After missing out in 2017 I returned to Gaiole in Chianti for the XXII edition of L’Eroica. As I mentioned in my previous post this years visit was preceded by a trip to Srebrenica, Bosnia. With all the experiences and emotions still fresh in my memory, cycling for a full day in the Tuscan hills offered me the chance to contemplate. And it finally helped me to answer a question many people have asked but so far I’ve failed to come up with an answer. Why would someone travel more than seven hours by car to Tuscany, get up at 04.00 a.m. on a Sunday morning and cycle for 12 hours on a 40 year old race bike on gravel roads through the Tuscan hills?
The obvious answer would sound like this: because it is the thrill of the conquest, to challenge ones limits in the beautiful surroundings of Tuscany. For me, this is only partly true. Of course, finishing L’Eroica gives me satisfaction and reminds me of what the human body is capable of. However, I did not participate to prove anything to myself or someone else. I came here because I chose to do so. Life is about making choices. But in order to make a choice people must be offered opportunities first. I’ve had endless opportunities in my life and plenty of choices to make. What I’ve been realising once more is that there are far too many people on this planet who have too few opportunities.
Can I make a difference? Helping a family in Bosnia to get a roof above their head was only a drop in the ocean. But it helped to improve the quality of life of two people; it’s making a big difference for them, that’s for sure. When I returned from Bosnia to my “normal” life I realised that I’ve brought something back with me. It’s a little flame inside of me I thought had gone out already. But it’s still there. I’m not sure yet what I’m going to use it for. But for starters, I will try to make life more worthwhile for me by making it more worthwhile for people around me. Holding back emotions is definitely not the right way to do that. If you meet someone truly special, someone you can trust – why not opening up to them? Both will gain. If you meet someone truly beautiful – why not tell them? If you meet someone brave and courageous – why not encouraging them to keep up the good work?
Well, this blog is supposed to be about cycling but it seems I’m drifting far away. Am I? Actually, life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. What made this years Eroica also very special for me was riding it together with my brother. He’s a couple of years older than me and I always looked up to him. The happier I’m now that I, the little brother, could inspire him to rediscover the beautiful passion of cycling. Last but not least I would like to mention my amazing wife who respects and supports my occasional search for freedom and adventure. Will I be back in Gaiole next year? I don’t know. But if I want to, I will choose to do so. After all, I’m a free Walser 😉
Next chapter: And then came Covid…