dilemma is to significantly increase financial education from an early age. If the population were better prepared to make financial decisions, we might see an improvement in the management of retirement funds, whether at the individual or governmental level.

June 2024

The Delicate Dance of Modern Parenting

Just the other day, during a particularly heavy rain, I found myself wrapped up in work when my phone buzzed. It was my son. "Papa," he said, "everyone else's parents came to pick them up because of the rain. I'm walking to the train alone." His voice held a hint of frustration.

At first, I brushed it off with practical dad advice, "You've got your umbrella, right?" But it was more than the rain that bothered him. He was alone, and that struck a deeper chord with me long after we hung up.

This moment lingered in my mind, leading me to ponder: Are we, as parents, becoming overprotective? This isn't just about shielding our kids from a downpour. It's about the larger implications of our choices and the kind of generation we are nurturing.

Our instincts to protect are primal, but I wonder if we're inadvertently sending a message that they can't handle adversity—be it a storm or life’s figurative rains.

This brings me back to a piece of wisdom I once read, about the cyclical nature of society: from hardship comes resilience, from resilience comes abundance, and from abundance, inevitably, comes complacency. Are we in the complacency phase, leading our society towards those predicted tough times?

“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”

It's a provocative question. Are we indeed grooming a generation so buffered from discomfort and challenge that they might struggle with resilience? Or is this merely an echo of the age-old generational complaint—"In my day, things were harder!".

Here's where my personal story ties in, similar to the fears expressed by countless parents across generations, reflecting a universal theme of concern for the softer upbringing of our children compared to our own, supposedly tougher days.

And yet, here's a twist: perhaps this isn't about toughness at all. Maybe it's about understanding. Understanding that each generation faces its unique challenges and adapts in its own ways. Perhaps our children's battles are not against the rain but against storms we haven't even come to comprehend fully.

So, I leave you with this: next time it pours, maybe we should pause. Let's consider not just the instinct to rush to the rescue, but also the opportunity to let them navigate their storms. After all, the skill to weather adversity is a gift—one that ensures no matter how tough the times, they have what it takes to thrive.

Are we protecting our children from the rain, or from growing up? What are your thoughts?

May 2024

Crafting Connection: The Art of Brand Influence

Ever wondered why we gravitate towards certain brands with almost a magnetic pull? It’s not just about the product quality; it’s about the psychology of influence that these brands masterfully apply. Inspired by Robert Cialdini's insights in "Influence" (read my book summary here) let's explore how leading brands like Nike, Tesla, Coca-Cola, Louis Vuitton, Zara, Starbucks, and Red Bull harness these principles to build loyalty and drive sales.

Reciprocation: The Old Give and Take

Coca-Cola's "Share a Coke" campaign is a classic example of reciprocation in action. By personalizing bottles with names, Coca-Cola gave a personal touch, encouraging people to buy not just for themselves but for others too. This gesture of giving fosters a reciprocal relationship, making consumers more likely to choose Coca-Cola again.

Liking: The Friendly Thief

Who doesn’t like Starbucks? With its cozy, welcoming stores and baristas who remember your name and order, Starbucks has become a place not just to get coffee but to like and be liked. This sense of belonging and personalized service has turned many casual coffee drinkers into die-hard Starbucks fans.

Social Proof: Truths Are Us

Tesla, with its revolutionary electric cars, doesn't just sell vehicles; it sells a vision of the future. Early adopters and tech enthusiasts proudly share their Tesla experiences, creating a ripple effect of social proof that convinces others to join the movement. Seeing others make the eco-friendly choice influences potential buyers to think, "If they're driving a Tesla, maybe I should too."

Authority: Directed Deference

Louis Vuitton stands as a towering figure of authority in the luxury fashion world. Through consistent high-quality products and endorsements from fashion icons, Louis Vuitton is seen as the epitome of style and sophistication. This perceived authority makes consumers trust and aspire to own a piece of LV luxury.

