The Bucket List Illusion
Different Goals.
A few weeks ago, Dominic Rivard author The Cycle Touring Life on SubStack pointed a finger.
We all know that guy who talks a good game, who is ‘about’ to do that long ride or race he has been talking about and planning, for so many years, but never does.
In his superb article, Dominic challenged all of us to go out and get more done. Even if it is only to ride 20kms down the road, to pitch our tiny tent and sleep the night before heading back next day.
That would break the spell. That might get us moving. We would not be that guy.
But to an extent, we are all that guy, we make bucket lists of rides we really must get around to. If only work or family or that persistent niggle in our knee was not holding us up.
Now I have more time on my hands, I can do these rides. Excuses blow away on the wind. I have done lots of long rides, completing the 2500km Pan Celtic Race a couple of years back was my zenith.
I love to ride all day, and I have done many all-day rides too. There are more rides and races I want to add to my bucket list, races that grab the attention, that create a small knot of excitement in my gut.
If we are not careful, our emotions or ambitions can lead us inexorably down roads we have never ridden, up mountains we have never climbed and to places far, far out of our comfort zone. Riding the longer road is addictive
But my bucket list is exceedingly long already and my runway probably nowhere near long enough.
I don’t need to add any more to my list. I need to actually do the damn rides.
The chance to make memories drives my bucket-list. That childlike wonder as I stand on the pedals, that excitement for the world, brim full of endless possibilities, has not left me yet. Being infinitely curious about what my body and mind can achieve as I get older, motives me.
Last week I had an opportunity to make some memories, and also to kick-start my enthusiasm for doing more of the bucket list rides, and to get me moving.
The Rebellion Way is a 373km ride around Norfolk’s country lanes, gravel tracks and paths. I had a one-off opportunity to do this ride with my son Harry, to fit in with his hectic schedule.
The RW is not exactly living on the ragged edge of endeavour. We planned to do it in two and a-bit days. The ride was less important than spending the time together.
As Harry has grown up, we see each other less often. Too many of our conversations are snatched at. We don’t relax into each other’s company, there never seems to be the time. The Rebellion Way made the time.
We departed Norwich in warm, bright sunshine and that is the way it stayed for all but a small part of day two. The countryside was lush, the trees full and the wildlife busy. Day one was a 160km loop across to Kings Lynn, day two a more leisurely journey along the beautiful north Norfolk coast and the last day a full-on effort to get back as Harry had plans.
As usual, Harry had not done a great deal of training to prepare him for a long ride but by the morning of day three his legs were back and it was me that was holding on to his wheel as we sped into Norwich and the finish.
And we loved it. I had forgotten how much fun it is to ride together. We made some memories to go with the ones we made doing Lands’ End to John O’Groats and the North Coast 500. The ride mattered a lot less than the company.
We all set different types of goals for ourselves as we get older. Once upon a time, I would have looked up the FKT for the Rebellion Way and ridden as hard as I could to get as near as I could to that time (it is just over 13 hours by the way).
Now, I care less for the distance and the speed and much, much more about the experience.
When I arrived home, I had a long look at the bucket list and a long hard look at myself. I don’t want to be that guy who is ‘about’ to do this or that. I put a few dates in my diary and entered an event for this time next year.
Is my bucket list an illusion? Should I allow wisdom to prevail? Is it time to target more achievable goals? I don’t think so.
Have a good weekend everyone,
Best wishes.
Mike
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Firstly, from one of your posts last year I believe we were born the same month. I am certainly guilty of making a lists of rides I want to do, not doing them and then adding others to the ever growing list.
About three weeks ago I got a small window of free time but the weather forecast was mixed and I usually abandon plans. This time I amended my it. My original idea was to get a train to Thetford and ride The Rebellion Way as a wild camping trip.
My new plan was to go to Norwich, sit out the heavy rain and start from there the next morning. I cycled to Kings Lynn on day 1 and on to Sheringham YHA on day 2 and back to Norwich for a late lunch.
I can't say I enjoyed the ride as my fitness levels are a bit down at the moment for a variety of reasons so I found the ride harder work than I should have plus my raincoat being put on and taken off every ten minutes was frustrating on day 2. But, I did get myself out there and ticked a nice ride off my to-do list. Now onto the next.