Some of you know, others don't, but cycling, outside of my family and photography is one of the most important parts of my life. Why? Because it keeps me going forward. It's not always easy to ride, as a matter of fact, it gets hard. Trying to wake at 5:45 am for the morning rides as to not eat into the rest of the days journey. Yet it slowly gets easier, it slowly becomes part of me once again. Last weekend was my first race since the "accident" on 6/6/06. It was good, no, it was great to be back out there. To push myself beyond what my mind believes I can do. To be inches away from the tire in front of me, or from the rides all around. 40 mph, into a 90 degree turn, the wind, the freedom, taking any thoughts or worries from any other part of life away. Just being right there, at that time, and no where else....
And while I'm not sure what I'm getting at or where I'm going with this, I do know one thing, cycling, my bike, is a great thing.
"Le Tour De France" ended yesterday and I couldn't help but smile with excitement, watching all of the riders come across the line after 3 weeks of intense racing. What they go through is unlike any other athlete. Burning thousands of calories a day, pushing beyond a point that many think is safe. Going up into the alps, harder and harder with each pedal stroke, bringing their bodies and minds into a place where they no longer hear the thousands of spectators lining the streets... In some cases unable to comprehend where they even are. At times they will find the finish line a top one of those towering mountains, trying to ride solo to that banner... And at other times when they crest the top of the mountain at 10,000 feet or more, they decend the hairy switchback filled roads... They push harder and further trying to find the days finish line. Snaking through the small villages, unable to take more than the blurring colour in... And should they come to that finish line as a peleton, all of the racers in one pack, it's like a wolf trying to get that last piece of steak... Each teams "sprinter" fighting to get into the front, to head down the road at mind numbing speeds in search for a single white line... Bars clashing, heads down, legs burnings... Lungs unable to get the oxygen the body so craves...
To them, that one single white line is all that matters right then and there....
Until the next days stage of course.
Some videos from this years tour.....
The Alpe Duez
The Crazy'ness that is the tour...
It's not always fun and games either...
And Carlos Sastre Wins the 2008 Tour!
1 comment:
I see cyclists persisting up the steep lanes winding up our mountain and can only look on in awe. I remember one particular day when a young cyclist asked how much more to the top as I was walking down the road home. Didn't have the heart to tell him that it was about 40 minutes at the rate he was going, so I casually shrugged and said 20. The determination in those guys (and girls) are something else!
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