We each have our own path to walk in life that leads us to a better knowledge of who we are.
Pedaling over the crest of the hill and looking out over the lush expanse of cornfields of the Hadley plain in the midday sun, it was easy to be thankful for being there in that moment. Several years previous to that moment, I was in the midst of a painful divorce that made my nights long and lonely. Cycling has since become one of my favorite ways to clear my mind, work off the stress of work, and to keep fit and trim.
I've always kept myself in decent shape over the years, either by weight training or surfing— which I've done fairly regularly since my youth in Hawai'i. Living inland on the east coast hasn't exactly made surfing into a regular daily activity for me. And the kind of gym-time that I prefer requires paying a membership fee.
But cycling is free—at least the riding part of it—and it has a number of things going for it that are appealing to me.
It is meditative. Long rides across beautiful landscapes can have that effect. Breathing rhythmically, centered in your body. It can have a zen-like quality to it.
I enjoy the various challenges and benefits it presents. The distance travelled stands as both a badge of honor and a measure of your progress. The sense of doing something that doesn't require the burning of a fossil fuel. If you're into hill climbing, then that presents a whole other level. Seeing places and interacting with people in a deeper way from a perspective that people in cars just haven't a clue about as they go whizzing by. Spending time with family, friends, or a special person. Bonding with them in new ways. And of course, in addition to the health benefits, it is just plain FUN!
Cyclists ride for a whole host of reasons, and you no doubt have or will have your own.
What was interesting for me was the way in which cycling came back into my life. Like many kids, I pretty much grew up on a bike. It was the easiest way to get to and from the homes of my friends. Then I became a paper boy and tossing newspapers onto porches while making my rounds on my old Schwinn Sting Ray was a daily occurrence. I commuted around campus for the first year or two of college on a 10-speed, because the student parking lot was so far away from where my classes were.
That all ended when I got a motorcycle, and I never got back on a human-powered bike for any extended length of time after that. Either I didn't have the time, or I didn't want to deal with the traffic whizzing by. Quite a few years of my life was spent living in New York City. Watching a bike messenger darting between city traffic is the source of legend, both in feats of skill and daring, and in the medical skill of the physicians at Bellevue, Saint Vincent's, and other city hospitals.
Love was what ultimately got me back into cycling. After my divorce, I began dating a wonderful woman who was into cycling. And as luck would have it, among the things stored away in one of her outbuildings was an old, Motobecane 10-speed. A Nomade. Nothing fancy, but in decent shape. It fit me perfectly and had been sitting there waiting for me for about fifteen years since her son — now grown — had last ridden it.
I took it in to my local repair shop to get a new seat, some new brake rubber and some handlebar grip tape and I was ready for a ride. And ride we did. From that first ride around my neighborhood two years ago — where my legs cramped up so bad on the hill coming back that I had to pull over and rest — until now, my legs have gotten strong and toned and feel like they were when I was in my twenties. I've since put a little more money into the bike in the form of new tubes and tires, a rear bike rack and bag for carrying gear, a bell for crowded bike paths, and a wireless odometer. Pretty basic stuff. I've been keeping it pretty low end, so the investment hasn't been very much. Minimal investment, maximum fun!
My partner, Linda, and I like to ride between 25 to 35 miles on our rides. We get out for a ride as often as we can, and have been planning a long weekend trip between Bed & Breakfast Inns. We're not the sort of riders who enjoy pulling a lot of weight on loaded panniers, so "credit-card touring" appeals to us. Nothing like having a hot shower, a great dinner, and a nice comfy bed waiting for you after a day of cycling.
The best thing for me though, is how magical it felt for me to have that bike just waiting for me and to realize now how perfect cycling is for me. I'm in the best shape of my life and I just really feel so blessed. I just can't wait for the snow to clear so that I can get back onto my bike.
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