Introduction
This book is dedicated to my children and family — to the generations who will come after me. These pages are for you. They are a record of life in motion: the rides, the races, the challenges, the triumphs, and the small moments that often go unnoticed. I want you to know who I am, what I love, and how I chase both adventure and personal growth. This is my story, and I hope it gives you a sense of the spirit, the humor, and the determination that guided me on every journey.
Here, you will find stories of freezing mornings when my hands were so cold that a thumbs-up was a heroic effort, yet my torso stayed warm and dry thanks to my trusty jacket. You will read about flooded trails that turned races into a waterpark adventure, and about moments when nerves and fear almost made me quit — but didn’t. As I wrote in one of my posts: “Sometimes you freeze your actions and hope for the best. Well, lesson learned! Act! Forget REACT!”
This is a chronicle of persistence and growth. You will meet the racers I chased, the friends I rode with, and the rivals who pushed me to my limits. You will read about moments of self-doubt, black thoughts, and the temptation to quit — but also about the joy of pushing through, catching up with competitors, and discovering strength I didn’t know I had. “It’s not about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward,” I wrote, quoting Rocky Balboa, and this is the mindset that shaped my races and my life.
Expect humor, too. Some races were chaotic, absurd, or simply unbelievable. I’ve crashed over bars, wrestled with malfunctioning dropper posts on mountain stages, and watched my saddle disappear in a surreal chain of events that felt almost like a prank by the universe. Yet even in those moments, I found joy and a story worth telling. I’ve been brutally honest, because life isn’t always smooth, and neither are the trails.
You will also find reflections on strategy, preparation, and mental toughness. How to deal with nerves, how to pace yourself, how to ride in terrible conditions, or how to ride a perfect line while surrounded by chaos. I have shared my mistakes openly: starting too far back, misjudging gaps, or burning out too early. But I have also celebrated victories — personal bests, clever tactics, and moments of pure exhilaration. “I’ll act as if it’s only for fun, but I’ll give it everything I have,” is a recurring theme you’ll see, showing how to balance seriousness with joy.
This book is also about learning and growth. I reflect on limits — mental and physical — and the process of accepting stagnation, embracing amateur joy, and finding satisfaction in effort. As I wrote quoting Gandhi: “Satisfaction lies in effort, not in results. Full effort is full victory.” You will see that effort is the thread that connects every story, every race, every struggle, and every small triumph.
You will read these pages in chronological order: from the earliest races that tested my mind and body, to adventures in flooded trails, frozen mornings, and sunny climbs, all the way to moments of victory and personal breakthroughs. You will see me push myself beyond what seemed possible, and sometimes fail — but never stop learning or laughing at the absurdity of it all.
This book is more than cycling. It is about curiosity, courage, perseverance, and the joy of sharing life with others — friends, family, and fellow riders alike. It’s about the way I strive to be the best version of myself, not just for my own satisfaction, but for the example I hope to set for you. I want you to see that life is challenging, messy, sometimes unfair, but always full of opportunity for growth and joy.
Finally, a word about why this blog ends here, rather abruptly: the story doesn’t stop. It continues every single day. Life itself is the adventure, and the journey never truly ends. Stay curious. Ask questions. Dig deeper. That is what makes life exciting — and that is what makes you exciting for the world around you.
So, dear children, as you turn these pages, remember my words: “It’s not about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.” And always, as Gandhi said: “Satisfaction lies in effort, not in results. Full effort is full victory.”
This is my journey. It is messy, exciting, and full of life. And it is yours now, in part, to explore and enjoy.
— Risto
















