Quantum leap
Sorry for the obsessive qualities I have about cycling right now, but that’s what my mind is focused on… bear with me.
I recently did a workout on my bike that consisted of 4 grinding climbs in a gear that put me in quicksand. Every muscle in my body was trying to work together and create a dance of movement. I figured out that I can pull on the bars, use my glutes, scrape my foot at the bottom of the pedal stroke, push down AND pull up, and put my core into action. It was an all-out effort that put other workouts to shame. Every pedal stroke counted because it propelled me that much further so I didn’t fall over. I scrounged to make each one count.
By the time I got to the 3rd climb, it had gotten easier. I was able to shift to a harder gear and dial in my pedal stroke even deeper. My legs finally realized that they couldn’t cheat anymore, and the time had come to put the parts of the pedal dance together to create a fluid motion. The beautiful circle of dance. My mind turned on, my muscles firing, my music blaring in my ears… intensely trying to make it fun.
The 4th climb was my quantum leap. Straight out of the gate, I stood up and hammered the beginning of the climb. It felt easier again, so I shifted one more gear. Bigger gear, bigger confidence. My momentum “leaped” out of my legs, to the pedals, onto the pavement and it felt like there was a magic magnet pulling me up to the top. I got there 30 seconds faster… it was a euphoric moment in time. My reward was solitude, a great song and a vast view of a personally sacred spot. I victory danced; I literally danced by myself, sang out loud and savored the moment. No one could take that away from me, no matter how crazy I looked.
Another one? Maybe not. I still had a fierce head wind to deal with all the way home, so I still had to save some fuel in the tank.
On the way home, no wind, gust or climb could get in my way. I was in a zone like no other. Solid, strong and smooth movements that danced me all the way home. My quantum leap climb gave me legs of steel that couldn’t be stopped. I didn’t think for once that I would come up empty.
With these workouts, I learn that each climb is a stage of positivity, pondering and pain. I talk to myself and send love to my muscles to make it happen. I center myself within my thoughts to believe that good will come. I have a balance between power and inner reflection that create a successful workout, and I walk away with knowing that I can do it again and again.
A parallel to life?
Well, it’s so interconnected. Quantum leaps in life include positivity, pondering and pain too. Turning to movement instead of stagnant. Pushing big gears and knowing you can create the motion. Believing that leaps let you look back and say “Big risk, but… wow, amazing results!” Your power within allows you to arrive at places you never thought were possible. To accept change and embrace it, feel it and allow it. Love it.
Are you there? At the bottom of a monster climb that looks menacing? Don’t be afraid, just take it like I try to: In stages or parts.
And at the top, you’ll be able to do your victory dance.
(climber photo credit)
(vintage photo credit)
March 28th, 2010 at 9:14 am
a quad on lemon? right on!
March 28th, 2010 at 9:18 am
Thanks D! One of my best yet. Hopefully Coal Bank and Molas will be that fun!
March 29th, 2010 at 7:57 am
Hu Julie,
-tell me you have bar ends at the tips of your bars for using during such serious climbs….you have them right? So often when I come out and rent bikes out by you they do not have them already on the bikes. I can send a picture of what works for me, should you be interested.
Similar to when I got into Swing dancing in the late 1990’s ( as the whole country did after getting pumped from watching the GAP Swing commercial) there were lots of different styles of the same dance depending on what part of the country you were in, I think there are different approaches to this sport of mountain-biking.
2 things that help on climbs is being clipped in with those shoes that merge you to the bike (if not these, then you must have toe clips) as these give you the ability to propel the bike on the up stoke as well as the down stroke and bar ends. When you grab onto the bar ends on an ascent, you create torque as well as it pushes the back wheel into the ground for more digging power.
Thanks for sharing you jubilation re: your achievements, with riding, in nature, as, as you know, I can relate. I have been a little under the weather the last few days but broke out of it yesterday and had a similar feeling of being reborn….Oh, and I actually was dancing around my studio to loud music as part of that too now that I think about it. -it felt like how eating feels right after fasting for a few days.
So let’s both take out new found energy and apply it to propelling us towards our current goals. When is your race?
-good luck, E.
March 29th, 2010 at 10:41 am
Thanks Erik. I love it when you share everything from bar ends to dancing… and all the life metaphors in between. I’m so glad you can relate to the biking/life connections, and it allows me to share more when I know that you and others “get it”.
Okay, so I’ll admit it. Before you think I am some burly girl that was cranking up a dirt climb, I wasn’t. I was on my feather-light road bike with smooth asphalt, so it shouldn’t have even been that hard. The grade was steep in parts, so I guess I can feel good about that. But I just grabbed onto the hoods and put my full body into it, so having something like bar ends does help.
Regarding dancing and mountain biking, thanks for a great idea on a blog post! You’re so right about different styles depending on the instruction and terrain. I will connect the two in the future. About clips, I can’t live without them…road and mountain. They have changed my pedal stroke immensely, and bring so much more power. Even changing from mtn. clips to road clips on my mtn. bike made a difference because of the bigger pedal platform.
I’m glad you’re on the mend. Dancing is so therapeutic no matter what, where or how. I have a friend that I go dancing with to “get lost in motion”. It fills me with a joy that heals and energizes. Makes me happy to be alive…
My road race is Memorial Day. 50 miles mostly climbing up two mountain passes to Silverton, CO. I hope all this hard work pays off. Thanks for your support!
April 3rd, 2010 at 7:44 am
Wow Julie! This totally captures the essence of the journey on the bike. It reminds me of these drills I used to do, 8min of hell:) x3. I’m going to order the book today! Enjoy your weekend!
April 3rd, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Kyla, thanks so much! It makes me feel better when I know someone else has gone through it too. I think of these little piddly climbs I’m doing now compared to what I did on this day, and it can’t even measure up. I have nothing to complain about anymore! Enjoy the book, it’s amazing. I’m learning so much from it. When you get into it, we can share thoughts on it as well. Have a good one!