Life as seen from a bike

I did it! Not as well as I would have liked distance-wise, but I did put in 100 miles pedaling my bike for the annual multiple sclerosis fundraiser last weekend. Other friends, old and new, put in as much as 150 miles, and if you’ve spent
much time on a bike, you know this is indeed quite an accomplishment.

Touring the back roads of Mississippi for hours upon hours gives you plenty of time to reflect on the world around you. Like the guy who wrote about life lessons learned in kindergarten, I want to share with you some of my
views from the seat.

Fast is not always better. If you’re intent on getting there first, you miss a lot of the scenery. Do the faster riders notice the view from the metal bridge, the turtle sunning on the creek log or the cyclist who needed a word of encouragement?

In today’s rush-rush world, how much are we missing as we try to climb the ladder, be the best or even first? Take life a little slower; it offers a great view.

Pass the pickle juice. It’s amazing what we can learn from others if we only take the time to listen. Take my friend Deepak, who has cycling down to a science. We finish a ride, and he’s barely sweating. Pickle juice and Tums. Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and other funny-sounding words can make a difference in your performance. Who would have guessed?

Taking care of our bodies is a key task we assume as humans. To do our best and be our best, we need all the help we can get. Share the knowledge, and learn by listening.

Share a spare. Cyclists, as a whole, are a giving bunch; they lend a hand, and often without being asked. Flat tire? No problem, here’s a tube. Thirsty? Let’s split a Gatorade.

Sure, there are a few stingy Petes, but isn’t that the same in life? The key is working together to achieve a goal, whether personal or as a group. Set your own goal, live your own life, but remember that there are others out there willing to help. Remember, though, that if you take a hand, be sure and offer your own in return.

Eventually bumpy roads smooth out. As we bumped our way down an a rough road, my friend Don, ever the encourager, commented about how it felt like a massage for his feet. Leave it to him to find some good in something that
was so uncomfortable at the moment. Rough rides are only as bad as you let them be.

Once you get past the rough patch, think how good the smooth pavement feels. And how far ahead you
can see. Look down the road, pedal past the pain and enjoy the view ahead.

Pretty good lessons, don’t you think?