Scarcity: The Rule of the Few

Nike excels at creating a sense of scarcity with its limited-edition sneaker releases. By producing limited quantities and using a drop model, Nike generates a frenzy around each release, making their products highly coveted. This scarcity not only elevates the desirability of their sneakers but also ensures they sell out rapidly.

Commitment and Consistency: Hobgoblins of the Mind

Zara, with its fast-fashion model, taps into our desire for novelty while keeping us coming back for more. By frequently updating its collections, Zara encourages shoppers to visit often, reinforcing their commitment to the brand. This regular engagement builds a habit, making Zara a consistent choice for fashion-forward consumers.

Unity: The “We” Is the Shared Me

Red Bull doesn’t just sell energy drinks; it sells a lifestyle. Through sponsoring extreme sports and hosting high-adrenaline events, Red Bull creates a sense of unity among thrill-seekers and adventurers. This shared identity around the excitement and daring of the Red Bull lifestyle fosters a strong community and brand loyalty.

These examples showcase how the principles of influence, when applied thoughtfully and ethically, can create deep connections between brands and their audiences. It’s a fascinating journey into the psychology of why we buy and the strategies that make us feel part of something bigger than ourselves. So, the next time you feel drawn to a brand, take a moment to see which principles of influence are at play.

February 2024

Technical, Fast or Bikepacking. Which kind of gravel cyclist are you and does it really matter?

Are you on the brink of delving into the fascinating world of gravel cycling, but find yourself tangled in the mesh of terms and concepts? Stay tuned, as we are about to unfold the mesmerizing facets of gravel cycling, especially focusing on technical gravel, fast gravel, and bikepacking. Trust me, by the end of this article, you’ll find your groove and know exactly what’s up your alley!

Unraveling the World of Gravel Cycling

Gravel cycling is more than just a sport. It's a door to adventures, a taste of freedom, and a way to reconnect with nature. It reminds me of when I was a kid, when every ride was an adventure into the unknown.

Before you embark on your journey, let's unravel the nuances that make each type of gravel cycling a unique experience.

What is Technical Gravel?

Technical gravel might sound intimidating, but it’s nothing more than tackling trails with varied terrains that require a bit more skill and concentration. Imagine cycling through trails that have a sprinkle of challenges like loose rocks, undulating paths, singletracks, the random mini jump and maybe a splash through tiny streams. It's a delightful mixture of endurance and skill, a kind of cycling that keeps you on your toes and your heart racing with excitement. Remember, it's all about embracing the rough patches and enjoying the ride.

Coming from Enduro riding as I come, this was my first step into gravel. An easy and boring trail with the Enduro bike, suddenly became a blast on the gravel bike.

Diving into Fast Gravel

Now, let’s switch gears and speed things up a notch. Fast gravel cycling is for those who are smitten by speed and are looking to push their limits. Picture yourself whisking through picturesque landscapes with the wind gently tugging at your jersey. It’s not just about the thrill but also the sheer joy that comes from cycling at a pace that makes you feel truly alive. Fast gravel cycling often involves lighter bikes, aero (more on that on another occasion) and smooth trails, making it a heart-pounding yet accessible adventure for many.

It’s the path used to choose those coming from road cycling. I personally love going as fast as I can on a flat and smooth gravel road. Tucked in and as aero as possible riding position powering as many watts as possible. You feel the speed.

Bikepacking: Your Ticket to Adventure

For those who dream of long, adventure-filled journeys, bikepacking is your best bet. It’s essentially backpacking with a bike. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a longer expedition, bikepacking allows you to explore the unseen corners of the world with your bike as your loyal companion. From planning your route to packing essentials, bikepacking adds an extra layer of adventure and satisfaction to the gravel cycling experience.

Finding your fit: Technical Gravel, Fast Gravel or Bikepacking?

By now, you might be bubbling with excitement, ready to kickstart your gravel adventure. But wait, how do you choose the path that suits you best? Fret not, we're here to guide you in finding your fit.

