02/10/2025
Not long ago, I was out on a group ride when one of the bikes started having engine troubles.
As riders, we all know this can happen from time to time. What stood out to me wasn’t the mechanical issue—it was how the group responded. Nobody rode off. Nobody left that rider behind. We pulled over, figured out a plan, and stayed together until everything was sorted.
It made me think about how naturally we come together when a bike is struggling… but what about when we are the ones struggling?
If someone’s bike won’t start, it’s obvious. But if someone is quietly battling anxiety, stress, or just feeling “off,” it’s not always visible. In fact, a lot of us go silent when the internal engine feels overloaded. I know I do—I get quieter, more reserved, and it’s easy for others to assume I’m just keeping to myself.
The truth is: it takes just as much courage to speak up about emotional troubles as it does to handle mechanical ones. And sometimes, the simplest words can make all the difference. For example:
• “I’m feeling anxious, so I might be a bit quiet today.”
• “I’m not 100%—I may need a couple of extra breaks.”
Sharing where you’re at doesn’t magically fix the anxiety, but it does something equally powerful: it gives others the chance to show up for you. Just like we’d never leave a rider stranded on the side of the road, we don’t need to leave someone stranded in their own head.
Riding together means looking out for each other—in every sense. And just like every bike has its moments of trouble, so do we. The road feels a little lighter, and the ride a little steadier, when we know we don’t have to carry those moments alone.
Please remember there is support available: reach out if you have any questions or check out my website for further information about upcoming workshops, events, etc
www.ridewithanxiety.life
