Biking

[poliphilo]

 Last time I rode a bike was in Belgium quite a few years ago. Long straight roads, no hills and a culture that doffs its cap to the cyclist at every turn.

As a young man I rode a bike round Cambridge and the surrounding countryside. Again, that's fenland- so nice and flat. I have memories of carrying on with the cycling in my first curacy, in Wythenshawe- which isn't flat at all. I have memories of tearing up the hill for Holy Communion on a Sunday, arriving with minutes to spare- and getting the stink eye from the vicar, my boss, who thought I was a horrible scruff. He once threatened to send me home if I showed up again with my shoes unbrushed. "When I was a curate," he said, severely, "We thought it important to have neat hair and shiny shoes- for the honour of the priesthood and in order to impress the laity." What I wish I'd said in reply is, "And what did Jesus wear on his feet then?"

That was a bit of a digression.

As a teenager I did a fair bit of cycling. I had a bike at my boarding school. If you went out for a cycle ride it was considered an adequate alternative to playing team sports- and I hated team sports. The road from Lancing up to Bramber and Steyning is pretty steep. Travelling the same road in the car I have compassion on my younger self.

Looking back, I wonder why, since they'd been foolish enough to give me my liberty, I didn't just keep on cycling until night fell.....

I was never a daring cyclist. I never went down a hill without toying with the brakes. 

I was riding a bike in a dream last night. It was dusk. I switched on the headlamp and instead of showing up the road ahead it blinded me.....

Comments

[paserbyp]

In old age I worry about failing when biking.

[poliphilo]

Yes, I too wouldn't feel safe

[haertstitch]

its too steep here.
I'd want an old fashioned dirt bike
with a motor and big fat wheels.

not a fan of hills
skiing seemed like a waste of life
did cross count skiing
unless I could ski up that hill
I did not think about skiing down it.

year we moved up here
there was and international bicyclist
she was dressed in neons and was hit
and died. was years tills till an old git
confessed he thought he'd hit a deer?

then deer don't just chaise down cars
they go after motor bikes and regular ones too
think they are protesting
about the roads on their land.
its best to have a passenger when driving
to watch for deer.esp at twilight
and near fruit trees.

never heard of them chasing horses,
they visit them but don't see them as a threat.

[poliphilo]

I live in town and the terrain is mostly flat, but I wouldn't feel safe.

[haertstitch]

maybe a little moped?
or an electric scooter.

my god son had his bike do something
he went head over heels
I'm thankful he's alive
don't know if he's given up biking
moving to utah in the desert
seeing what's out there is good to see
who else is out there

[poliphilo]

I'd feel even less safe on something with a motor....

I understand your fear

[haertstitch]

I tried using the riding lawn mower
it was going down hill
I almost fell off on the side
opposite the brake,

didn't know there was an auto shut off
if you get off the seat

scared the shit out of me.
I refused to drive from then on

the new one I almost put my back out
when I tried to climb on

a little motor cross bike
has hand brakes that make alot more sense
small enough you can stand up and let it go off
but I would not go out of my way to find one.

Re: I understand your fear

[poliphilo]

My father once rolled his riding lawn mower down a slope into a ditch. Amazingly he walked away without serious injury....