Step into my shoes

Imagine being in my place, a cycling enthusiast who has traversed varied paths, experiencing the thrills and spills that come with it. Picture me advising you over a casual conversation, maybe with a cup of coffee in hand.

"Hey, if you're someone who enjoys a bit of challenge and doesn't mind getting a bit gritty, then technical gravel is your game. It gives you a hearty dose of adventure sprinkled with a pinch of challenge."

"Now, if you're more about speed and feel the need to race with the wind, then fast gravel should be your choice. It’s exhilarating and gives you a chance to test your speed limits."

"But hey, if you're someone who has a knack for adventures and loves to explore, then bikepacking is your true calling. It’s not just about cycling; it's about experiencing an adventure, one that’s woven with exciting stories and picturesque landscapes.”

“But, but, but you know what’s best?. Pick your gravel bike and follow your mood or where you are: technical, fast or bikepacking. Whichever your bike, you can have fun, and this is the sole objective of gravel riding. Have fun”

Your Journey Awaits

So, there you have it! A sneak peek into the magical world of gravel cycling. Remember, it's all about finding what resonates with you, the path that makes your heart beat a little faster, and your spirit soar a little higher.

Gear up and let your adventure unfold. Remember, the journey is as exhilarating as the destination. I can't wait to hear about the path you choose and the adventures you embark on. Until then, happy cycling!

See you on the gravel

October 2023. Originally published at AMS blog

Wheel Size for Gravel Biking: 650b vs. 700c - Does it really matter?

Hey there, fellow gravel enthusiasts! Ready to embark on an epic gravel journey?

Well, you're in for a treat because today we're diving into the mesmerizing world of gravel wheel sizes! Whether you're cruising down challenging trails or seeking speed on smoother terrains, the battle between the nimble 650b (27.5") and the efficient 700c (29") is on. So, let's gear up and find the ultimate gravel wheels for your off-road escapades!

I'll advance my conclusion here, without setting a precedent. Instead of following the industry norms or relying solely on the engineer inside me and the numbers, I chose to go with what felt better. Trusting my instincts, I made a decision that aligned with my personal experience and preferences.

650B (27.5") - The Nimble Trailblazzer

Join the adventure as we unveil the wonders of 650b wheels! These spirited siblings of mountain biking bring unmatched agility and responsiveness to your gravel experience. Conquer each challenging terrain with enhanced traction and grip. Maneuver with ease through technical trails and relish the playful nature of gravel riding. It's like having the ultimate superpower for exploring rough terrains!

700C (29") - The Efficienr Cruiser

Now let's shift gears to the 700c wheels - the tried and tested choice of gravel riders. Experience the joy of cruising over smoother hardpack and tarmac with unwavering speed. If gravel racing is your jam, then the 700c wheels will elevate your game like never before. Get ready to unleash the racer within you!*

The Science behind bigger wheels rolling faster

Alright, let's get a little technical - but don't worry, we'll break it down for you.

Imagine rolling a larger wheel next to a smaller one. The bigger wheel covers more ground with each revolution, right? So, when you ride a 700c wheel, it naturally rolls over obstacles and bumps more easily compared to a smaller 650b wheel.

It's like riding a magic carpet that glides over everything in its path!

Real World experience: Rollin' with the big wheels

Think of it this way - imagine cruising on a bumpy trail with your crew. Your buddy on a 700c-wheeled gravel bike effortlessly rolls over rocks and roots, while you, on your trusty 650b-wheeled bike, feel each bump more pronounced. It's like he's floating on air, and you're having a wilder ride. Both are fun, but the bigger wheels offer that extra smoothness, especially on long rides! Plus, larger wheels maintain speed more easily, making it a breeze to keep up with the pack. So, if you love the thrill of cruising faster, 700c wheels are your ticket to gravel paradise!.

