It’s not about the bike --- my journey back to life

It’s not about the bike --- my journey back to life:

Even though last couple of weeks I had a quite hectic work schedule got a chance to read one nice book named as the heading of this chapter.
One of my good friends Malcolm suggested and was kind enough to borrow me his copy of the book. Thanks Malcolm.

The book describes the professional and personal life of Lance Armstrong - I think the most famous cyclist alive- and its ups and downs.
Even though he was a reasonably successful cyclist before the cancer trauma strikes his life, it came out in such a way that he eventually become an Icon cyclist rather icon of will power.

Story goes like this. Lance, son of a single mother and since they were not financially strong, he had to put additional effort to be in par with his friends.
H e used cycle to go to school for a pretty good distance on a daily basis and there comes a cycle race, participated and realized that he is good at it.
Nothing dramatic or unusual.

Years passed and he grew biologically and as cyclist.

One fine day fate knocks at his door and tells him that the first half of the movie is over the rather nail biting second half is about to starts...
At first he didn’t understand indication even though he had a pain at his groin region..

suddenly he starts coughing blood, and he tried to wash it away ,to make him believe that its not serious... .But as we all know that, you just cannot wash the bad times away like that.

Eventually doctor-friend came, identified the gravity of the situation, moved to the hospital for further diagnosis and it turned out to be the testicular
Cancer at its worst- stage III affected the lungs and the brain.

Chemo started and all other medicines came together.

Bike was kept at the garage, unsure about its future as well as its rider's.

Chemo was able to kill the cancer growth, only with the help of Lance's powerful will to live.
One of his testicles had to go since it was so badly affected by the cancer.

He had a recovery period of 1 year where he tried to ride the bike and initially the body was not allowing but give up.

But his will was not ready to give up. so the body had to perform and eventually it started regaining the status of the good old days...

Lance started preparing for some races and where he could not just keep up with the competitors and he broke and decides to quit the cycling.
started golfing as new passion as we all does to duck down from the real failure and made a courageous statement that 'I'm retired from cycling'

but his friend knew actually it is not the truth... so they manipulated him in such a way that realize the world that the cancer survivor can win major race
and retire. so he started practicing and in a fine day there comes again Mr.: Fate and said , now see the other twist in the story, as usual he didn’t
understand and he just made a record breaking climb of a hilly region during the practice which ignited his confidence tremendously and he starts
enjoying the cycling again.
there onwards it was a real hard practice where his mind , body and then the bike started practicing together as a single entity and history starts
following.

He won the 1999 Tour de France ... and for next 5 consecutive years...

Lesson learned:
Will power and tenacious effort will make great things , irrespective of the number of balls you have.

It was such a wonderful read …..