What's in a name?

As some of you would have recalled, I had a pretty disastrous first ride with my new bike, Fifi last week.

Well this week wasn't very much different. After Phil from Runners World redid the rear brake cables, I was looking forward to a smooth 80km ride yesterday. But just after the turnaround point, I heard a loud bursting sound and there goes my rear tube.

Thanks to my 40mm profile wheels, I did not have any long valve spare tubes that could fit in them. So, Li-Ann had to drive about 20km out to rescue me... once again.

Sunday morning, after getting myself some new long valve tubes, I was keen for another ride. Weather wasn't ideal... strong winds blowing up to 40kph were in store for me.

The ride went pretty well, despite the winds. But again after 30km, the same bursting sound was heard and I had to spend about 20 minutes getting the rear tube changed. I briefly inspected the tyre, there was no glass or stone caught in it, but there were some small cuts and holes. Gee, the roads must have been pretty bad... this was only my 3rd ride!

Anyway, I'd rather have the tyres replaced than change the whole wheelset! Also, maybe I have exceeded the tyre pressure limit. It was then I decided that the bike needs a new name. Call me superstitious, but Fifi isn't exactly Ironman material.

*****

I'm not sure whether I have mentioned this before but I have decided to take up a permanent position at St Barts. I have handed in my resignation to KPMG two weeks ago.

Working with St Barts has been somehow meaningful, spiritually, especially in the past couple of weeks. We were heavily involved in Homeless Persons Week two weeks ago. And this morning, we celebrated our 46th anniversary of St Bart's Day. It was really uplifting listening to the Spirit of the Streets Choir, a group of people, whom they themselves have encountered many challenges in life, both socially and financially.

I learnt something valuable today. I feel so superficial worrying about the performance of my new bike when these people had it 10 times worse than I do, and still they made it through.

I'm not a Christian but I did attend the church service for this morning's celebration. And I do remember this proverb vividly from my Sunday school days.

Matthew 6:26-27 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Hence, I shall not worry... and have faith. Faith... that my recent rides are just tests of my wills. Faith... that this bike will help me improve not only in my next Ironman race but also guide me through my progress as triathlete.

Faith... shall be the new name of my bike.