Cycle of Lives: A Five Thousand Mile Bicycle Trip In Search of Answers
David RIchman is an endurance athlete and bicycling enthusiast. Over the last 10 years, David has completed over 50 triathlons, including 15 Ironman-distance triathlons (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run), more than 50 runs longer than marathon distance, and most recently biking 4,700-miles cross country.
David road 5,000 miles in a quest for answers
“Endurance athletics…breaks you down…There’s a lot to be learned through that.”
The cross country trip was an emotional one. After losing his sister to brain cancer, David found himself in the emotional chaos of cancer. Relationships fell apart, and life changed. This journey led him not just across the country, but on a quest for his own truths.
Truth is as individual as each person, but in David’s quest for peace he visited and interviewed 15 other people whose lives had been turned upside down by cancer. What emerges is a heart felt story of courage, persistence and sometimes loss.
David’s Book: Cycle of Lives
David’s trek is remarkable on many levels. Day after day, pedaling 100 miles and more, through heat and weather, David persevered.
“I biked 17 hours…it was Texas hot.”
He took only four rest days and the remainder of the trip was 100 plus mile days, on interstates and backroads. Along the way he met the people who would become part of Cycle of Lives. And he started to sort out his own emotions. Listening to the stories of others was part of his healing.
“It really sunk into me the deep meaning behind a lot of these stories and how profoundly important they are as tools to help guide us through being there for the people in our own lives, in a meaningful way, for the difficult things they are doing.”
The 15 stories of this book, combined with the brutal and relentless tasks of the road, changed David. In connecting with others, he found shared emotions and clarity to life’s unanswerable questions.
This is a wonderful conversation for anyone who has ever felt deeply, loved, lost and hoped to try again another day.
Bump In The Road:
David Richman
Want The Rest of the Story?
David Richman: Bicycling To Heal
In the second part of this podcast we dive into the role of endurance athletics and bicycling, in experiencing life and seeking wisdom; the power of being present; and the power of choice. You can listen to this moving conversation by joining as a Bump II subscriber.
Bump II subscribers can log in here to listen to the second half of the podcast.
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David Richman on Sports, Life, Peace and Connection
“I had hoped on this bike ride…I’d come to terms with losing my sister.”
“Endurance athletics…breaks you down…There’s a lot to learn through that.”
“The truth about transformation is that it hurts and it’s hard.”
“People are not equipped to deal with the emotional side of trauma.”
“What connects us as humans? Emotions and our love of story. “
“The goal is to get people to connect.”
“What better way to connect these stories than to zigzag around on a bike to meet these people.”
“This idea of meditation and becoming grounded and centered is something that leads to change.”
“Do people care about what I’m going through? Am I safe to explore it with them? “
“We all yearn to make sense of things in times of turmoil.”
“The human brain is just not wired to understand it’s own mortality.”
“If you’re not willing to accept the fact that you’re fragile, how can you treat the fact that you’re fragile?”
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