Tuesday Turnaround

The past two weeks have been very strange. As you could probably sense in the last few blogs, I have been experiencing a growing sense of fear about the trip. The focal point of the fear was the thought that I am not athletic enough to do this trip. It seemed like whenever I rode the bike, I was struggling to get up a hill or being passed by more powerful and fit riders and I began to wonder if I really had the stuff necessary to meet this physical challenge.

Then came Tuesday.

 

I started the day by having breakfast with one of my cousins who also happens to be one of my favorite people. We were talking about the trip and I shared with her my growing anxiety. She asked me, “What’s the worst that can happen?”

“Well”, I replied, “the worst that can happen is that I won’t be able to make it and the SAG truck will have to haul me to the hotel and then I won’t be able to say that I truly rode my bike across America.”

“Hmmm. That sounds like your pride talking and we know that pride isn’t real. It’s just a story that you tell yourself about yourself. Tell me Janel, why do you enjoy riding your bike?”

“Because it’s fun!!!”

“Well then, maybe you should stick with that idea and not your fearful pride.”

 

Yikes! That’s great advice!

That afternoon I took my bike for a spin on the North Coast Trail from Elmore to Lindsey. I didn’t think about pacing, or technique, or mileage. I just sat on the bike, pedalled and enjoyed it. It was absolutely liberating!

The plan was to hook up with the Toledo Bike  club for their Tuesday night ride out of Woodville but the weather didn’t cooperate so we ended up having tacos at the Speed Trap diner instead. I ended up sitting by a woman named Donna. Turns out, Donna rode her recumbant bike across America in 2006 unsupported (way more difficult than what I am attempting). I asked her if she had any words of wisdom for me and she said “Riding across America sounds way more impressive than it actually is. Ultimately, it’s just getting on your bike and riding.”

 

I’ve been making this way more difficult than it needs to be. I have been obsessing over the details and comparing myself to others and in so doing, I lost my sense of fun and created a lot of fear. What a waste of energy!

It’s time to give Yertle the Turtle (my bike horn) a few good squeaks and get back on the bike only this time, I am going to be sure to bring along some Joy and Fun!