There are different kinds of people when it comes to riding a bicycle:
Expert cyclists,
Stunt cyclists,
Those who never tried to learn,
Those who wanted to learn but couldn’t,
Those who are scared of getting injured,
Those who cycle for fun or relaxation,
Athletic cyclists…
and the list goes on and on.
Which one are you?
Regardless of which category you fall into, this article is for you because we will take you on an adventure through the world of cycling.
“Life is like riding a bicycle. In order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
Albert Einstein
Cycling long distances has taught me vital lessons about life. When you start moving,you will face different levels of resistance. It feels tough at the beginning of any riding experience. Many times, I try to take off-road paths to test my strengths and feel the strength of the bike.
Cycling On A Rocky Path
Learning how to adjust myself to the bike, understand the current road surface and the motion. My body needs to align with the road, the bike, and my body. After a few long minutes, I get the flow and get aligned and ready to go far but the road begins to increase in gradient steeply and also taking sharp bends and more rough road surface. This situation destabilises my body, road and bike alignment and I experience strain and resistance as I try to move upward and forward.
Life is kind of like cycling off-road, you need it to keep cycling. Looking at the road, pushing your loss and gains, manoeuvring the paths and dealing with rough surfaces. Life reassures efforts, focus, persistence, alignment, believing oneself and resisting the temptation to stop cycling.
Cycling On A Flat Road
Cycling on a long flat road is great and comforting but then you see a long steep flyover ahead and you begin to slow down and gather all your energy and your faith. You lift off the bike, cycle and reallocate your weight and balance. Your focus as you approach the bridge, your mind believes the most important tool as you take on the long steep bridge. You tell yourself, I must cycle to the other side and I have the strength and energy and I am determined to do this.
Your breathing begins to change and you need to learn how to manage your breathing and use it to power your legs to climb the bicycle. You become intently focused and push the chest of the bridge, you continue and begin the descent down the bridge with no efforts to saddle and then you hit a plain and you need to put some effort again.
Life Is A Cycling Journey
All these sound like what we experience in life.
The only thing is that we sometimes lose perspective of the process and get stuck or allow ourselves to become discouraged at the base of the bridge or at the toughness of the road.
Identify your current situation and position on your cycling journey and determine your destination.
If you feel exhausted and sweaty, remember it's only part of the journey.
You need to get out of your mind, now you will deal with the ups, the downs, the valley, expected turns, extended climbs, the tears, the pain, and sometimes the fall.
The biggest challenge I found with cycling is your attitude or your mindset about the journey.
If you can set a new mindset and see these challenges as part of the process, you will have a better disposition towards the process challenges.
If you have your eyes on the destination, while looking at the process as part of your learning and training experience, life will be better.
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