cycling

Forty-six kilometers ridden, yet the desert existed only in the mind. No scorching sun, no shifting sands, only effort and will. The sweat was real, the progress undeniable. Another record set, another ride complete. The road ahead calls, and the fire within remains.

A virtual ride through rolling Polish countryside. The mind embraced the scenery, but the legs resisted. Fatigue lingered, effort felt heavier, yet the fire remained. Namibia’s ride demanded more, delivered more. One ride left, one more chance to push past routine.

Cold air bites, but the ride begins. No layers, no comfort, just discipline. Heat rises, sweat floods, endurance builds. The body fights, the mind grips, strength forms. A forty-kilometer desert ride pushes limits. Goals crushed, challenges remain. Tomorrow brings the next test.

Every ride is a step forward, whether pushing limits or simply showing up. Habits are built in the quiet moments, when discipline outweighs motivation. Muscle memory matters as much as endurance. Momentum is everything. Even the smallest ride keeps the fire alive and the mind ready for more.

After a year consumed by work and travel, I reclaimed my commitment to cycling in January 2025. Logging 760 kilometers across 21 indoor rides on Rouvy, I have ridden through virtual landscapes worldwide. With discipline and focus, I aim to drop weight and regain both physical and mental strength.

I returned from Dubai last week Saturday at basically midnight only to hop on a flight to Seoul for a week about 30 hours later on Monday morning. After sacrificing Saturday to recover from sleep deprivation, today at dawn I mounted my fat ass on Red Chameleon for my first ride in way too long.

It has been far too long since my last post here at Saiklr, and that is entirely attributed to a swift ramp-up of business travel in 2022. This led to literally no additional free time to work on the site, as the work-life balance was far more important to focus on family rather than writing.

It took about ten days to get back out on the tarmac, but after a couple hellaciously busy weeks and a small vacation to get in some hiking, Red Chameleon and I finally got to see some action.