How Bicycle Travel Transforms Lives: Lynea Schultz-Ela

One of the most important aspects of a group bicycling vacation with Ciclismo Classico is the group.

Sometimes, on tour (but in life, generally) our fellow travelers see much more in us than we see in ourselves. And that reinforcement makes us do great things.

The Journey Within:

Take this beautiful example from Lynea Schultz-Ela and her magical internal discovery own our award-winning Bike Across Southern Italy departure.

Lynea had signed up to see the wonderful landscapes of Matera and Polignano. But what she really uncovered was the grit she had within herself.

Here is her story as she writes it:

“The central Italy tour taught me that seeing the world, experiencing the cultures of the world, was best done by bicycle. It was gorgeous, enticing, educational, and mind expanding.

But doing the advanced Southern Italy trip was mind blowing——personally. Having always “not measured up” to my older brothers, and for darn sake I was now 60 years old, I never trusted that I could physically do what I wanted to do so as to keep up with those brothers and for decades my super determined athletic husband. I keep trying…..

Then Southern Italy happened.

The Wall:

It was super hard for me no matter that I trained diligently. Enrico and Heinrich were our guides and believed in us all. The story I tell is about climbing a WALL on bicycles. I do not remember the town, I don’t remember the lead up, I only remember seeing that little road snake up a wall to a pass, perfectly visible from far away. THAT was what was ahead for our ride.

Enrico said of course I could do it—Dan said give it a try—Heinrich said do what you want but I believe you can do this. I approached the corner at the edge of town that starts the climb up the wall. Enrico was way ahead with the other 5 riders, and Dan was far beyond already.

There was Heinrich in the van, standing at the corner—he waved his arm in a circle the worldwide symbol for “keep going”, and as I passed him I heard him whisper just loud enough “you got this—you can do it”.

A Super Guide Team:

So….I started up the switch backs with Heinrich’s confidence at my back….but no, the story doesn’t end there. Of course! Shortly, as I’m panting and peddling, the van passes and Heinrich says Enrico will be back to check on you, I have to get to the hotel as a storm is coming in….and sure enough there was Enrico slip sliding down the switchbacks.

He turned and accompanied me all the way up that wall….SINGING to me….calling guides from our first tour as they were on a tour somewhere else and they loudly cheered me on (Frank and Dana), he did circles around me and I KEPT CLIMBING THAT WALL. I did get to the top—the storm was on the other side and it was a deluge of rain. The van picked us all up at the top and delivered us safely to our hotel despite all the roads being swept away.

The Take Away:

So….what did I learn? The simple lesson that we experience all the time but always forget—we can do much in our life, we can experience oh so much more in our life, if we work for it and are accompanied on our  journey by friends. Our own backbone is the core of our determination accessed through the belief of friends.”

Learn More About Yourself:

Some of the most fascinating places a Ciclismo Classico trip will take you are to destinations you could never get to on your own.

Both on – and off – the bike.

Contact us today and let us show you where we can take you.

You may possibly surprise yourself.