Two Wheels To Nowhere

COVID Coping ~ After a whole week of self-isolation and working from home involving a focus largely on the COVID-19 crisis, I stepped out of the fray for a few hours by getting outside on my two-wheeler, despite the sub-zero temperature. It was cold but the sun was shining, the sky was blue, traffic was light and the roads were bone dry. My 100 km ride was long enough to allow me to completely disconnect from the week of worry. No phone calls or notifications from my mobile, no video conferences, no email, no breaking news items, just the road stretched out in front of me. I truly lost myself in my ride. When I stopped about halfway to eat and take these photographs, it hit me that I had actually *completely* forgotten about COVID-19 for over an hour! The focused effort, the hum of my wheels, the sun in the blue sky and the bird-songs all had drawn my thoughts away from the worries of the past week. And herein lies the magic of cycling, for me. Besides the obvious fitness benefits, it is always so mentally therapeutic. An escape from the daily grind. An opportunity to turn off the flood of information that occupies our thoughts. A chance to let my thoughts wander aimlessly. A form of meditation, really. That is always such a benefit to my wellness; even more so in these unprecedented times of this pandemic. That something so simple as riding a bike can help me cope with life’s daily challenges is remarkable. Once again, the little things matter. Keep it simple.