Cycling: back to the bike

Self-tutoring about bicycling: the tutor relates his return to it.

In the early 90s I rode a bicycle everywhere. That was down in Victoria, whence I ventured to the Lower Mainland, Saltspring Island, Nanaimo, and even to Comox. Back then I did so much cycling, my legs were always sore: they never had time to recover between rides.

I loved cycling because of its simplicity and the freedom it offered. You could go anywhere, virtually for free: all you needed was gumption. Moreover, there wasn’t the legal responsibility that driving a car would entail. Parking was easy: find a bike rack and lock the bike there. The ferry was the price of a pedestrian. Plus, cycling kept me in shape.

It’s been decades since I’ve used a bike for transportation. Yesterday, however, I had the choice to drive or ride a bicycle to visit someone about 20km away. I just didn’t feel like driving, especially someone else’s daily driver. We have a bicycle on hand (not my old one, which was eventually stolen). I decided to re-inflate its tires, oil its chain, and check its mechanics. Next, I put together a small tool kit and found one of my old bicycle pumps. Putting them in a backpack with a water bottle, I set off for my first serious bike ride in over 25 years. Needless to say, I wondered how it would go.

As it turned out, everything went fine. I had some initial fears that I would have found absurd when I was 25. I was able to reach the destination in about 1.5 hours, having adjusted the seat a couple of times.

At 6pm I had to start back for home, not having a light for the bike. On the way home I realized that the bike’s main bearing needs replacement. That hindered me, but I still made it.

Everyone on the road was friendly to me: pedestrians, drivers and other cyclists. Therefore, I felt welcome on the road.

I plan to replace the bicycle’s main bearing and re-integrate cycling as part of my lifestyle. It was just so nice to feel that freedom again:)