Life Lesson from the Trail #1: Pedal on the Downhills

You've all been following my progress on the bike this summer as I train for the LiveStrong Challenge, which is just two weeks away. Each week, I've pushed myself to go farther than the week before, surpassing my previous distance records and giving me new-found confidence in my physical abilities.

Observing the behavior of myself and other cyclists during these long rides has resulted in the discovery of several life lessons, which I'd like to share in a series of posts. Today, Life Lesson #1: Pedal on the Downhills.

When I'm riding, I usually treat any big downhill as a little break, a chance to give my legs a rest and coast in the wind for a few seconds while gravity does its thing. Riding with bonafide cyclist Julio, however, I noticed that he never coasts on the downhills--in fact, quite the opposite. At the onset of any downhill, Julio tucks into his most aerodynamic position, shifts into his highest gear, and pedals like mad all the way down the hill. This of course makes sense when there's an uphill waiting at the bottom of the down, as it would allow him to build up momentum for the climb, however, Julio does this even when there's a big flat stretch at the bottom of the hill. You see, by pedaling on the downhills, no force or energy is ever wasted. In fact, the energy he expends to pedal is actually magnified, because it's being enhanced by the energy exerted on his bike by the force of gravity, allowing him to collect more momentum as he descends and thus take full advantage of the terrain.

The life lesson I've gleaned from this is that we should consistently be engaged in self-improvement and preparation for the future. It's natural when things are going well to allow ourselves to coast and rely on the momentum of external forces to keep us going. Prosperity breeds complacency, when instead it should be viewed as an opportunity to accelerate even more efficiently towards our goals, to get ready for whatever is on the horizon, even if it's not a massive uphill. Even flat surfaces require pedaling to keep moving, thus any momentum we bring with us from the downhill will propel us forward at a faster pace than we would have gone otherwise.

We discuss this concept frequently at church in relation to our spirituality. When times are tough, we turn to the Lord because we need Him more, but when things seem to be going well, it's easy to let our relationship with God slip a bit. We don't read the scriptures as much, our prayers aren't as fervent, we attend the temple less, we seek His guidance less. And yet, it's when things are going well that God can truly magnify our own abilities and help us prepare for whatever lies ahead, be it a challenge or more prosperity. In this way, no energy, force, or resource is ever wasted, and we ensure we are fully engaged at becoming our best selves.

Since observing Julio's downhill posture, I've begun pedaling on the downhills as well (most of the time). I've noticed that not only does the increased momentum make me go faster and farther, it also makes the ride a lot more fun.