WTF, nope not that one. “WTF: We Triumph as Friends” is a message of collective success and the power of friendship, highlighting how WE, rather than individual ME, can help achieve great things, when WE work together and support each other as friends, and break the limits i.e. “Upping the Auntie“, a slang term used by the cycling group for Upping the Ante.
Friendship Types
There are various kinds of friendships.
The first type of friendship is where a “dormant” friend says, “I’m busy, do you really need me?“; this type of friend only becomes active when he or she is in need. The second type is always “active”, or deemed to be “active”, and the friend says, “I’m there for you,” i.e. waits for the other to approach when in need.
Then there’s a third form of friendship: a friend who wants to be there for you when you are in the midst of a problem. The “I want to be with you” kind of friendship. In the middle of a crisis, a friend is willing to simply be with you. He or she may not have a solution to the problem, but would rather be in the mud with you when it matters the most.
My approach to friendship is of the third type. I and my daughter (s) are great friends so wanted to be with my eldest daughter, when she decided to cycle in a challenging terrain. I decided to be with her, be in the mud, when she takes it head-on.
This story is about the joy, grit, friendship, and the lessons we learned on our gruelling 230-mile cycle trip from Granada to Seville, which we completed in three days while climbing a total inclination of nearly 7000 feet in temperatures ranging from 40 to 45 degrees.
The Peloton
In a scorching sun of 40-45 degrees and barren hilly surroundings, the five elements of Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space are all against you. The distance to cover and inclination of the Earth, the dehydration and lack of Water, the sun spewing Fire attempting to demolish the will, no Wind to settle you down, and when it does blow, the wind is always against you, and the empty Space with no trees or landscape around haunts you in feeling isolated.
If one thinks that these fives are invincible, one is mistaken as the power of High Fives is not only effective, but also stronger than the strength of the five elements listed above.
The High Fives take two forms: self-motivation and team motivation.
Self-motivation comes into play when the method for achieving the objective is clear and you have self-confidence, i.e. you’ve done it before, therefore there’s no need to worry, and you can do it again. This requires practice. When we practice regularly and consistently before beginning a task, our minds are prepared to face a larger and better challenge.
Granada to Seville was my second of the long distance rides I have done so far; I had an amazing experience when I cycled from Lake Bled (Slovenia) to Venice a year ago, where I stressed the necessity of training. I have shared this experience in my blog, The Lemonade Recipe🍹. This time, I was ready as I went through a bit of training and cycled a few miles before the trip.
Team motivation is the more important of the two. On long-distance biking, if your natural speed is different from others then there will be times when you can no longer keep up with the pace of the other riders, and the situation will gradually drag you behind. You can observe how rapidly the gap between you and the other cyclists widens. This is where you need camaraderie, where your friends are riding behind you at your pace. If you take a sip of water or use energy booster gels, they will also stop. It makes no difference if you are slowing them down or if the time spent will drain their energy. It is about achieving, or not achieving, goals together.
During the trip, I met someone named Chandra. On day one, when there were multiple inclinations, I was behind Prisha since she is a slow pace climber, but Chandra, a seasoned cyclist, was right behind me throughout the journey to support and motivate us.
Another gem of people Siva and Veni also waited intermittently for us to ensure that our peloton reaches the destination. On day three, when I was exhausted and about to give up in the final 20 Kilometers, it was now Prisha’s turn to help and support. She was struggling on day-one but was full of energy on day-three and decided to go to the end of the peloton, asking me to lead so that the others could follow at my pace, as she saw me in a challenging situation. We came to a halt almost every 3-4 kilometers, and Chandra and Ganesh were in an identical situation to me.
This is only one story from our Peloton, which included 5-7 cyclists out of a total of 45. I’m sure similar stories may have happened in other groups or pelotons.
Learnings: The lesson learned here is that we can be good in some sections but struggle in others, so instead of seeking individual glories in the areas where we excel, it is more satisfying to help others succeed because there will be times when they repay us when we struggle.
Training
As mentioned earlier, I trained and prepared for this cycle trip so as to make it more pleasurable rather than suffering.
I trained myself to ride a bike for long periods of time, to climb hills, to maintain mental endurance, and to practice gears, speed management, the importance of breaks, and my natural speed. However, you cannot practice for everything; for example, it was not possible to train for 45 degrees in a barren landscape; some things must be dealt with on the actual day.
Learnings: We may not be able to train for all eventualities, but we can be prepared by studying these things ahead of time, for example. I should have carried a few bottles of water instead of just one, and the base layer should have kept me cool.
Mental Block
We all have constraints and barriers, as well as our own comfort zone. We can only reach new heights if we overcome the present limitations and obstacles. The perceived boundaries are typically mental, which might establish physical boundaries for do’s and don’ts.
For example, the third day was scheduled to be a lengthy ride of 130 kilometers. This was after two days of exhaustion and getting baked under the sun. We had decided that if we struggled, we would board a train after 80 kilometers because the sun would be intolerable and our legs would be completely exhausted. However to everyone’s surprise all of the bikers completed the full 130km course on day 3.
Learnings: One can overcome mental blocks by designing a strategy. For example, to overcome heat, many of us began at 6:30 a.m. in the dark. Pallavi, an accomplished and a fast rider, led the peloton of 12-15 cyclists, enabling the group to cover half of the distance before 9 a.m.
Saying “No”
While overcoming obstacles are important, understanding your own limitations are more crucial.
