I went for a ride yesterday enveloped in the brilliant mid-day sunshine. There was a strong breeze blowing from the west, as is often the case in New England in the Spring. This makes the ride somewhat more challenging, at times, as there are alternating periods of wind in your face and wind at your back, with crosswinds interspersed as one changes directions. Wind in your face often means hunkering down and pushing the pedals harder. Wind at your back means you can choose to relax some and enjoy the extra push given by Nature.
I was riding a loop around Danbury Airport. It is about three miles around, and since it is a loop, there is more or less equal exposure to the wind from multiple directions as one circumvents the airport. I have learned over time to not fight the wind. I have learned to ignore it, to even appreciate it, at least most of the time, even when it is strongly opposing my efforts to propel myself forward. I would say the wind is not your friend, but neither is it your enemy. It is just the wind; it is itself.
Wait a minute. What is wind, anyway? In simple terms, wind is the result of differences in air pressure at different locations on Earth, with wind blowing from areas of higher pressure to lower pressure. It is Nature at work. Want to know more? Read these articles: Where does wind come from? and Why Does Wind Blow?
There are many lessons the wind may teach. It can make you stronger, but it can also demoralize you, make you feel weak. Let it make you strong. Try not to let it weaken you. When riding into the wind, don’t give up. Many years ago, I remember riding into a strong wind, while riding uphill, heading up the south entrance of Joshua Tree National Park to Cottonwood Campground. My bike was loaded for touring, I had saddlebags front and rear, with my tent, sleeping bag, and other necessary items. I was riding hard, pushing myself, and I was going only about 4-5 mph. Much slower, and I’d have to stop and walk! And guess what? That’s what happened. I stopped to rest, walking for a little while, then getting back on to continue, until I reached the top of the hill. Sometimes you need to just take a break from the wind, on days such as this one, and walk a little, or even just sit down and rest, then continue. I also recall that the next day was calm and beautiful.
I can see the wind as a symbol, as an analogy, for many other phenomena in life. There are activities, situations, and people that blow into and out of our lives that seem, at times, to be working against us, other times working with us, such that we are putting out huge amounts of energy with great difficulty at times (and getting no-where) while other times we are flying along with great ease! But, like with cycling, I find that most activities, situations, and people in my life are along the realm of calm, or they provide gentle breezes, which can feel nice.
One difference between the winds of cycling and the winds of life: with cycling, when you are riding out there with someone, you each have the same wind to deal with. You can help each other by alternating breaking the wind, one person does so for a minute or so, while others draft, then another person takes their turn breaking the wind for a minute, and so on. With life, it can be different. We may be having a calm day, while someone around us, someone in our lives, is feeling the wind like a storm. They may not talk about it; they may not show it. But, they may need you to “break the wind” for them. One way to do this is to simply be kind to people, unconditionally. Just do it, we can just be kind.
Anyway, yesterday, when I returned from my ride, I took a shower and went on with my day. Later in the night, I opened the spreadsheet I have used since 2010 to track my riding. I do not update it often, sometimes actually going months without doing so, as the data is stored on my phone via Garmin. So, I updated the information last night, and, in the process, I learned that I had now passed the 75,000 mile mark. I had 75,004 miles. When I woke up yesterday morning, I really had no idea that I was about to do this. Go figure.
On one hand, it is kind of a big deal, monumental. It took time, it took a lot of effort. To say, back in 2010, “I am going to ride 75,000 miles over the next 13 years,” as a goal, would have probably been an unrealistic goal.
On the other hand, it was easy. Yesterday, like most days, was an ordinary day-to-day cycling activity that required nothing special, little to no planning, just a desire to go out and get in a workout, to enjoy nature, have a fun time, and to enjoy the generally energizing nature of riding. Cycling, like many other physical activities, energizes the body, mind, heart, and spirit. It often gives me a buzz, a kind of a natural high that is always welcome. Cycling, an activity that provides a number of positive outcomes, like life itself.
Some cycling photos through the years ....
Row 1: Chiricahua National Monument, 2023; Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park, 1988; RT 16 New Hampshire (east of Pinkham Notch).
Row2: Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina, 2004; Home, 20 High Ridge Road, Danbury, 1958-59); Colorado National Monument, 2022.
Row 3: Chiricahua National Monument, 2023; Mount Washington Hill Climb, 2005; Furnace Creek, Death Valley National Park, 2022.
Row 4: Cape Hatteras, 2021; Hudson River Pedestrian Bridge, 2022; Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park, 2022.
Row 5: Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida, 2023; Evans Notch Overlook, RT 133 south pf Gilead Maine; Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, 2022.
Row 6: Mount Evans (14,000+ feet), Colorado, 2006; Joshua Tree National Park 2001; Smokey Mountain National Park, 2004.
Row 7: Home, 25 Jefferson Ave, Danbury, leaving for Lake Erie/Niagara Falls, 2012; Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, 2022.
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