The pursuit of excellence is fraught with ups and downs. Whether you're perfecting an innovative home insurance calculator or attempting to finish a long bike race, there can be challenges and unexpected rewards.
We asked e2Value cycling team member Baris Aytan about his best and worst experiences on the trail. As it happens, the pinnacle and low point of his cycling experience occurred in the same race: He remembers Battenkill 2015, a race in Cambridge, New York.
Baris had focused his winter training primarily in preparation for the race, which took place in April. Leading up to the start of the tour, he says he felt fresh and healthy, ready to conquer the course. However, things took a turn when he encountered unexpected adversity.
"Bike racing is cruel and many times heart breaking. I punctured my front tire on a paved section of the race," he says. Ironically, Battenkill is renowned for its dirt section, so encountering trouble on the pavement was hard to predict.
However, Baris' fortune was reversed quickly when his teammate, Jesse Walker, stopped to help him on his pursuit to catch the main peloton. Baris was so amazed by Walker's generosity and sportsmanship that he felt galvanized to pedal on.
"This is an amateur sport and we all sacrifice lots of energy, time and money to train for months and go to these races during the season," Baris explains. "So experiencing a teammate give up on his own race to help me get back to the race, was just amazing."
At e2Value, our cycling team brings us great pride and excitement as they continue to raise the bar for excellence. We aim to deliver that same commitment in our services for home, commercial, farm and ranch valuation solutions. Contact us today to learn more about our team of cyclists and suite of solutions for insurance professionals.