Set Out for a Spin
30 July 2017. It was a cloudless blue sky at 11 a.m and was forecast to hit low 30s°C. Nevertheless, we decided to take my new mountain bike (3rd bike in 12 months) in Romania out for a spin. It was a 14 kg BTWIN 340 mountain bike that we bought yesterday. It replaced the child-size DHS bike we bought in a rush last summer.
The sun was beating down hard on us with scant breeze as we rode out of Sebes city. I felt myself enveloped by a layer of dust as we rode on the city’s intercity road (Transalpina/DN67C). Along the way, tired-looking houses and dry-looking shrubs lined both sides of the road. The hot, dry air made my throat parched almost immediately. I also felt anxious about how tolerant the drivers would be with cyclists. That apprehension, in turn, did not make the ride any easier.
The Climb
We made a turn into a side road after 9 km. The aim of today was to get to the top of the hill which overlooked Sebes. We seemed to have stepped into another world once we left the main road. Greenery lined the path, and the dust magically disappeared. Only the intermittent chirping of birds and the occasional passing car broke the silence. The shade from the trees and the occasional breeze made our upcoming gruelling task easier.
No Easy Gear
My other half did not tell me how long the climb was, or how steep. Of course, it’s all relative — compared to the almost 20% climbs in the Tour de France. Ignorance is bliss. So, there I was, shifting gears by trial and error, to find the sweet spot to climb. The ignorant and gung-ho me decided not to select the lowest gear. Instead, I wanted a real workout, one that would train my quadriceps. So I set the bike to a medium chain ring and the second-biggest cog on my 7-speed cassette. Then I started my climb.
Chasing Silviu
Naivety almost killed me, but I achieved my objective of strengthening my quadriceps. Silviu and I set to meet on the peak since he was always faster than me. Around each corner, I was desperately searching for the sight of him. Spotting him would mean I was nearing the top. However, the number of turns seemed infinite, and I felt disappointed time and time again.
As If I'd Just Conquered Mount Everest
With each turn uphill, my heartbeat raced faster, which I thought impossible after the third or fourth turn. My rapid breathing turned to loud panting. In this tranquil rural setting, these bursts of panting sounded more like roaring waves. At the same time, a familiar nagging inner voice emerged. Drop the gear, it would be easier, it said. Or stop and rest. Or stop and push up the bike — no one would laugh at you. This voice persisted till the end, but I did not give in. I’d climbed 230m over 3.2km, averaging a 7.2% gradient. The feeling was no less than that of conquering Mount Everest!
Life is funny like this. Sometimes, it’s a small, yet not insignificant battle you win in your daily life, and that’s what makes your day. Best of all, after a hard-earned victory, a sumptuous home-made meal awaits you.
