COURTESY OF JONATHAN YOUNG
Reflecting on his journey as a cyclist, Young reveals the ways that cycling has challenged him both physically and mentally. The century ride. 100 miles, straight. It’s a milestone that many cyclists hit at one point in their lifetime. However, as an amateur cyclist only two years into the sport, I never thought I would hit the milestone so soon.
Like most people during the start of the pandemic, I suddenly found myself with a surplus of time on my hands. I was in my senior year of high school, so school was winding down to a close and my schedule was much freer. Lacking classes and unable to hang out with my friends, I was running out of things to do.
Bored out of my mind, I craved an activity that would allow me to not only stay active but also experience something new. I looked for inspiration from my friends.
Some of my friends went on hikes, but I was hesitant to join group activities that increased the risk of transmission. Some spent hours doing digital art, but I felt that was too sedentary. And then, some of my friends took up cycling. I decided to go with that idea.
My first bike rides were on a Walmart-brand mountain bike. Suffice it to say, these rides were rough. There were many things that instantly wore me down.
The first and probably most noticeable symptom of biking is the soreness. For many cyclists, especially new ones, the soreness can be […]
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