SUP204

I’m writing this because riding can look like a lonely, solo pursuit from the outside, and sometimes it feels that way on the inside too. Just you, your breath, your wheels, and the long stretch of whatever lies ahead. But even when I’m alone out there, I’m still part of a larger community. Part of something bigger than myself. A rolling thread in a tapestry of riders who show up with every kind of skill, fitness, age, and story. On every ride there are moments — tiny, bright, unexpected moments — where I feel connected to other riders. Moments that remind me I’m never really riding alone. Assiniboine River Trail Although it can feel like the heaviest burdens crush us, like we sink beneath them, like they pin us to the ground, community changes the weight. A sense of belonging lifts us in ways we barely notice until we need it most. Even a small nod gifts emotional support. A brief conversation with a stranger softens loneliness. A shared identity connects us to something larger than o...