I returned from Sea Otter Classic in late April with more than a suitcase filled with product samples but with a trifecta of illnesses ― sinus infection, bronchitis, and pink eye. Talk about party favors, right? Apparently, attendees were either Team Gastrointestinal or Team Bronchitis. Lucky me, I scored a VIP pass to Team Bronchitis alongside some pro racers. With my energy tanking and a cough that wouldn’t quit, my bike was collecting dust, and no real training or hard rides for a month. Just like that, my hard-earned fitness seemed to vanish into thin air.
During this time, I was off the bike for ten days, traveling out East to visit family and then hiking the Appalachian Trail / Virgina’s Triple Crown. When I finally got back, I was eager to jump back into cycling with my usual crew and some local group rides. But alas, after a month of illness, subpar lung capacity, and dwindling fitness, keeping up was a struggle. It was downright disheartening watching my friends boost their fitness while mine seemed to be on a permanent hiatus.
Then, some friends invited me to New Glarus, Wisconsin—a charming little town famed for its beer, just outside Madison. They were training for the Horribly Hilly ride, and honestly, my inner voices were telling me I wasn’t ready for three days of riding challenging hills and big miles. But then, one of my favorite memes popped into my head: “That’s a horrible idea. What time?”
With a mix of trepidation and excitement, I told them I was in. As they shared the GPS routes, I studied them, analyzing the elevation gain and the steepest climbs until I decided to throw caution to the wind. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.
And what a ride it was! We kicked off the weekend with a 20-mile shakeout on Friday and a solid 60 miles on Sunday. Saturday’s rain kept us off the bikes, but we improvised with an hour of a Pilates sufferfest and a hike to a nearby state park.
The weekend was exactly what I needed to find my mojo again. My muscle memory sprang back to life, silencing the thoughts of self-doubt in my head. Even though that pesky cough still makes occasional guest appearances, I’m back to riding stronger. And just last weekend, I tackled a 100K gravel race in Michigan with stellar results—but I’ll save that story for another post.
The moral of my story? Sometimes, you must tune out the negative chatter and pedal forward. Setbacks are just pit stops on the road to success. Keep looking forward, stay positive, and surround yourself with friends who lift you up and encourage you to keep going.
Your mojo isn’t lost; it’s just waiting for you to pedal hard enough to catch up.
Enjoy the ride!
Sunflowers and Pedals 