Well this is different…
I decided at the start of 2020 that I would write a blog about my travels and experiences around the world. Well, that plan got put on hold before I even got started! So, what do you do when your best laid plan and new venture on your website is cancelled and the whole world is turned upside down? Carry on I guess?
I first got hit by the Coronavirus situation in the UAE. We finished the stages close to Dubai and headed to Abu Dhabi then were asked to stay in our rooms. We had the test, finally after 72 hours were allowed out and headed home. I didn’t even consider at that moment that a few weeks later I would be sitting at home with no races to go and commentate on, and that some riders would still be in the UAE in quarantine. Cycling can be put to one side for a while, it will come back. The most important thing for all of us is that we stay healthy and that our loved ones do.
As I sit here writing this in the UK we are recommended to stay at home. Pubs, restaurants, cafes, gyms, leisure centres are all closed. The nation has bulk bought everything it thinks it needs for some reason only known to the people bulk buying and home gym equipment, home trainers and Zwift are in demand like never before.
For me, the last week of being at home has been interesting in many ways. Firstly, you realise how much you have been running around the world for the last few years and that life has been 100 miles an hour. There’s some time to breathe, reset and recharge in a strange way. For all of us, our health and staying healthy is now important. Last week I rode 150km on Zwift (the virtual reality indoor training system) and did some indoor training and yoga (more on that another time).
Zwift has been some tool for riders hasn’t it? Yesterday I ‘rode’ with Annemiek Van Vleuten. Well apparently I did. She was in another country and on the ride she was on another planet! I could see her yellow beacon going round corners seemingly just ahead of me but in real terms 800m up the Zwift road. She encouraged us to type some questions to her but to be fair my heart rate was on max, the sweat was pouring off me and the screen on my iphone wouldn’t work with that amount of sweat dripping on it. Maybe I can ask her a question in person at a race soon.
But joking aside, for me Zwift has been my daily exercise fix. You jump on, ride alone or join an event. Hannah and Laura on the Voxwomen team decided to do a group ride last week so we rode 23km, had a good laugh and came off with renewed enthusiasm for the day.
For business founders and owners, I am not sure about you but I have needed enthusiasm for the day when it comes to work. When the going get’s tough you need those moments of team camaraderie and motivation to make good decisions. And now more than ever. Many of my colleagues who have small businesses in this sport are in dire need. They can see their income reducing and their exciting plans being cancelled one by one. If you are in that boat then I feel for you. I don’t mind sharing that my production company has seen its events all cancel in a week. The other night another business owner sent me a WhatsApp and asked if I minded being looped in on a small group to share information on just how we can keep business going. Did I mind?! Definitely not! We are now sharing what grants we can draw on, what information our accountants are giving us. Those moments of teamwork and camaraderie are what will bring us all closer and make us stronger on the other side of this. If you feel alone as a business owner, or as a freelancer you are worried then don’t face this alone. Group together with some people you can work with. Share news and information. Everyone needs it. It won’t make you any money but it may help keep your business going, or on ice until we can all drive forward again.
I hope this first blog of mine, albeit very different to what I planned gave you some inspiration or just made you smile or think.
Here’s to next time and I leave you with something a friend of mine posted on instagram the other day. Kris Fade is the most well known radio DJ in the UAE and he made me laugh with this…
For the first time in history we can save the human race by lying in front of the TV and doing nothing. Let’s not screw this up.
Stay safe everyone!