Joy in Suffering

Would you ride if there were no hills?

A few days ago, my boss and I were talking about cycling in the area and how we appreciated the variety of routes that the area provided - rolling hills, steep short climbs, long climbs, flats, and all this in a wide variety of weather. He asked me if I'd continue to ride if there were no hills. He stated that when he moved to Ohio, he stopped because there were no hills and cycling became just pedaling with little challenge. I told him that I didn't know, there is a joy in suffering that comes from sitting on a long climb. There is something almost spiritual about sitting on a long climb. There is a peace and calm that comes when you start to suffer and know that it won't be over anytime soon.

Usually my mind begins to wander at first, thinking such things as - you've got to be serious, are you a moron, why do you punish yourself in this way, didn't we come up this hill a few days ago, you'r going to suffer bad today, can we only go halfway up, can we go at half pace this time - as if the mind is going through the various stages of grief until it realizes that the body is not relenting. The rhythm of the pedals calms down the thoughts and the mind gets focused. At some point, it all goes silent in the control room. All I hear then is the deep rythmic breathing, the turning of the pedals, the chain running against the cogs, the tires rolling against the pavement - I realize that it is me, the bike, and the road - Peace!

Would I stop riding if there were no hills? If I could find something challenging to movtivate me to get on the bike - sure I would continue to ride but I'd have to spend the time and the miles on the bike to find the hills. There is a joy in the suffering.