When shifting the actual gears is a no-go

The clatter of a chain. Clunking along. What if I shifted down more? Perhaps that would get my bike into gear. 

And then the chain clattered and fell. 

Yesterday, as I was leading Pedal and Pause: A Rejuvenating Escape in the National Arboretum, my bike chain came off its chainring and so I had to gracefully ask the group to stop. 

And stop we did.

My bike was fully loaded carrying two heavy panniers and a soft cooler with lunch. I called over Alison who steadied the bike and held it, as I fussed around with the chain.

“As you probably know”, I announced, “I am not a bike mechanic,” and bit by bit I reoriented the chain on to its rings and tried shifting gears as I spun the pedals backwards. My earnest efforts weren’t working.

Was I going to have to ditch my bike and rent a Capital Bikeshare to lead the ride?

But then it hit me. I could get my chain in a middle gear and choose not to shift gears as I rode. Another participant offered to carry one of my panniers and we collectively decided to have lunch soon, so I could unload some of the weight.

And so I rode in a middle gear and got out of the saddle to get up the inclines. 

I talk a lot about shifting gears with Circle and Spoke. And shifting gears yesterday meant being totally honest:

• That I was having a mechanical issue and needed to stop.

• That I too can struggle when mechanical issues go awry. 

• That when I lead, I too need support and I can receive that.

• That sometimes shifting gears means not literally shifting my bike’s gears. I can use other tools to get up the hill: asking others to carry some of my load, pedaling out of the saddle, moving at a slower pace… 

This felt emblematic of many things in life. The long term fixes when things go awry aren’t always in arms reach, but temporary, creative fixes, can get me through the day:

• Acknowledging the feels when something has gone awry and holding myself with compassion.

• Asking for and receiving support.

• Turning to a variety of tools, including community and creativity to make it through the day.

Wishing you a week of creatively shifting gears. 

Wheels up, 

Ellen 

PS- I want to give a major shout out to Kuli Kuli and Gotham Greens. 

Participants from yesterday’s ride got to enjoy some of the delectable Gotham Green’s lettuce and vegan pesto during our lunch.

Hot tip: hummus + Gotham Green’s pesto on a sandwich is totally yum.

Thanks to Kuli Kuli, participants brought home Super Gummies, which make eating superfoods super simple and tasty, and free Gotham Greens products!

And fun fact, the founders of Kuli Kuli and Gotham Greens are alumni of Wild Gift, the fellowship and trek I recently completed!