After coffee this morning, I hit the dirt for three hours of gravel fun, and still managed to get home before the temperature exceeded 75º. It was the second 30+ mile ride this week, bringing the July total to 125 miles. With a few weeks remaining in the month, I hope to accumulate a lot more time in the saddle before the dog days of summer arrive.
The youngsters in the Tour de France logged over 350 miles in the last three days, but I’m not young or participating in the Tour de France. 300+ miles of dirt riding in July will be pretty sweet for an old guy with an old steel bike. It’s not about how far or how fast for us anyway, the sunshine and solitude are more than enough to keep us coming back.
“Rise up this mornin’, smile with the risin’ sun.” ~ Bob Marley
We’ve had an unusual amount of rain this year, and the countryside is as green as I’ve seen it in mid-July in the 40 or so years I’ve spent exploring Colorado’s High Plains. Fortunately, most of the farmers managed to harvest their wheat before the deluge, but they’re still driving a lot of heavy equipment, judging by the roads.
Note: We discovered the deepest ruts were made by 18-wheeled gravel trucks, hauling rock to make concrete for the new wind turbine bases on the ridge.
There were ruts deep enough to hide a Badger or at least a kangaroo rat as I navigated the morning route. The idiom “stuck in a rut” came to mind as I dodged and weaved, looking for solid ground to ride. “Stuck in a rut” refers to being trapped in a monotonous, unproductive, and uninspiring situation, or feeling like you’re unable to make progress or create change.
That’s pretty much the exact opposite of the feeling I get “out there” on Double Cross freewheelin’ across the High Plains. Riding 300 miles a month on dirt roads in the wind with biting flies feasting on my ankles and wet, sticky sand bouncing off my cheeks takes a fair bit of discipline. Being “stuck in a rut” and being disciplined are on opposite ends of the many-hued spectrum of routine.
“I don’t stop when I’m tired. I stop when I’m done.” ~ David Goggins
Discipline is the positive pole and requires a deliberate, consistent routine aimed at achieving a goal, with a sense of purpose and control. It yields positive outcomes, such as regular exercise leading to better health. Discipline is intentional and adaptable, even though it’s repetitive. Discipline is driven by motivation and commitment.
“Stuck in a rut” is the negative pole describing a routine that feels monotonous, uninspiring, or unproductive, where someone is going through the motions without progress or satisfaction. It’s associated with a negative emotional state, like feeling trapped or unmotivated. Someone might go to the same job every day and earn a large paycheck, but still feel unfulfilled or stagnant. The key difference is the emotional or motivational context; discipline is purposeful and proactive, while being stuck in a rut feels stagnant and draining.
“Being stuck is a position few of us like. We want something new but cannot let go of the old – old ideas, beliefs, habits, even thoughts. We are out of contact with our own genius. Sometimes we know we are stuck; sometimes we don’t. In both cases we have to DO something.” ~ Rush Limbaugh
I navigated numerous ruts on the morning tour and never got stuck. I did have to get off the bike and push it through a gnarly patch of soft sand, but I persevered and still had plenty of energy for out-of-saddle ascents of Gun Club Roads’ triple hills on my return to Emerald City. I wasn’t wearing a yellow jersey like Tadej, but I was wearing a big smile as I flew down the backside of the hills at Tour de France speeds; > )
