NOS88

This is a link to the recent story about Taylor Phinney. As I read the story, it really hit me, that while never wanting to compare myself to the skill level of these riders, I've had that similar experience. I just wanted to give up. The ride was getting too hard. Yet, something inside of me said, "No, you can't do that." I'd think of my grandmother and her illness, or I'd remember the fight a friend had with cancer. I'd think that this suffering is nothing compared with the very day-to-day lives of so many people. It was after my first experience like this that I told my wife, "I think I'm going to be riding bikes for the rest of my life, or as long as my body will let me."

https://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...883339720.html

Biker395 

Great story!

For me, it happened long ago on my first tour. Ever see a retriever puppy the first time they splash in the water? You can tell that they are just discovering something that they are genetically designed to love. That's the way it was for me.

Then again, this might have had something to do with it too:

Shamrock

I better not

pursuance

That made me cry. Thank you.

The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism.. #1, To live is to suffer.

lenny866

thanks for the link...it made my day!!

Dan Burkhart 

What an inspirational story, thanks for posting the link. I'm sure we've all had times that we wanted to give up, but seeing it through to the end is so rewarding.

xtrout1

Niagara falls.
Fantastic story and link to the article.
I really need to go for a hard ride right now.

Cheers.

K. Mc.

dbg

It's an interesting social perspective to think about people who would give anything just to be "able" to suffer like you are.

GFish

Very inspirational, thanks for bringing this forward!!

Makes yesterday's 15 mile commute into a 10 mph headwind on my SS seem rather trivial. Rides often become an inner battle with how much you're willing to suffer. Often, I look for motivation, reasons to endure the pain. After all, I'm only trying to impress myself, nobody else cares.

I'll remember this story next time out. I also remember a picture someone posted with the letters H T F U taped to the top tube, pretty good motivational words right there.

Cougrrcj

I had motivation like that once --

I was out-of-shape, having not ridden much in the previous Winter months, and there I was on a TOSRV warm-up century ride... I had tried to stick to my 'in-shape' 20mph pace for the first fifty miles and I was spent. I had stopped on the side of the road and watched other riders go by... I wanted to quit and wait for the sweep vehicle, but I plodded on.

The next thing I knew, a PYT rode up next to me and asked if I needed a pull. I got a nice view like that pic above for a few miles. Knowing that she was there, and wanting to help, lessened my fatigue a bit. We got to chatting, not so much about the ride (~40 miles to go), but about what a lovely Spring day it was for a ride, albeit a bit on the breezy side. We were both started out riding solo that day - it was her first century. She thought it would be fun to try, but was having her own struggles.

The small-talk continued until the end of the ride, probably three hours later. By then I had completely lost that 'quitting' feeling. Yeah, we were not the fastest finishers, but at least we both finished. It was nice to have her as support, and I thanked her for it. She said much the same. I don't remember the pain of riding that day, but I certainly remember the pleasant time we had!

Banded Krait

NOS88,

Thank you so much for posting this. What a truly inspirational story! The phrase, "Heart of a Lion" comes to mind.

GeorgeBMac

Thanks... We ALL needed that!

qcpmsame 

Great post and link NOS, very timely and well written.

Bill

kenji666

That story makes Jens Voigt sound like a puss.

NOS88

Jens? IDK. But, Andy Schleck? Well.... (Does this show bias on my part or what?)

fat biker

Powerful Stuff.
Thanks for sharing.

Jeff, still fat

RickBlane

Nice Story.

Terry66

No matter how bad the ride might suck in one way or another, I am always thankful that I am fortunate enough to be able to ride. I remember this past November riding from Cumberland Md on the GAP trail. It was over 25miles 2-4% uphill to the Eastern Continental Divide on a crushed limestone surface. My bike with all the gear was over 70lbs. It was raining and temps were in the mid-30s. It was one of the best days of my life. I kept thinking how lucky I was to be there and to be able to do what I was doing.