Cycling to me is to be alive, to be using my god given body to propel me where I want to go. When riding a bicycle you are at one with the environment around you, from the feel of the ground vibrating through the bike to the wind against your face and the sun on your skin.
“The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart”. ~Iris Murdoch, The Red and the Green
Cycling to me is to be alive, to be using my god given body to propel me where I want to go. When riding a bicycle you are at one with the environment around you, from the feel of the ground vibrating through the bike to the wind against your face and the sun on your skin. There is a connection that cannot be achieved from driving a car. Yes of course you can put your window down and suck on the air, but it just doesn’t feel the same when you are so cocooned in your oversized hunk of metal on wheels.
When riding my bicycle to transport myself somewhere, it becomes more of a feeling of meandering, of playing, maybe even regressing to a more carefree childlike state that I would be unable to achieve in such a serious grown up thing as a car.
Of course enjoyment is not the only good thing that comes from riding a bicycle, you are also transformed into a smug, green clad, tree hugging environmental warrior whether you like it or not, as the vehicle of your choice is totally emission free with a teeny weenie carbon footprint which is reduced further if you decide to purchase or rescue an old second-hand bicycle.
Second-hand accessories for free
Fortunately there are people that can help you do just that. There is a place in Alexandria, Sydney called the Bike Club, where a bunch of very friendly and helpful volunteers give you there time and expertise, plus an old bicycle for you to rejuvenate (unless you supply your own) to somewhere resembling its former glory. They have tools and parts, which are all donated, and all second hand and they also encourage you to work on your own bike rather than leaving all the work to them. So all in all it is a win win situation as not only do you get a bicycle for free but you also get invaluable knowledge of the workings of a bicycle which will stay with you for life and may even spur you on to build up a bicycle for a special friend.
So, dust off that old neglected bicycle in the garage and pour yourself into the nearest pair of day glow lycra (optional of course), as you are about to reignite your body and reconnect your mind with the environment. And don’t look back as bicycles are the choice for a cleaner, greener and healthier life, plus they are much cheaper than a gym membership.
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Free your rusty bike
