The ancient Chinese proverb, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” was insightful. Maybe that’s why it’s a proverb and Lao Tzu is quoted so often. A huge or daunting task starts with a small action and as progress become consistent it leads to results over time.

It’s hard to believe that today is #499 and I’ll open the door to the 500s tomorrow.

Now going from Day 1 to 365, a year is far more that going from 400 to 500, but still there were probably more obstacles in the 400 to 500 that the first year. I can’t really calculate why beyond the basic fact that I traveled more to other places this year versus the first year of my challenge.

The last 100 days, even the last 25 days required infinitely more thought and intention that I expected. Being so close to 500 consecutive days of cycling made it more important that ever to get to that milestone. The weather has been a huge factor. If I wrote a book about it, the weather would be a prominent character. You know the type. It’s been like a pesky, persnickity, grump of a character that reminds you of its presence but offers no help or consul.

I thought I’d wrap it at 365, even a leap year, 366. But I just kept pedaling and some of it was to just see if I could keep it up.

Then 400 and a perfect number to stop. But why not one more day. And another. It’s worse than a bag of chips. Yet, it’s not. It’s good for me and it makes me happy and I’m out in the world and taking it all in and that’s good.

There may be a few regrets I have in my life. Some choices that I rethink, but biking is not one of them. Every day I can physically bike, I will. 500 is a good number, but so is 501.

Get out there and ride!

Bike Goddess