Some situations in life cannot quite be explained in words. There are times where you have sacrificed so much, endured so many hardships, and put yourself to the test so many times, that when you finally see the fruits of your toils, the only thing you can do is smile and shed a tear.
The life of a person who lives and travels by bicycle is as rewarding as it is difficult. There are thousands of decisions to make every day, small and large, and the days are long and usually taxing in one way or another.
It is a lifestyle that I have come to love and respect. My bike is as much a part of me as I am of it. When I see Uncle Henry (my bike), I don’t see just steel, rubber, and chain grease. I see the good times flying downhill, tough times in headwinds and heat, and the many long hours lost in thought as I turned the pedals across the country.
I had one of those moments recently, where months of emotions on the bike culminated in one reaction to a sight both awe inspiring and beautiful. After a long day of riding, Kate and I rounded a bend to gaze upon the Grand Tetons of Northwest Wyoming. The jagged mountain range turned the horizon into a saw that cut to the heart of what we have worked for.
I could not help but smile and get choked up. We had earned this. We didn’t fly in a plane, rent a car, and drive in climate controlled comfort to gaze upon natures’ wonder. We rode for three months, over mountains, through winds, fighting back homesickness and illness to make this moment happen.
Moments like that are why people travel slowly. It’s the payout of the long-term investment you have made. Why farmers labor and plan for the harvest, why teachers work to see their students graduate, why doctors care for their patients to see them recover.
Moments like these are hard won, but worth more than any paycheck or lottery winnings. The beautiful thing is that you don’t have to quit your job and bike around the world to find it. All you have to do is want something bad enough to go out, persevere for your cause, and get it. The opportunities are all around you, you just won’t usually find them behind the soft glow of an electronic screen.
Consider this an invitation. Whether you want to pack your bike and come out and ride with us, or create an adventure of your own. Challenge yourself to attain that goal that has been simmering at the back of your mind for weeks, months, years. We invite you to change your life and, by doing so, enrich it. Do something healthy, active, and positive.
We continue our search for the small moments that make our lives better, and we hope to share many more of them with you.
Cheers!
