I was asked the other day “why is it that we become so attached to our
bikes?”
Now I can totally relate to this. My bike is my child. I love it/him more than anything. (yes I do realize that my bike is an inanimate object, but I don't care. Ha) I drool every
time that I lay my eyes on him and good luck if you think that YOU will ever
get to ride him because he is mine. Feel free to ask a certain Dr. Z about the
reaction I had when he just hopped right on Donatello (bike’s given name) and
took him for a spin…it went something
like this, he got on my bike and before I knew it he was off. I started yelling/practically had a heart
attack while he laughed hysterically and continued to do circles around the
parking lot.
A little over the top? Not in any way, shape, or form according to my
book (now my “book” is full of quirky rules. I wrote it so I get to make the
rules up as I go along).
But on a serious note…and for those of you who know me, I am not
serious too often, but here I will be…
Bikes can symbolize many things to many different people. I think the
thing that I love most about bikes is that there is no age limit. You can be
five years old or eighty-five years old and still go out and enjoy the
pleasures of a bike ride.
Bikes can takes us places. I don’t only mean as a mode of
transportation. But they take us places mentally, emotionally, and yes
physically. I have never hated and loved something so much as when I am on my
bike (the hate part only being sometimes).
Bikes help to create so many wonderful memories. Whether you are riding
alone or with a group, on a hot day or a cold one, if you got hit by a car or
couldn’t unclip. There are memories that are created. Sometimes great wonderful
memories and sometimes memories that you wish you could forget. I can't tell you how many stories that I have told that started off with "well I was on my bike when..."
Bikes are so freeing. In my life (yes, I know it has been short) I have
never found something so freeing and peaceful as when I am on my bike. For me
personally it’s when I’m flying down the side of a mountain, kicking up dust,
bouncing over rocks, and coming around switchbacks. That for me is when I am at
my most peaceful place (and no, I’m not kidding).
Bikes never ask for anything in return, they never ask where you were the night before, why you have spent so much time apart or why you missed your early training ride, again. They are always just waiting to
be ridden, it doesn’t matter if they have been sitting in the garage for a year
or it is has only been a few hours.
Bikes become a part of our families, if you think that is weird then
maybe you haven’t spent enough time with bikes, or maybe I’m weird. Probably
both. Ha. The naming of our beloved bikes probably doesn’t help with the attachment
issues either. I named mine after a Ninja Turtle, Donatello. If that doesn’t
scream tough, I don’t what does. I have friends who have named their bikes
after ex-lovers, famous hockey players, idols, curse words, if you can think of
it, a bike has been named it.
Bikes are awesome. If you haven’t been on one in awhile and are wanting
to get back out there, GO. There should be nothing stopping you. Just look for
that bike that’s waiting to be ridden.
