Every year, I have a ritual to prove to myself that I’m in good enough shape for my next tour. The ritual is simple: a fully loaded ride and crossing the 100-kilometer mark — more a mental barrier than a physical one.
Today was that day.
At the same time, it was also the first real test to see whether Rosinante IV is ready for the journey ahead. And the verdict? I could be in better shape, but overall: good enough. It can always be better. But this is something I can work with.
I’m fit enough to enjoy the adventure, and the rest will come on the climbs through the Turkish mountains.
This was also my last training ride before the tour begins, because next Thursday my partner in crime, Uwe, and I will travel to Uganda.
About 30 years ago, two zis scholarships helped me to broaden my horizon, expand my understanding of what is possible, and develop more self-confidence. zis is a non-profit organization that has been awarding scholarships for study trips to young people between the ages of 16 and 20 for more than 60 years. Today, the word we use for tenacity and grit is resilience - and I've made it my profession, to help managers around the world to develop more of this inner power.
In retrospect, the experiences I've had on these trips to Scotland and Iceland have been priceless for my development. After having had a childhood with some challenges, I learned that I could cycle 1,700km on my own and get wet every day without despairing. I have learned that I was able to get along with only 300 € for 4 weeks and still had a good time. I have learned what it's like to be threatened with deportation and how to get an interview with the President from such a crisis. I have understood that limitations are primarily constructs in our heads, and I want to make these insights available to as many adolescents as possible.
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