Mountain Biking with vitiligo

Over the past few months I have been mountain biking.

A client of mine gifted me his bike. Its been great fun. I love it flying down a hill. I love working up hill.

Tracking my time, beating my time, feeling the burn, feeling the rush.

There is a preserve near where I live and I get up there a couple times a week to clear my head, burn calories and enjoy the views. Its quick, only takes 35 mins or less, its easy, doesnt take much technical skill.

And it’s a challenge every time I go to give all of me on that bike, on that hill. I love it.

After riding down a hill at 30 miles per hour I started cruising, just letting go for a quick min and taking a little rest and I reflected on the hill I just came down.

There is nothing particularly difficult about the hill. No crazy twists or turns. Its pretty smooth. Now it’s only a question of how fast I can safely go. It’s fun. And its a bit dangerous too.

At 30 miles per hour a fall would hurt. It might mean a broken bone, or a scraped leg or maybe worse.

I have to focus on that hill. I have to look where I want to go. I have to balance on the bike. I have to feel the turns. I have to maintain speed at the right times. It’s a bit to do all at once when you add it all up. And it’s a breeze. It’s free. It’s good.

And what do you think would happen if I started to think about something else other than that hill, that ride? What would happen if I started to think about what someone said to me the other day that bothered me? What would happen if I started to think about the new spot of vitiligo on my leg? Actually a bunch of new spots.

I would be in danger of falling off the bike. I would be endangering myself and others on the hill that day. I am a danger to myself and others if I don’t focus on whats directly in front of me and how I am handling it.

We all have hills. Whether going up or down them we all have a hill to climb and on the other side there is a downside that can be so much fun.

It can be fun climbing our own personal hills.

And when I start to wonder about my vitiligo in the middle of the hill I are in danger or falling off the path or colliding with someone. I am a danger to myself and those around me.

So I practice riding up a hill and then down the hill and I practice focusing on that hill. That hill consumes my mind when I am on it. And it’s good, and I love it.