The
end of daylight savings time occurs the first weekend of November. This
is also the same time I typically hang my bicycle up on hooks in the
garage.
My
legs welcome the "off-season" as a time to heal and rest. No
riding for me until daylight savings time starts again in mid-March.
Well...that
was the plan at least...
In
the days just before Christmas, I was having lunch with my friend
Robin. We were discussing our plans for 2012 when the subject of bike
riding and centuries arose (a "century" is to bike riding what a
marathon is to running).
I
told her that I wasn't planning on going on any long tours this year (I had
ridden down the coast of California the previous two years) but that I had
the goal of doing a few sanctioned century rides over the upcoming
year. These weren't races but just endurance rides to use as a training
benchmark.
Robin
shot back at me. "Well then you'll have to do the Tour de Palm Springs
with me in February!!...the weather there is perfect that time of year and
unlike most century rides...this is almost all flat...plus it's Valentine's
Day weekend...you can bring Susan out to Palm Springs for a fun and relaxing
weekend!"
I
told her that I would think about it but she was unrelenting in the days to
follow.
I
finally signed up for the ride a few days before the beginning of the
year.
With
only six weeks before the ride, I needed to work myself into riding shape
again. Two long rides each weekend and two more evenings spinning
indoors on a trainer would probably suffice. It was a flat course after
all and the weather in February wouldn't be a real factor.
Last
Friday I drove to the desert with my girlfriend Susan, who thought a weekend
in the warm desert was indeed a good way to relax.
The
weather on Friday was perfect...83 degrees and sunny. We checked
into the hotel and lounged around the poolside until Robin and her date
arrived.
Robin
and her date arrived shortly thereafter and we all went off for an early
dinner. Upon our return to the hotel, Robin and I decided that we would
meet downstairs at 6:30 am and ride over to the starting line, just a few
blocks away.
The
next morning I got up early to dress and eat a hearty breakfast. I
poked my head outside of the room to discover that the overnight temperatures
had dropped to the low 40's and that there was a brisk wind blowing.
I
met Robin downstairs a few minutes later. As we rode to the starting
line it was apparent that the wind was now really blowing hard...really hard
from the west.
We
arrived at the starting point just as the first century riders were
leaving. The ride was expecting over 6,000 riders for the 100-mile
portion and some 10,000 additional riders for the lesser distances.
As
we rode north out of downtown Palm Springs, the taller buildings no longer
provided any screening from the wind. The winds were now blowing desert
sands across the road and into the first group of riders. The sand
stung the sides of our faces, arms, and legs as we rode through the cloud of
dust.
This
wasn't the fun easy ride that I had signed up for. This was
miserable.
I
continued riding as watched several people turn back for the starting line or
walk their bikes along the side of the road. Five miles into the ride
and cyclists were already calling it quits.
At
the seven mile point the route turned west taking us directly into the teeth
of the biting winds. I estimated that the winds were gusting at speeds
of well over 40 miles an hours. Typically I travel on flat roads at a
speed of 16-20 MPH but today I was limited to less than 8 MPH as I needed to
use my "hill gears" to fight the strong head winds.
It
took us nearly 2 hours to reach the 15-mile point and I felt as though I had
spent more energy than I normally might have spent after riding 50
miles.
Based
on the present conditions, there would have been no shame in heading back
early. However a commitment had been made to myself and I wasn't about
to let the course conditions get the better of me.
As I
rode, I wondered about other times that had ventured into something unknown,
thinking that it would be very doable only to find out it was turning out to
be much harder than I first had anticipated.
I
thought about the different businesses that I incubated over the years.
I began these ventures with the thought that it would be fun and easy.
Later I would discover that it was really the unexpected that created the
most difficult challenges for me.
I
also thought about relationships, marriage and raising a family. How
often do we start things with the best intentions thinking that we know more
than we really do...only to later discover the difficulties that stand in our
way?
As
we hit the 21 mile point, we suddenly veered easterly. The wind was now
at our backs as we sailed down the road, traveling nearly 40 MPH!! The
downwind section lasted for some additional 37 miles which we covered in
slightly less than a single hour.
Sometimes
this also happens in our lives. After struggling for what seems like
eternity, the road suddenly gets much easily to transverse. The wind is
at our backs. What was hard is now simpler.
I
knew with all the downwind travel that harder peddling lie ahead of me
soon. I my expectations did not disappoint me as we neared the 60-mile
point where we once again turned north and west to battle more winds.
One
of the more interesting things that struck me was how the riders began to
group in packs. This allowed the weaker riders to ride in the wake of
the stronger riders in front. Each of the riders took turns riding hard
in the front, battling the winds for the others behind them. Working
together enabled us to reach our goal of crossing the finish line.
We
did complete the ride...in a time much longer than I had originally
anticipated.
I
am quite certain that we would not have finished if it weren't for the help
of other riders we met along the way.
My
experiences last weekend helped to demonstrate that no one really finds
success on their own. We all need some help from time to time.
No
matter how much one prepares there will always the risk of unexpected head
winds ahead. Life can sometimes be a breeze...or sometimes a hurricane.
Every
day we need to find a way to continue to push ahead...keeping moving...and
finding our way to the finish line.
Thank
you very much for your support of OptiFuse where we hope the wind
is always at your back and if not we'll be there to help.
Jim Kalb
President
OptiFuse
|
