I AM a big believer in living just outside your comfort zone in life.
Many psychologists will say to grow as a person the more you can push out of your comfort zone the better.
It’s also where we find those flow states I have spoken about many times.
So, when the opportunity came to jump in my car and drive to Switzerland this week to cycle some of the toughest roads in the country I didn’t think twice.
I have driven many of these roads over the years and had them logged firmly in my mind to return and cycle them.
With hospital appointments clashing with past chances there was nothing that was
going to stop me this time.
Well, almost nothing, as on day two I thought my mind and body were going to break.
After a beautiful first day with some gentle climbing, day two saw me clip into my bike at the foot of the Grimsel Pass.
A total of 26.7km at an average of 5.8 per cent lay ahead of me.
With 2.8km of it at a gradient of 10 per cent and 1,538 metres of climbing I knew it was going to hurt.
If I am honest with myself, my training had also not been the best leading into this, but I didn’t want to wait until I felt ready. I wanted to just go and do it now.
The road climbs through majestic high-peaked mountains that tower above you. The scenery is wild and barren – a mix of Hydroelectric power plants, high voltage power lines and high reservoirs and lakes.
The first 30 minutes I spent talking to myself about all the reasons I could just turn back.
I guess I felt nervous. I know that might sound strange to most people, but climbing this paralysed was going to be a big challenge and I don’t mind saying I had some self doubt.
Once I had convinced myself I was not turning back, the Grimsel Pass started to live up to its mythical history.
The granite rocks towered above me as the road climbed higher at every turn.
I reached the first hydro dam, an incredible display of engineering and I knew I was not far from the top.
But looking up to see endless hairpins didn’t fill me with the relief I had anticipated.
I had read a blog from a guy who had ridden it on his motorcycle and he described the last hairpins as one of those experiences that you never want to end.
Me, on the other hand? I can safely say at this point I could not wait till it ended.
I had timed it perfectly as the road was empty and the last push to the 2,614m summit was in sight.
Climbing these roads with a high-level spinal cord injury is not an easy task. With only one leg working I can’t afford to stop at any point on a hill, as getting the bike moving again is impossible.
The Grimsel Pass has a rich history with records going back to the 14th century as a trading route, but today it is a playground for sports cars, motorcycles and us crazy cyclists pushing ourselves out of that comfort zone.
I was not going to break any records but as I took the final bend I was proud of taking on this road after all my medical battles.
If the climb itself wasn’t moving enough, the summit finish brought a mix of emotions. I was overwhelmed, sweating and completely knackered.
Struggling to get my warm kit on, I was fighting the wind next to the Totesee lake which is known as the lake of the dead.
It’s a natural lake which acquired its name from the soldiers who were driven into it after the Battle of Ulrichen in 1211.
It was definitely one of the most eerie finishes to a bike ride I have had.
Not wanting to hang around long here and get cold, a quick coffee in the shelter of a mountain cafe and then an hour descent back to my car wrapped up a tough but rewarding four hours out of my comfort zone on the bike.
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