200kms on a bike is Playing Big.

Craig, Andrew, Ming, Mike and myself had little idea of what we were in store for on this ride from Phuket to Krabi. How can you have an an opinion on an experience that you have never experienced before?

It’s human nature to rely on opinions and beliefs. Belliefs and opinions can be some of the best hiding spots in the world. Doesn’t it make keeping score that much easier?

There is no where to hide on a 200km ride. Whining, complaining and excuses can’t be a stand in for integrity and character. You will need to ask yourself what do you stand for? Each answer would be as varying as the riders and their different bikes. One thing is for certain; five men set out to squash some beliefs and to have an experience.

There is a point when beliefs are not enough. Beliefs will not get your ass up a hill. Experience will get your ass up the hill. Integrity and character are action verbs: not sitting still nouns. Beliefs do not make you bulletproof.

Who wants to be bulletproof … I want to be vulnerable, human and have experiences.

Sooner or latter we need take our balls out of our throat and take that Leap of Faith.Saturday morning at the 55km mark is a good as time as any. For a little added mojo and swagger we agreed on a 12km race for coffee. Rules were pretty simple; loser buys coffee.

Hold on my friend…. where is my READY -set -go?

Don’t the majority of us wait to be READY?

Wait ,at least, until our balls are not lodged so tightly in our throat.

I’m not ready is a handy ace up the sleeve. Lay that trump card on the end of a Timing isn’t right flush and you have a guaranteed sure thing……. Beliefs vs. Experiences.

At the 90km we embarked on a truly memorable and picturesque climb. The kind of climb where you forget about trying to prove that the same old self doubt is untrue. You have an experience. An experience that leads you higher and higher into the trees. The only sounds you hear are the melodies of the chirping birds and the breathing of the two wheeled stallion next to you. That distant rev of a truck’s engine let’s you know that there still is a price to pay.

For those of you unfamiliar with Canadiana; one of her majestic marvels is a Flock of Canadian Geese flying in unison across the crisp prairie maroon sky.

Teamwork.

Collaboration.

WE CENTRED.

The watch on my wrist said 8 hrs and 37mins. That’s a long gruelling day out on the bike and in the blitzing sun. Salty dry sweat crusted my black shorts.My feet were on fire in my bike shoes. Fire feet are part of the price you must be willing to pay. Sizzled would be a mild understatement; let’s try well done and seared.

Have you ever left a steak on the bbq for just a little too long?

You know, when that trim of fat starts to curl up and all but disappears. No amount of BBQ sauce will bring that steak back to life. Beliefs and opinions can’t resuscitate the steak.

Ming, with his radiant and contagious smile, called out 194 when we rolled into our finish line. We were 6kms short of the 200km mark. Starting at 7am that morning; it was now creeping up on 4pm. One hundred and ninety four kms is close enough ….. isn’t it?

At what temperature does Water Boil?

What happens at 99°C?

One degree is all that separates water from boiling and not boiling.

Six kilometres might not sound like a big deal. If you are going to be impeccable with your word then six kilometres is the distance between Do or Do Not. Craig, Ming and myself headed back out on the road to finish our last 6 kms. Who knows why we didn’t add the six kilometres before we made the turn into the homestretch. It sure would have made for an easier use of will power. One thing is for certain : focusing on the problem will not create the solution.

When we arrived back at the FINISH LINE we saw Mike waiting with a front flat tire. Our support van was still out on the road. Mike immediately grabbed Ming’s bike and his oversized bike shoes to tackle his last 8kms. Before we could find any newspaper to stuff in the oversized bike shoes ; Mike took off to finish what he started.

Playing Big!

As so happens on rides like this there is a lone wolf who at times will get separated from the pack. A lone wolf who no matter what will finish what he started. He will Ramble On. Andrew rolled in on the 212km mark. A left here instead of a right there. Logging a few more km’s on the Road Less Travelled. One of the inherent truths of PLAYING BIG is that it doesn’t leave any wiggle room for any BULL SHIT. You either play BIG and stand for something or you don’t!

Would you have settled for 194kms?

How can you have a belief on an experience that you have never experienced before….

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