Lessons from my cycling trip
A 520-kilometer cycling trip from the Netherlands to Paris offered eight powerful life and leadership lessons — from slowing down to the power of working together in each other’s slipstream.
Most leaders claim to embrace change, yet few are willing to strip away the comforts and routines that keep them moving fast but seeing little—real growth demands traveling lighter and slower than feels safe.
This summer I took a cycling trip to Paris with my wife. We came up with the idea to cycle from our home in The Netherlands to Paris in France. Roughly a 520+ kilometer trip. We took a slightly eastern route through the Belgian Ardennes.
Key takeaways
- Leaders, when you pack for a journey—literal or metaphorical—prioritize quality over quantity, because carrying excess baggage (physical or mental) slows you down and drains your energy.
- You gain richer perspectives when you slow your pace and immerse yourself in the environment, so step out of your usual routine to notice what’s changing around you and within your team.
- Investing time in thorough preparation—testing your tools, planning your route, and anticipating challenges—enables you to adapt confidently when the unexpected inevitably happens.
The weather this summer made the trip harder. We often cycled almost touching 40 degrees. The daily rhythm was to get up early to avoid the greatest heat. We had breakfast, bought lunch at a local bakery, packed six liters of water for the whole day, the French countryside is very empty in some places, and finalized the plan for the daily route.
Lessons from the road
The cycling days were inspirational. Perhaps not completely new ideas, but worth to keep in the back of our minds as we navigate through our personal and professional lives.
We really don’t need many things. If your stuff is reliable and of great quality is what matters most. Less is more. Especially when you must carry every kilo of luggage over every hill.
Slow down to experience so much more. When you drive, you miss so much. But when you cycle, you see the changes in the landscape. You hear the sounds and you can smell the air. You experience the wind and the sun.
Doing something physical is the ideal way to get out of your head. The rhythm of cycling gets you into another state of mind and you get into a flow. Relax through physical activity.
A couple of daily climbs keep you in great shape. It improves your stamina and you’re challenged to make it to the top. Views are great from the top by the way..
You become even more aware of your physical condition. Taking good care of your body helps you to achieve your goal.
Preparation pays off
Spend time preparing! The weeks and months preparing were very important for the final experience. Finding the optimal route, testing the material and preparing for the daily journey pays off! Of course, things can go different once you’re on the road. But if you have a roadmap, it will make things so much easier.
If you can ride in the slipstream of your fellow cyclist, you can save 30-40% of your energy. And of course, you can assist your fellow cyclist to ride in your slipstream. Working together creates value for all!
A deep sense of fulfillment arises when you reach your goals because you had to make a real sacrifice.
A deep sense of fulfillment arises when you reach your goals because you had to make a real sacrifice.
If you were away from the office this summer, I hope you had a wonderful break. Many of us used the time for some reflection. Keep it alive by making your intentions habitual.
Over to you.