Back in the summer, I said I was getting back to riding 50 km a day — rebuilding strength, rebuilding freedom, chasing those long-distance dreams again.
But life had other plans.
Since July, I’ve logged zero cycling kilometres. Not one. And it’s not because I lost the desire. My body has been fighting me every step:
- Achilles tendinitis
- Plantar fasciitis
- A fracture in the other foot
- Neuropathy always waiting in the background
- Degenerated discs offering their own opinion
Here we are — October 31st — and the year did not go the way I imagined.
When Someone Tried to Steal My Freedom
In the middle of everything else, this happened:
One afternoon — broad daylight — I caught a guy using a massive pry bar trying to rip my bike right off the rack on my car. No hesitation. No shame.
That wasn’t just someone trying to steal a bike. That was someone trying to steal my independence. My escape. My way forward.
It left me angry — the kind of anger that hits deep.
Now my bikes are locked away in a storage locker. Technically safer, yes. But a whole lot less accessible. Riding used to be spontaneous: grab the bike, go. Now it’s planning, unlocking, hauling.
Another barrier. Another weight.
The Hard Truth I Needed to Admit
This morning I watched a video from this years(2025) Tour Divide — a 4,400 km epic ride from Canada to Mexico. It sparked something in me. I have been following this race for 5 or 6 years now, at one point I was considering doing this as a tour. No set goals jut go as far as I can everyday.
For a moment, I saw myself out there.
Then reality stepped in.
I’m finally accepting that the Tour Divide probably isn’t on my bucket list anymore. And yeah… that hurts to write out loud.
But here’s what I’m choosing to focus on:
I don’t have to stop cycling.
Dreams can evolve without disappearing.
Small Adventures Add Up
We think adventure has to be massive, but big rides are built from small ones. Every kilometre matters — especially the painful, awkward, rebuilding ones.
A 5–6 km ride
still counts.
Maybe it counts even more.
Because every little victory says:
I’m still here. I’m still trying. I still want this.
✅ November Cycling Goals — The Comeback Starts Here
Goal 1: Ride the 6 km loop around the Nature Park
- Completion = success
- Walk the steep hills if needed — zero shame
Goal 2: Ride the loop again, but stronger
- Hold a higher gear on the flats
- Push harder on the punchy climbs
- Only walk if absolutely necessary
Goal 3: Build distance slowly
When 6 km feels steady → add another loop
6 km → 12 km → 18 km — one week at a time
This is my new path.
This is my Tour Divide — for now.
How I’ll Track It
After each ride:
📍 Date
⚙️ Highest gear held comfortably
⛰️ Where I walked
💬 One sentence about how it felt
Not perfection. Just progress.
Day One: November 1st, 2025
Back to the saddle. One loop at a time.
“Small adventures add up — I’m building mine.”
To Anyone Else Fighting Their Body (or Circumstances)
You’re not weak.
You’re not behind.
You’re not done.
Adaptation is a victory.
Persistence is a victory.
Showing up is a victory.
Let’s keep going — one tiny ride at a time.