On day-one, instead of starting from the starting-line, some of the bikers began their cycling after the first 21-mile challenging stretch. I was one of them. With the trip beginning about 7:30am, we recognised it would be a long day with an extra 1500 feet of climbing, and we would not be able to conclude on a high note, and hence decided to start the day from peak-3 which was after 21 miles.
In retrospect, this was the correct decision because many of those who completed the first 21-mile stretch were exhausted by the time they reached the last 20-mile section owing to heat stroke, cramps, and fatigue. This impact would have lasted until the second day, and it would have been difficult to boost morale.
Learnings: Saying “No” is sometimes acceptable because it is the most effective and efficient way to complete a task.
Other Learnings:
Connect it to a Purpose
Adventures for the sole intent of doing them are enjoyable, but they do not provide the necessary motivation in difficult times. When things get rough and you’re about to give up, remember why you chose to go on this trip. The purpose will help you keep going and break new boundaries.
Support Team
You don’t always require assistance from a dedicated support team. If you are passing through cafes and towns, you can have a small support team in place and still achieve your goals. This was unlike my earlier bike trip from Slovenia to Venice, where getting help from the support team was critical as we hardly passed through villages or towns.
Company and Diversity
It is beneficial to have a diversified group of other travellers. People from many backgrounds and ages contributed to spirited talks and different points of view.
Overcoming Biases
Being older than others or ill does not make you weaker; weakness is a mental state. There were cyclists on the journey who were really determined; Ashu ji, Murli ji, Dinesh ji, and others demonstrated incredible mental power to complete the trip. They were at times on the verge of giving up, but they lifted themselves up and faced the challenge.
The girls performed well; Shivani, Prisha, and Hemma were among the fittest of the group. On the third day of the journey, they were full of energy.
The most astonishing of them all was Lukesh, a 14-year-old professional cyclist from Sutton in Birmingham. He was the most physically fit of us all.
Unfortunately, he met with an accident else he would have been the first one to finish.
Brijesh ji also met with an accident and fractured his palm, and still carried on with the trip and he kindly volunteered in supporting other riders during pitstops.
The message was loud and clear, irrespective of age, gender, physical state, it is possible to achieve if you want to achieve.
Intuition and Signs
This is known as consciousness or alertness. The body often provides us clues about what is going to happen next if we are willing to listen and prepare.
Cramps are an early indicator of dehydration, signalling that the body needs more water, energy gel, etc. To avoid cramping, take regular breaks and stay hydrated.
Options and Decisions: Benefits and Trade-offs
The quality of the decisions made on the trip is always judged by the end results. Decisions are great if the outcomes are successful, but not if the result is a failure.
For example, a few riders almost gave up, but they managed to show great resolve, continued and they got on their bikes on the next day. This is praiseworthy, however if things had gone worse and they got more seriously hurt, deciding to bike again might have been termed mindless.
It is important for everyone, including myself, to think about the benefits and trade-offs of such big decisions when they happen, and not let emotions or mental resolves take over.
Showing Empathy and Being Gentle to Others
When things are difficult the tough need to lead and set an example. Adil and Emil, the twin brothers, Harish, Aroun, and Adhi demonstrated this all the time. They were strong and had no trouble overcoming peak after peak, but they waited for others all along, and when it came to motivating others, they were the first to cheer them on. When the team’s youngest member, Lukesh, had a fall, Adil and Emil were the first to offer assistance.
DIY: Avoid Being “Overly Helpful”
The trip also taught that while it is good to be there for someone, there is no use in being “overly helpful” because you, too, need to conserve energy to continue on the journey.
Be there with your friends so that you can fully understand them and motivate them while they are struggling, i.e., be in the mud, but while you are there only help further if it is requested or desired.
You can only choose to ride behind them, but they need to climb up the hill. Everyone must get out of their cocoons in order to become powerful and overcome future problems.
Finally: Determination
How do you transport yourself when there is only one taxi/cab in the town? On a lighter note, where there’s a will there’s a way, fitting eleven in a seven seater! Some of the great memories of the trip.
Summary
It was a hard trip with grueling climbs, scorching temperatures, horrible long-distance cycling, and barely any trees to provide shade. However, the time spent with Prisha, my daughter, and meeting new people during the trip was invaluable and cannot be measured.
And mini oasis will be found when we grind through the way! We should always keep our hopes high. You better celebrate and enjoy them when you find them, because journey is more important than the destination.
The organisers did an excellent job planning the route. Simon, Don, and Matt were always on hand to help with bike breakdowns, punctures, and pit stops. The trip passed via various historic towns that I would not have known otherwise. The trip has created interest in me to learn more about the Spanish history.
The experience will stick with me for a long time, and I am looking forward to the next challenge. With two trips under my belt, and now that I’ve discovered how much I love cycling with Prisha and friends, I’m excited to find out what comes next. As the cycling group refers to it as “upping the auntie,” which is a slang for upping the ante, I foresee a more difficult challenge next year, and I promise to be better prepared the following year.
WTF! The trip will help boost my confidence at work and in life, as I now feel ready to take on new challenges and apply the lessons learned from the trip to everyday situations.
The most important lesson I learned was that no matter how hard you try, it is hard to make your children happy.
They can still throw tantrums over a cheesecake! 🥰😇😂
Photo Gallery:
Bhavin Shukla 
Leave a comment