...to try new things.
About 18 months ago I found myself riding along with a group of strangers, as part of a social gathering loosely based around a bit of leisure cycling and many cups of tea.
I got chatting to a lady who was quite new to riding a bike, and after a short conversation we agreed that I would try out her passion – dancing, if she’d try out some longer trips on the bike that went further than the nearest tea rooms.
To cut a very long story short, I did go dancing – enjoying the coordination challenges, and meeting lots of lovely people along the way – but eventually discovered that while I quite liked it, I didn’t LOVE it.
She, on the other hand, mentored me through my choreographic challenges – but also came with me on several decent rides of 50 miles plus up the Tyne Valley and beyond.
When I suggested that we might try a foreign excursion riding from Amsterdam to Bruges, I expected an immediate ‘no’ – but instead she invested in a better bike, some proper shorts, and a few spares. The next thing I knew we were rolling off the ferry into Ijmuiden, with a most enjoyable 3 day excursion ahead of us.
Around this point I decided that my formal dancing days were over, but she took the cycling challenge to even greater levels. So much so that she’s just completed the Lands End to John O Groats journey – averaging 80 miles a day, with NO REST DAYS!!
Now, my pub talk often includes long accounts of me riding across Europe – eating up the kilometres. But I’ve never managed to ride that far without taking several days out for much needed physical recovery. What she’s done really is some feat.
I met her for lunch the other day and joked that she’d be off around the world within a year’s time. The look she gave me suggested that it wasn’t just being considered but was probably well into the planning stages.
She’s off on the continent again now – guiding a batch of newbies around the cycleways of Holland. Not bad for someone who only recently needed help to hold her bike while she got on.
And here’s the kicker – she’s retired and well into her sixties.
It just goes to show that it’s never too late to try new things and inspire those around you with your passion for life.
Paul
