They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
On social media channels you often see only the most beautiful, inspiring version of a person. That can tell wonderful stories - but sometimes it also creates the wrong impression. That’s why I want to give you a bit more time here, so you can get to know me a little better. Not just on the surface, but with some real background.
I’ll tell you how I discovered what I believe is the most beautiful machine in the world: the bicycle. And the adventures that followed.
How it all began
I live in Switzerland, surrounded by mountains. More precisely: near Lake Zurich. Back in the day I used to enjoy running all the way around the lake - over 60 kilometers. Sounds crazy? It was. But let’s start at the very beginning.
People love guessing my age. Just guess and keep reading. 🙂
When I was 14, I had a complicated ankle surgery. Afterward I could barely walk without crutches, and I was inactive for months. It felt like an eternity. Would I ever regain full mobility? Nobody knew. What was clear: I wanted freedom, I wanted to run.
So I put in the effort. Somehow I found myself back in minimalist running - step by step. And then I couldn’t stop. Eventually I ended up running ultramarathons.
The call of adventure
At some point I realized: it’s the call of adventure that drives me. I caught myself doing sports that could easily be called adrenaline-filled. Paragliding, mountaineering, hiking - and even technical diving to explore underwater caves in Mexico. Curiosity outweighed fear.
But back to running: another forced break made me see I needed balance. Running and I? Great relationship, but it came with overuse issues. Someone said: try cycling. Lower impact, still endurance, even triathlons possible. Sounds good, I thought - but I was skeptical.
Road cycling? With traffic? No thanks. But an off‑road option? I bought a cyclocross bike. One ride - and I was hooked.
From the first pedal stroke to pure addiction
Soon it became almost impossible to separate me from my bike. Distance, new places, feelings, emotions - everything was bigger than I had expected. My fear of cars on the road? It faded almost by itself. Instead: explore, explore, explore. Not long after, I bought my first proper road bike.
The next spring, swimming and running became fond memories. Cycling took over almost every free minute - I can hardly believe it looking back. Kilometers piled up, mountain passes became goals. Each ride fueled the next. Ride, refuel, rest, ride again that became my life.
Every ride, no matter how tough, ended with a huge grin. The sense of having achieved something was bigger than the fatigue. Rest days? Sure, but I mostly spent them on YouTube, learning about road bikes, to the point where I can now do pretty much all the work on a bike myself. I found my freedom by pushing the limits of my endurance. Long distances and the mountains, that’s what fascinated me most.
Gratitude and looking ahead
I’m incredibly grateful for this journey with the road bike. For every breathtaking moment, every experience, for the wonderful people I’ve met along the way. I truly believe I’ve only scratched the surface. The best adventures are still ahead.
And my age? Doesn’t matter. What matters is whether you have fun and I do, whether it’s rain, snow, or sunshine. Preferably sunny, not too hot days on the bike, of course. 😉
Now I’ll stop writing - because the next adventure is waiting.