Sounds good right?, but real life is not that easy. This would be true for rigid tires+wheels which is not the case. At Reneherse (I strongly recommend reading their Journal) they tested it and the conclusion was: "On ‘road’ surfaces ranging from very smooth to very rough, the three common wheel sizes (700C, 650B, 26″) offer the same performance. For road or gravel riding, a 10% difference in wheel size is too small to affect the bike’s speed in meaningful ways"

FAQS:

Can I switch wheel sizes on my gravel bike?

Absolutely! Many gravel frames can handle both 650b and 700c wheels. It's like having two bikes in one!

What's the best wheel size for a mountain bike feel?

If you crave the wild, adventurous feel of mountain biking, go for the nimble 650b wheels. They'll bring out the trail ninja in you!

Which wheel size is best for gravel racing?

For the speed demons out there, the efficient 700c wheels are your winning choice. Race like the wind and leave others in your dust!

September 2023. Originally published at AMS blog

The Power of Branding: Nurturing Cultural Relevance Amidst Growth

Introduction

The other day I was thinking about brands I used to love which lost their soul, their cultural relevance. I summed it up in a tweet and I wanted to get deeper into it.

The tweet was something like this:

A great brand, which is culturally relevant and is consistently growing revenue, with founders focused on the brand, not on the sales, innevitably get the attention of big conglomerates and funds who think they can get it to the next level using their economies od scales and resources. It get bought, the founders get a big check and the new owners shift the focus on: stockholder short term returns, which moves the focus from brand, from long term. Sales (usually) grow, but the brand ends up losing its cultural relevance and eventually after losing its mojo, sales drop following the brand drop.

The sad story of too many good brands. Many come to mind. In the surf industry: Quicksilver, Billabong or Hurley. In the cycling industry: Cervelo or YT Industries.

Which brands come to your mind?

Building a Rockstar Brand: It's All About Culture and Cash

A killer brand isn't just about making the big bucks. Nope, it's about hitting home with people, becoming a part of their lives, and dancing to the same cultural beats. And guess what? When a brand nails that cultural relevance, the green moolah starts pouring in naturally!

Oh, the Temptation of Being Acquired

Picture this: You're an awesome brand, and all of a sudden, the big fish wants to gobble you up. It's flattering, for sure, but it also means dealing with new bosses and their fancy ideas. It's a thrilling ride, but hold tight; it comes with its own set of challenges (not speaking from experience ... yet)

Shifting Gears: From "Brand" to "Cha-Ching!"

When the big guns take over, logic says they wanna make it rain, right? So, they focus on boosting revenue, which is cool, but sometimes it means losing sight of the brand's long-term vision. The brand that once stood for something unique may start feeling like a dime a dozen, and that's not good for the soul.

Don't Kill the Vibe: Sales vs. Heart

Ah, the classic dilemma! Do you go all-out on sales or stay true to the soul of your brand? It's like choosing between pizza and tacos! The temptation of big sales can overshadow what makes the brand awesome, leaving it a bit lost in the crowd.

Brands Without Soul: The Abyss Beckons

It's a sad tale, folks. When the brand's cultural relevance fades, it starts spiraling into the abyss of "just another brand." It loses its mojo, and customers feel it too. Without that unique spark, it's hard to stand out, and that's when things start to crumble.

The Sad Fall: Sales Tumble After the Soul Drops

Hold on to your hats, amigos, 'cause it's about to get real sad. When the cultural relevance goes kaput, the sales follow suit. Customers who once adored the brand start to look elsewhere, and it's like watching a beautiful castle crumble to dust.

Guard Your Essence: Cultivate that Cultural Connection

Worried about the fate of your brand? Don't be! The secret sauce lies in your cultural connection. No matter how big you grow or who joins the party, stay true to your roots. Nurture that cultural relevance like a boss, and you'll keep winning the hearts of your audience.

Conclusion: Branding = Long-Term Bliss

The moral of this story is clear: branding is everything! Even when you're playing with the big guns, keep your essence alive. Cultural relevance is your ticket to a long-lasting affair with your customers.

