cycling my incurable addiction star show

Cycling holds different meanings in everyone's heart. It might be a challenge and breakthrough for oneself, a test and honing of willpower, or an understanding and appreciation of life. This issue's star feature is about @YU Sunshine, a 41-year-old female cycling enthusiast and a people's teacher. She says that ever since she got hooked on cycling, she hasn't been able to quit.

@YU Sunshine: The Initial Intention

I started cycling inspired by Brother Fu from the Codoon Cool Running West Lake Running Group. At that time, I was just someone who enjoyed running alone, but my leg strength couldn't keep up. Seeing Brother Fu cycling and looking so cool, I talked to him. He told me that cycling can train different muscle groups. Thus, I developed the idea of cycling and joined the large team of the Shenzhou Giant Bicycle Club. Initially, I wanted to improve my running speed, but unexpectedly, I fell in love with cycling and it became my main form of exercise.



Cycling is very popular in small county-level cities, with people of all ages participating: from those in their seventies to teenagers, but mostly us from the seventies generation. Every day before dawn, as the east just begins to lighten, we start our morning ride. After the ride, there's a short break where everyone can chat and laugh, enriching the day for cyclists. As everyone says, if you miss those two laps of cycling, you feel unenergetic for the whole day at work. Cycling has already taken root in the hearts of every cyclist.

Challenge

If life were as calm as a stagnant pool, how could one realize the meaning of life? Every time I put on my cycling gear and ride into the wind and sun, facing challenges, I feel that this is the true meaning of life. As Hugo said: 'The so-called living person is one who constantly challenges and climbs the dangerous peaks of destiny.'

On September 12, 2015, I began my first long-distance challenge: a group of dozens of us cycled the Shenzhou-Dezhou route, a round trip of over 240 kilometers. Along the way, Brother Qi kept asking if I could make it, suggesting I take a break in the support car if needed. My answer was: 'No problem, I can do it! I want to ride the whole way!' Yes, I wanted to ride the whole way and put a perfect end to my challenge. I am Sunshine, I like to release energy, and I enjoy embracing every challenge!

Breakthrough

Riding through the streets and alleys of the city and the paths of the countryside, enjoying the freedom of galloping through nature. Slowing down to take photos, smell the flowers, and breathe fresh air, it is truly carefree.

Just last weekend, we planned a ride to Fucheng, which was also a training session for me. I and a few brothers embarked on their last stop of cycling through every county and city in Hengshui: Shenzhou to Fucheng. These guys are the legends of our bicycle club (they cycled over a thousand kilometers round trip to Tangshan in seven days). Being able to complete the ride with them gave me the qualification to travel long distances with them. For this qualification, I decided to push myself. The headwind along the way couldn't stop the passion and joy of cycling. I completed a breakthrough of over 300 kilometers in a day, and the most gratifying part was that I didn't feel tired. The joy of cycling had filled my heart and enriched my life. My spirit of daring to challenge and break through subtly influences my students, helping them not to fear difficulties: life requires repeated tempering, and each tempering leads to growth and transformation.

Insight

From the moment I added my first piece of cycling gear, I knew I couldn't control my love for bicycles. The bike races on the road, my heart rejoices on the bike, and my heart and bike breathe in sync, merging with nature and life.

Cyclists with speed and endurance are my targets for breakthroughs, inspiring the potential of my body and will in every challenge. All this pursuit is not just for visual beauty and inner joy, but more importantly, to discard the complexities of life, travel light, and gain a new understanding of life after each effort. It allows my soul to be purified and sublimated through cycling. No matter how many difficulties there are, face them head-on. With the willpower and potential that is stimulated, there is no chasm that cannot be crossed.

I am passionate about the freedom of cycling, enjoying the release of emotions, the surprises on the road, and the relaxation of pressure. Cycling has become my way of life, a habit, an addiction that I cannot quit.

(This article is an original work by a Codoon user. For reprints, please contact the Codoon editor.)