FROM THE SADDLE
Cruising through sunflowers in Stage 15
A moment of fun in the gardens of Liege
Instead of cranking out work behind a laptop screen, we were cranking out miles behind our handlebars. Our brains wore down to a pleasant serenity. The nine daily hours spent on our bikes became a luxury. All we had to do was pedal. Of course, it wasn’t one long moment of bliss. Like any good adventure, lots of things went wrong on the road. From the annoying (freak rainstorms and lousy diets) to the potentially game-ending (broken tailbones and crashed bicycles), it felt like we were dealt every card in the deck. But we were ready. Persevering required a mind-set that was both strong and flexible. We rolled with so many punches it made me dizzy.
At times we had to ride big, busy highways that I would never venture on at home. The bike infrastructure was far less sophisticated than I expected. It was a great reminder that not all of Europe is bike heaven! I remember seeing green lanes in France, but the paint was often worn and the connectivity poor. The conditions wouldn’t be a problem for the real Tour de France race with its closed roads. But riding open roads in a small group of six made for some harrowing moments, facing down semitrucks, sketchy roads, and aggressive drivers. Finishing the ride despite all those obstacles and all the doubts made the feeling of accomplishment that much greater. When I wrapped my arms around my family un-
16 American Bicyclist