Stoicism for Cyclists: Discomfort and Adversity on Long-Distance Rides

You’re 100 miles into a cross-country bike tour. Your legs are burning, the headwind is trying to push you back, and dark clouds are gathering on the horizon. Your GPS died an hour ago, and you’re sure you took a wrong turn at that last intersection. Sound familiar? If you’ve ever embarked on a long-distance bike tour, you know that moments like these are par for the course. But what if I told you there’s a 2,000-year-old philosophy that could help you endure these challenges and thrive in them? Enter Stoicism, the ancient Greek school of thought, as relevant today as 2000 years ago.

Understanding Stoicism: More Than Just a Stiff Upper Lip

Before we explore how Stoicism can enhance your cycling adventures, let’s address a common misunderstanding. Stoicism is not about suppressing emotions or enduring hardships with sheer determination. Instead, it’s a practical philosophy that emphasizes cultivating inner peace and resilience by focusing on what’s within our control and accepting what isn’t.

Prominent Stoic philosophers like Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius may not have been cyclists (though imagining Marcus Aurelius on a penny-farthing would be amusing). Still, their teachings are remarkably relevant to the challenges of…