“Are you mad!”
“Are you mad!”
This is without exception the first thing people say when I explain about the ABSA Cape Epic.
I can’t answer for Dennis, although I think he must be as mad as a hatter to have picked me as his partner!
But me, well I think yes I would be mad if it wasn’t for cycling.
The rhythmic action of cycling allows me to realise and release the stresses in my life and thereby acting as a kind of catharisis. Spinning the pedals, focusing completely on the fluid motion of my legs, forces me to relax and as this happens outside, deep with my mind a tap is turned on. The multi-coloured mists that cloud my everyday actions and thoughts lift and are replaced by a calmness and clarity of thought that feels like a cool summer breeze.
Battles rage inside my head and my heart, but when I ride my battles are won and the demons are defeated.
During long rides when the pain in my body is at its peak my life order gets straightened out properly, my stress and frustration subside, the times when my self esteem is low are replaced by a reassurance and self confidence no book or course could deliver.
In its masochistic simplicity cycling gives me the freedom to dig deep inside my mind and body and discover a strength that until recently I never knew I had.
I have really struggled to find something that helps me deal with the stresses in my life, but the one thing that actually works is cycling.
March 15th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Crikey, I knew we were both a bit crazy, but I had no idea that we were unleashing a full-blown, self-profiling psychological examination. All of a sudden I can see where the word CRANKS comes from…