Takeaway: Stay True to Your Roots!

When you're climbing that ladder of success, never forget where you came from. Hold on to your cultural relevance, and you'll be the rockstar brand that people adore!

Branding is the way to go, peeps! Keep that cultural connection alive and rock on! #Branding #BrandBuilding #CulturalRelevance

From Enduro to Gravel: A Personal Journey into the New Cycling Discipline

The transition from Enduro MTB to Gravel cycling is like swapping your hiking boots for running shoes. It's a shift that demands adaptation, but it's also an exhilarating exploration into new terrains. This is my story, a tale of change, challenge, and the sheer joy of discovery.

The moment that made me consider this shift was a question that hit me after a thrilling 4-minute downhill ride, "Did I want to undergo another lengthy, strenuous uphill ride just for another quick thrill?" The answer guided me towards longer routes, less resistance, and, as I would discover, a completely different kind of freedom.

MY FIRST GRAVEL RIDES: AN ENDURO RIDER IN DISGUISE

I started my gravel riding journey as an undercover enduro rider. The Troy Lee Designs helmet with a visor, the loose t-shirt, and enduro pants were my trademarks. However, as I began embracing longer routes, the nuances of gravel cycling gradually seeped in. The visor became a hindrance, replaced by a road helmet. The t-shirt that caused friction gave way to snug jerseys, and the need for comfort and aerodynamics introduced me to cycling bib shorts.

FINDING PARADISE ON THE GRAVEL ROUTES

With Gravel, you aren't restricted to specific trails; the world becomes your playground. Still, nothing beats the gravel routes in my local area, especially in the Empordà region of Girona, considered my many the gravel mecca, at least in Europe. These trails have now become my gravel paradise.

A NEW KIND OF STRENGTH

The most rewarding part of this transition? The surge in fitness. The endurance required for long gravel routes has made me stronger, both physically and mentally. I'm not "designed" for endurance but 100Km+ rides, which were not on my radar just 4 years ago, are more and more common.

COMMUNITY AND CULTURE IN GRAVEL AND ENDURO

In terms of community, there are similar variations in both enduro and gravel. However, I noticed a touch more 'style consciousness' in the gravel community, perhaps owing to the nature of the discipline itself.

But in the end it's yourself and those you surround yourself with who determine the culture of your cycling experience.

A PIECE OF ADVICE

Would I recommend making the switch? In jest, I'd say no - we have enough gravel riders already ;-). But in truth, there's no looking back for me. The thrill of fast, flat tracks and the rhythm of group rides have woven themselves into my cycling DNA.

I changed the flow of flowing descents to the flow of fast flat and smooth riding.

WHAT'S NEXT?

As for the future, my heart is set on fast gravel. There's something undeniably satisfying about speeding along flat tracks, especially when you're part of a group sharing the workload and the adrenaline.

FAQS:

How do Enduro and Gravel compare in terms of physical demand?

Both are physically demanding, but in different ways. Enduro is about short bursts of intense activity, whereas gravel is about endurance and stamina.

Can one cycling discipline replace the other?

It depends on what you're seeking. For me, the transition from Enduro to Gravel offered new challenges, scenery, and a different kind of thrill. I love to own a single bike but both disciplines are compatible if you wish.

What should I keep in mind when transitioning from Enduro to Gravel?

Expect a period of adaptation, from gear changes to a shift in mentality. It's a different kind of ride, so patience and openness are key.

Ah! and do it on your own terms.

CONCLUSION

The journey from Enduro to Gravel has been a transformative one for me. It's not just about changing your bike or gear; it's about embracing a new mindset and seeing the world from a different perspective. And while there's a part of me that'll always relish the steep, challenging descents of Enduro, the call of the open, long gravel routes is an allure I can't resist.

From Enduro to Gravel, a journey of change, discovery, and newfound strength. It's been an incredible ride, and I can't wait to see where the gravel roads take me next.

Originally published in All Mountain Style

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