We wanted to take the time to write about the inspirational story of Dave Cooke, who used cycling as a way to cope with personal struggles. Faced with the personal turmoil of his youngest son’s addiction, the emotional stress was affecting areas of Dave’s life such as his overall health, business and relationships.

Dave decided that he would bike for at least one hour for the next 100 days. Dave stated that he wanted to “understand the burden of having to do something every single day for an extended period of time.” He used this as an allegory for overcoming an addiction. Furthermore, he saw his ride as a way to provide an example for his son by fulfilling a challenging commitment and show what that looks like. Finally, he wanted to improve his mental and physical health.

Dave says that his bike rides provided clarify for his life, perspectives on his son’s choices and opportunities in these rides.

100 Pedals provides a lesson for all of us. It provides perspectives on commitment, communication, teamwork, fulfillment, and finding happiness.

To learn more about 100 Pedals you can visit the website to learn more about his amazing journey.

For those of you who may become inspired to start riding your bicycle, we wanted to provide five safety tips to help keep you safe when cycling:

• Always wear a helmet. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety the most serious injuries among the majority of those killed in bicycle accidents are to the head.
• Obey the rules of the road. If you’re going to be on the road you need to ride in a way that adheres to the rules of the road. Rules are in place for a reason and that is to keep you and others safe.
• Be aware of your surroundings. The more alert you are to your surroundings, the safer you’re going to be and the faster you will be able to react if something out of the ordinary happens.
• Use hand signals to let other vehicles know where you’re turning.
• Be visible. If cars, pedestrians and other cyclists cannot see you, your safety, and even theirs, is greatly reduced. Make sure you have bike lights, reflective elements on your bike and clothing when riding at night. Wear bright colors to increase your visibility to others.

Have you ever turned to cycling or any activity to help you with personal hardships in your life?