Life on the wheels

The whistle marked the start of the day’s cycling experience. It was OCBC cycling event. In the sea of 8000 plus riders, my journey has begun. The bike floated over bumps; the cold air splashed over my face and I headed into the blind downhill sharp turn.

As I was riding downhill, I felt the swift movement on the right. The air rushed through me as if I was brushed by the edge of a storm. A bicycle overtook me. It was a racer with paddles, saddle and handlebar all set to maximize the aerodynamic efficiency. They are meant for speed.

Once I reached the bottom of the down slope and headed up to start the next uphill, another bike overtook me. An athletic man straightly sat on the bike and comfortably pushed his paddles as though he didn’t need to put effort at all. Cycling uphill is the hardest part. However, when you have learned how to handle them, cycling uphill is the greatest pleasure of all. I looked down, concentrated on breathing and rhythm of my pedaling, the hill passed in no time.

Just like driving, the slower bicycles are to stay on the left lane while the faster ones take the right ones. When the cyclists overtake, they usually shout "on your right" or simply "bike" or "be careful" to avoid bumping into each other while overtaking. Some even say "thank you" when you gave way for them.

At one point on a wide road, I tried to change the gear as my bike wheeled onto the slope. I pushed the gear with my thumb from 6 to 5. I kept on grabbing the handle tight and pushing the gear (trigger) as hard as I could but to no avail. I was intensely concentrating on the change of gear; I didn’t notice the road has narrowed down. A moment later, I found myself in the right lane but not riding fast enough. Just the second I thought of getting back to the left, someone shouted behind me “Aunty, you want to take left lane or not?” I turned my head to see a woman of around my size and shape, thus I assumed so did the age. All you can see a cyclist from behind is the head, the back and the butt.
“What made her to call me Aunty?”
“What an insult!”

I kept the negative feelings to myself. I tried to switch my energy back onto my muscle by pressing down the paddle harder.

A train of thought rushed into my mind. Life is like cycling. Full of ups and downs. People overtake you. Some say thanks when you give way. Some insult you without a reason. This is life. You need to be strong enough to go uphill, and maintain your balance when you are cycling down with the speed of wind. If you are on a mountain bike, the ones on the racers will overtake you. People who are better-equipped or stronger or trained harder than you will overtake you. You can’t just be depressed because you can’t go faster than them. You have to keep moving. Life goes on. Those were my thoughts.

After passing half way, my neck were stiffed, my back was in enormous pain. And my legs were trembling from pushing hard. Only then, I was facing the real challenge. I started to think “why am I torturing myself?” I should still be in bed at this hour of the day. Maybe I stop and get onto the van? Cycling is as much a mental test as a physical one. In life too, the challenge is within. The inferiority when you are not the first, the insecurity when people overtake you and the doubt for being yourself and staying in the course. All these are the real challenges. Sometimes, you feel like saying “I submit”. Those are the uphill rides. You won’t enjoy cycling until you learn to enjoy the uphill. You won’t enjoy life until you learn to enjoy the challenges.

At the end of the day, what really matters is to complete a race with minimum injury. Break your own yesterday’s record if you can. Similarly in life, what else could be more important than being healthy and happy? Friends, that’s your life. Enjoy!