Merry Christmas and a hopeful new year

In one of the last weeks of the year I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Hopeful New Year.

I don't know about you but during these years cycling saves my sanity and helps me to be of strong health during stressfull times. Cycling is such a unique way for us humans to move through landscapes in a way where we are connected to our physique, mental state, social ways and natural surroundings at the same time.

In the past years where Covid-19 has changed our daily living and ways to be in the world cycling has for many been an escape, a new hobby, a new sport and for a lot also an alternative way of transporting one-self from a-b instead of going by public transport. Cities have speeded up their transformation to becoming (more) cycling friendly and there is a lot going on in the world about cycling in general.

For instance the professional sport is becoming more inclusive with a strong movement in women cycling. From a female cyclist's standpoint this is about time! and I am happy to see how the current female cycling stars inspire girls to jump on the bike. 

I am personally among the first waves of women in Europe who fell in love with cycling and adopted it as my sport in a world of men. I was part of a movement in Northern European countries (probably around the same time in the US) in the 2010s which now grows day by day. I am happy when I now go for a ride from Nice and meet more female riders out and about than when I first moved here in 2015.

We also have changes in the common purposes for why people cycle. When I entered the sport around 2009, normal amateur road bike riders measured each other's standards by how quick they could ride, how far and how many mountains they could conquer in one day.

Now normal has changed as cycling is so much more than about going the furthest, the quickest, while conquering a lot of mountains for the "check it off the list" sake or winning races. Billions of people use cycling as a way to travel and discover landscapes and societies in a movement of finding happiness by being slow and embracing people and nature.

Sustainable living and -traveling, good health and well-being, having fun on two wheels of many kinds and getting to know people by and while sharing this playful way of discovering land is why I started to guide and organise tours with Lifesparkz Bike Tours in 2016. I am grateful for sharing moments with kind and curious people from many backgrounds who have cycling as a common way of discovering.

Thank you to everyone of you who I cycled with in the past years or collaborate with to create cycling adventures for others. I am now excited to see what is in the box for us in 2022.

For me and Lifesparkz Bike Tours 2020 was about survival and staying sane! 2021 has been about patience. In 2022 I will be carefully hopeful that the World will stabilise in the new normal and that I again can welcome more of you from around our precious globe to cycle in Nice and the Alpes-Maritimes.

With warm wishes of safe and happy holidays.

Tina
Owner of Lifesparkz Bike Tours, December 2021