A state of mind.

There are times in life where work, family, relationships can take up a lot of energy, where not everything feels like it’s going to plan or heading in the right direction.

At times like these a good solid ride can provide some balance, bringing back a spring to the step and a grin to give the frown lines a rest.

I participated in the Dirty Gran Fondo on Sunday hosted by the good people of Big Hill Events. It was a solid 90km hit out on fire roads up and around Wandong and included something like 2000m of climbing. Very much my kind of ride, even if it felt a little short. 4 hours ride time barely gives me time to warm up normally, but obviously the pace was a bit above my usual steady rolling.

You can see in the pic young Jeremy half wheeling me. When he wasn’t half wheeling me, he was kind enough to let me sit on. Who said youth have no manners? It was a grand day out, the weather brisk enough to ride to keep warm and grey enough to be almost threatening. Certainly felt like mountain weather.

Some people went hard and raced, some took more of a leisurely attitude and chatted, flatted or picnicked. Trent Lowe showed he is still a mean unit on a bike and won on a crosser. I worked with Trent briefly at the National Champs during the ill fated Fly V days. Classy rider, top bloke, I’m a fan.

I also spent a fair part of the day riding with Lisa Jacobs of Ride Happy fame. I’d also worked with Lisa before and think she is a great rider. As most of the top female cyclists I know are, she is also a great ambassador for the sport. It was good to see a roadie out on dirt having fun.

There’s probably not much point to this post. Maybe just a declaration of how much fun riding can be. About how being out on your bike with a great bunch of people having a laugh and getting some exercise should be compulsory. As a health professional, I often think people don’t do enough having fun. Being a big kid can be such a powerful form of medicine and the health effects of joy may not be measurable, but are definitely unbeatable.

For me, riding is the best therapy. Always was, always will be.