Jim started off 2020 by visiting The Philippines with his good friend Kory. Since October 2019, he had been relearning Tagalog with a handful of Fil-Ams in Seattle. Jim and Kory spent three weeks exploring several provinces in the Philippines, taking quite a few boat rides, eating very good food, and learning about the history of the country. Jim will return as soon as travel is safe, and hopes to further explore his cultural heritage.
Shortly after his return in late January, the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed his work, relationships, and recreation. Coming upon his third year at Bike Works Seattle, he proposed providing free bike repair throughout Southeast Seattle via the big blue mobile bike repair truck. This service was quite popular! He and his coworkers served 100-200 people a month. Outside of this time, Jim was also refurbishing bikes that were given to those in need, filled in at the bike shop, and started teaching hands-on online bike repair classes!
In May, Jim gave a Zoom talk that recounted his 24 hour mountain bike race from 2019. You can watch that video here.
Jim occasionally visited his family locally, and took as many opportunities as he could to see his late Lolo Fred and his Lola Josie. He spent many of his summer weekends and vacations with his partner, Hannah, his former classmate at Western Washington University. With her and/or with close friends, Jim did some bike riding, hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, and paddle-boarding in new and familiar locations in both Washington and Oregon.
Jim continues to invest in his mental health through weekly counseling. He also continues to learn about racial inequity, and engages in community meetings and protests against racial injustices. In October he started bike riding with North Star Cycling Club, a group that provides a safe space within cycling for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
Jim turned 26 at the end of the year, and completed the Rapha Festive 500, a challenge that involves riding 500 kilometers (310.5 miles) between Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. He hopes to start racing bikes competitively again as soon as sanctioned events are safe and possible.
