Reflection on the Ride

Dancing on the Pedals

You know the feeling. You are riding up a big hill, losing momentum, your legs are burning with from the build up of lactic acid. And you look down toward your bike's drivetrain you see you are on the small crank in the front, and largest sprocket in the back. You heart sinks. You are on you lowest gear - you have ran out of gears - mechanically the bike no longer ease your ride up this hill. It is now completely up to you to get up this hill.

You have two options: 1) get off the bike and walk the bike up the hill. 2) put your head down, get up from the saddle, dig deep into the pedals, ignore the burning sensation in your leg muscles, and dance on the pedals up the hill up till you reach the top.

To outside observers, this dance on the pedal is beautiful. If you follow the Tour de France, you will remember 2003 stage 15 as Lance Armstrong danced on his pedals up Luz-Ardiden. Armstrong crashed at the start of the climb, the fall was caused when Armstrong caught the handlebar of his bike on the strap of a spectator's bag. Jan Ulrich, who was riding just behind Armstrong, avoided the crash, and in an act of chivalry he slowed to wait for the fallen riders. Armstrong quickly re-mounted his bike and caught Jan Ulrich. Immediately, Armstrong attacked the group of riders, none of whom could follow him and he powered his way to win the stage by 40 seconds, on his way to a victory on the Champs Elysees by 1 minute 1 second.

This is the insight the came to me as I climb up Hamilton Mountain toward our Mohawk College camp grounds for the end of day one; a 4.4km climb gain about 100m in elevation. One thing that kept me going is that I knew for those inflicted by cancer, those who we are riding for, that cannot get off the ride in their struggles. They have to find the strength within themselves to dig deep and fight. And this fight, to friends and family observing, this is many many times more beautiful than Lance Armstrong dancing uphill on bike pedals.


Strength in Numbers

Another insight is that I would have never done a ride from Toronto to Niagara all by myself. But it was a joy riding along side the other 4108 participants, crews and volunteers. I've witnessed it many times at church, whenever someone hears the dreaded words: "You have cancer." The community comes together in prayer and support. No one should ever ride by them selves. Strength in numbers.