People often ask me why I cycle and devote so much time to riding my bike. For me the reason is simple, cycling is a lifestyle choice that provides many gains beyond simply the obvious health benefits.  Through cycling I have had the amazing opportunity to meet up with many like-minded individuals who have become my closest friends and together we have experienced some of the best moments on a bike.  I only realized how important these people were to me once I moved to Canada and have really felt this element missing every time I got on my bike. Cycling by yourself is certainly not the same, although being alone does provide another benefit I find that I get from cycling.  Freedom of thought… 

The simple nature of spending hours on a bike with open vista’s and miles ahead does provide one with the time to clear your head of any troubling thoughts or issue needing to be resolved. Those who have ridden with me and experienced the notion of ‘riding in anger’ – the need to pedal through an unresolved issue, normally experienced mid-climb! Nothing is quite a rewarding as a couple of hours on the bike to clear ones mind of any issues. So, to anyone reading this yes, riding does make you a better person!

In today’s society, with the pressure that we are all under it is important to have an avenue to release the levels of stress – nothing a long stretch of single-track cannot sort out. To be out in nature for several hours experiencing the landscape around you is a passion for me – though I seriously think you are missing out on something, if you do not once in a while stop to smell the proverbial daisies. Sometimes you physically need to stop yourself, get off your bike and take the time to look at your surroundings. Mountain-biking will take you to places that few get to experience and you really do need to take the time to stop and ‘look’.  The ‘whooping’ experienced by most MTB’ers is a true emotion that everyone should experience once in their lives!

The level of fitness you can achieve in cycling is directly related to the level of effort – it is an activity that rewards you for the amount of time you spend out there.  I generally am a happier and less complicated individual when I feel better about myself. At the height of my training for the Cape Epic (www.capeepic.com) I achieved a level of fitness that was possibly the highest of my life – it was possibly one of the best feelings of my life and feeds the soul with so much positive energy.  I look forward to be back in that same peak condition for the Trans-Rockies. 

Nothing beats the pure pleasure of being out on the bike for several days with good friends, experiencing areas that few will have the privilege of ever seeing, let alone experiencing it with the freedom of a bike. This week I miss out of spending quality time with my closest group of friends on what has to be one of the best events for mountain bikers worldwide – The 3-day Sani2C event in South Africa (www.sani2c.co.za). 

Time to get on my bike and clear my head...