Bikes

What a fabulous ride out on the bike I had just recently. Out of Ledbury, up and over the Marcle Ridge, then back up, along again, then down and down, a must-do pop into Weston’s Cider for a half of Rosie’s and back to Ledbury the circuitous route via the lanes. The clouds were amazing, the sun was shining and the far-reaching views familiar but still heart-swelling.

I don’t often give in to the challenge and get off my bike up a sharp hill but I’ve had to do it a couple of times this year: on this trip on the steepest final climb to the Ridge, and before on the short sharp climb out of Clun in Shropshire. My heart and legs could take it but my left knee couldn’t. However, this time we did have a tail wind and I had plenty of cool water in my bottle. Better still, no agenda for the day so we could take as long as it took, with just a cup of tea and a good book in the garden under the umbrella on our return. Without this slow pace though, how else would I have seen the four leafed clover at my feet? And looking up, with such open landscapes in all directions, I could take in how far we had come and how far we had to go, with that lovely feeling of seeing the miles roll out before us and then behind us.

Like in life with our challenges, sometimes we have to look closely to see the joy or the solution or even the choices. Yet sometimes we must look up and see the bigger picture, or whatever it is outside of ourselves, to bring us answers. We can look close and inside for the strength within, or look up and reach out for the help without. We can’t always remove the challenge but, if we can find the small thing or big thing that can keep us going, we can get to our destination. If we have to get off our bike to get up that hill then so be it – we will still get to the top no matter the pace.

You will always have challenges but I hope that you always find the thing that keeps you going. May all your uphills have a tailwind!