Round and round we go

The Tour d’Afrique is an entity unto itself, moving forward almost independently of its participants. Rider illness, weather and terrain challenges, equipment failures are confronted but it does not stop. Each day one must wake, pack up their belongings and make a decision to ride the bicycle or board the truck. Quite simply, the tour rolls on.

A myriad of experiences have transpired for every individual thus far and one could argue that the magnitude of the adaptations is greater in the opening half of this adventure. One must cope with camp life, vast amounts of physical exertion, and perhaps the most difficult, the realization of just how grand the scale of this tour really is. Some embrace it, some attempt to defy it, and fortunate others seem to prosper within it.

What can I offer in the way of realizations and lessons learned? The simple answer is “so very much”. Some of the more meaningful:

• There is a beautiful simplicity to life on the tour. Wake, eat, pack gear, ride bike. This very basic routine has brought me much more happiness than I expected. Freedom of responsibility is a rarity for many past the age of 30 and I feel very fortunate for this opportunity.
• Riding a bicycle this much, particularly at such a high intensity, requires the consumption of a lot of food. Sometimes this means consuming entire packages of biscuits, cookies, and potato chips in one sitting… without assistance. And I definitely picked the wrong year to stop drinking sodas.
• A very close-knit, trusting community has formed amongst the 62 full-tour riders. I did not anticipate the level of comraderie that would develop and am amazed at how generous everyone has presented themselves. Forgotten spare parts, failed equipment, and so many other needs have been repeatedly satisfied by members of the group.
• Consistency can be elusive. Simply put, sometimes you have it and sometimes you don’t.
• Being on the bicycle is rewarding and fulfilling. So too is life in camp. Whether it be the endless humor shared with fellow riders, an evening mug of tea (something I never have at home), or simply crawling into the cozy confines of my tent, the joy of the day does not end when the ride is over.
• Sometimes I don’t feel like riding my bicycle but I do it anyway. EFI status can at times be a burden.