The Tour: When riding in a huge pack of 180 riders like that, you can’t really see where you’re going. You’re eyes are glued on the wheel in front of you, and you have to trust that the guy in front of you is paying attention and won’t let you run into a curb or a traffic circle or a traffic island that could cause you to crash.
Life: Sometimes we have no choice but to pedal along on blind faith and trust, huh?
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The Tour: Even for the most fit, fine-tuned athletes in the world, riding thousands of miles day after day in the heat of the summer through valleys and over some of the highest mountains in the world in all kinds of weather, isn’t fun. In fact, long about the 12th day, the commentators all start talking about the pain and suffering the riders are beginning to feel…pain and suffering that doesn’t end until the last day in Paris. You have a choice – do you stop, step off your bike, and retreat to the safety of your team car? If you do, that’s it, you don’t get back on your bike the next day and continue on. Or do you grit your teeth and push through the pain because tomorrow’s stage might suit you better?
Life: Living hurts some times. It’s hard. But pushing through the pain – learning how to suffer – ultimately leads to an even greater reward.
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The Tour: When you’re riding in the pack or with a handful of teammates, there’s less work for you to do. And, thanks to the physics of it all, if you drop out the back of the pack, it can be almost impossible to catch up on some days, but you definitely will expend much more energy than you would otherwise.
Life: Stay in the boat! Life is a lot easier that way!
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The Tour: A moment’s inattention or distraction can mean disaster. That’s how most crashes happen – a glancing brush of wheels, a moment’s turn away from the road and you miss the traffic island, a slight miscalculation on a curve.
Life: It’s like that driving, too!
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The Tour: The leader of the Tour, the man in the yellow jersey, and his team, must defend the jersey. You will be attacked as the leader and if you want to keep your standing you have to fight for it.
Life: There are lots of things you work hard for and then have to protect to keep it. But those are the things that are usually worth fighting for.
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