Koi , otherwise known as Carp, have been captivating man for thousands of years. Originally from China, Koi made their way into Japan in 200 A.D. and eventually into our own backyard ponds. They represent endurance, strength, courage and patience.

In Chinese legends, the strongest Koi that succeeded in climbing the waterfalls became dragons. The downside is, if the Koi failed or got caught, they faced their death by lying on a cutting board – sushi style.

A Koi tattoo reveals something about its bearer - if the Koi is swimming upstream, it symbolizes there is a struggle at hand. If the Koi is swimming downstream, then difficulty has been defeated.

So, as you bike toward that impossible hill, may all your Koi be headed downstream.