Cycling

Cycling has been a big part of my life for the past few years, not only because of its balance between speed and endurance and the adrenaline rushes it brings or anything physical like that, but also because of how it has helped my grow as a person while on the bike mentally.

On of the most important things of cycling is probably perserverence. Cycling is unlike sprinting, more like a marathon. It is a continued process across a span of time, during which fatigue, boredom and pain is common.

During the October break, I planned a cycling trip with friends along the JieTai temple route, covering about 60km with 400m of elevation. Despite not cycling much since school started, I believed this challenge was achievable.

On the morning of September 29th, just as I exited my complex, my bike chain broke unexpectedly. Having just gotten it back from maintenance, I was initially disheartened. Most bike shops wouldn’t open for hours, so I attempted a fix myself, but without the right tools, it was impossible. Instead of giving up, I contacted the bike shop and was fortunate to find a mechanic there for a cycling event. I managed to get my bike fixed and took a car to catch up with my friends.

The ride was enjoyable, with strong communication and collaboration among us as we took turns leading to maximize our aerodynamic efficiency. We encouraged one another through fatigue, which fostered a sense of camaraderie. However, the uphill sections were tough for me. My back and legs protested after a two-month break, but I set a goal to stay on the bike until I reached the top. Somehow, I persevered through the discomfort, convincing myself to keep riding. I ultimately completed the climb without stopping, even though I could barely walk afterward.

This experience honed my problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and perseverance skills. I’m proud of overcoming the challenges and look forward to my next ride.

During November, I went on a cycling trip with Jeffery before the weather turned cold, choosing our usual route along Chang A Street. However, the cycling lanes were unexpectedly crowded, so we opted for JingShan Front Street, which was much clearer. This decision allowed us to cycle quickly and efficiently. On the way back, I pushed myself to maintain a faster pace, raising my heart and respiratory rates. This experience sharpened my problem-solving skills by adapting our route and demonstrated my commitment and perseverance as I challenged my limits.

Later, with the temperature around 14 degrees, it was finally time to cycle outdoors again. We started easy, taking a slightly shorter route to Xi Dan. Our first challenge arose when we encountered a renovation on Chang An Street, forcing us to adjust our route northward. After a rest and some hot food, we faced another hurdle: Jeffery urgently needed a toilet, and my phone battery suddenly died. Fortunately, a nearby guard directed us to a restroom. We split up to find it in the dark, which felt eerie. I eventually located it just in time for Jeffery. This experience taught us adaptability and resourcefulness in unexpected situations, and we learned to communicate effectively to overcome challenges together.

Overall, I believe that cycling not only exercises me physically, allowing me to gain exercise in a fun way, but, more importantly, prepares me mentally. I am sure that with these experiences on the bike, when in other fields I experience pain or the lack of motivation to keep pushing, I will be able to think of the cycling experiences and make the choice to help myself improve more as a person.