Rollin for a reason: Part IV

As I continue to ride consistently the gulf between mind and body has drastically shrunk. We’ve known body language accounts for the lion’s share of interpersonal communication; riding has taught me that your body is constantly communicating with the self too. The process of calibrating my understanding of what my body needs and wants and when it needs it has been enlightening. Each new hobby is processed by way of discovery, accelerating interest, rapid consumption, assessment, conclusion, and progression. But biking has stuck with me longer than others and only recently have a realized that I have never really, I mean really, knew that my body was communicating with me. It’s changed me for the better.

On every long ride there is a transition. The experience of riding itself evolves. As this process begins I can actually feel my consciousness shifting gears. At the start of the ride I begin in the default state we’re all accustomed to. But the mind has the ability to recognize the opportunity to rearrange priorities and enhance the clarity of focus. Once you get a taste of that experience it becomes the goal of every ride. If you know me you’re familiar with the refrain, ‘the more I learn the more I realize how little I know.’ It shouldn’t be surprising that the experience I’m describing has illuminated this same tautology. The world and all its contents are so rich and consumable. Don’t forget your perception and experience of the world has infinite nuance. I hope you enjoy the process of discovery as much as I have.

I’m sure you’ve seen those cheesy pain medication commercials with lightning bolts representing the focal point of pain. A long ride starts off much in the same way. In the beginning your legs, specifically your thighs, or rather my thighs, are a storming concoction of electric energy. The proverbial lightning bolts and literal lactic acid combined with the welcoming presence of dull pain combine forces to hijack your focus. This for many is the barrier to entry, the point in time where most experience the dip (a Seth Godin concept, and book, Jon Rave introduced me too I highly recommend). Wisdom is knowing this is just a fee. Nothing in the world is free and I don’t mind knowing that you gotta pay to play. As my legs gain steam, each independently acting as a piston, firing electric bolts allowing my feet to grip the pedal, will the crank through the peak of the crankset, and set gears in motion to provide the momentum I need. My legs become heavy as they bear the burden of my weight. But at some point during the ride the experience changes. The focal point dissipates and my weight is dislodged from my legs and pedals and I feel as though I’m somewhere above, somewhere inside myself floating above the bike and above the ground. At this point I am simultaneously joined with the machine and alone in my intrinsically unique experience. As I ride along, especially (read: hopefully) with the wind at my back, there is no weight, and as such there is no shifting of weight. Turns are effortless. Banking at speed is the most natural and primal thing. At a certain point everything that exists makes sense. The bike’s frame is subservient to the directions of my torso and the bike doesn’t ride it drifts. Everything becomes nothing, and nothing is everything that matters.

But nothing alone would be wholly inadequate. The richness of the ride comes through the persistent stimulus. My bike has made my world around me bigger and gently reminded me that I am small.

Biking is the portal through the imaginary dividing lines between communities. They say 15 mph is the perfect speed to see the world. They are right. Here are some pictures from my ride this weekend.

Riding through a suburb on the north side, I found a historical district with cobblestone roads. It was fun to pretend to be in the Paris - Roubaix for a few minutes.

This was one of the few mansions that didn't have a fence around it. You can't see it from the photo but their backyard is on Lake Michigan.

I guess they didn't have a fence because they had this to guy to keep them safe.

I did take a picture of my favorite house though.

Finally got to Bahai. The weather was starting to get grey but the religion is interesting, and this is the only standing house of worship in the country (I think).

From Bahai I rode through DePaul and Northwestern campuses (both basically on the water, very very pretty) until I got to the Chicago Botanical Gardens.

It was very pretty, and free. Hopefully you don't have allergies though.

Found this really cool lighthouse and was thinking of stopping for lunch but then some really annoying bikers in a ton of neon spandex stopped too and they were loud so I kept moving.

This picture absolutely does not to do this town justice, but it was really pleasantly Americana suburbs which I've missed being in the city.

I don't google map anything and I rarely check the strava map much so it's always bittersweet to see the city because it means I'm on the way home. This is the view on the Lakeshore path from the north side of the city.

I felt good and wanted to continue south past the apartment to complete the full century but it had started to rain, which wouldn't be a problem on it's own but it was windy and I was worried I was gonna ruin another phone so I just headed back.

Which was good because apparently this guy was very tired of waiting for me. This is how I found him when I got home. As staged as this looks I swear on everything he didn't even move when I got home. I heard his tail beating against the couch but he wasn't willing to get up, he just looked at me. He's the absolute best.

Riding north this weekend was a lot of fun and made me even more excited for my bike trip with my parents (and maybe siblings) this July. Thank you very much to everyone who has donated to Sharsheret. The money is important and supporting causes you believe in is important too. But what has been most inspiring for me is to know that I am surrounded by people who in a small (and sometimes very large) way demonstrate through the token of a generous donation that doing good things matters. There are two ways, well probably more than two but for now I will consider two, to address the sometimes intimidatingly frustrating and overwhelming nonsense in the world; you could either allow the practice of caring about SOMETHING to wither and die or you could choose something to care about in full earnestness. Earnestness might not be popular but it’s a choice with a lot of challenges. It is beautiful, terrifying, hilarious, difficult, fun, and usually worth it. And you know, even if it isn’t, then so what?

If you would like to read about the impetus for the trip and/or would consider donating please follow the link below:

http://sharsheret.donorpages.com/TeamSharsheret/RollinForAReason/