I used to cycle a lot. I worked six days a week and commuted 20 kilometers each day. I had just moved out on my own and was poor, so I found the cheapest way to get around was by bike. Gradually, money became less tight and my bicycle quietly moldered away in the closet, year after year. I developed a bit of a disdain for biking, sort of like something you were forced to eat as a child, and secretly hold a grudge against for the rest of your life. As a driver in Vancouver, I only remembered interactions with hostile cyclists and thus my opinion of the cycling world was less than sunny.
I can't pinpoint exactly when my love for cycling was rekindled. I started out as a sweaty, wheezing rookie, and gradually transformed into a leisurely city cyclist, rolling along and enjoying the pace and simplicity of it all. You feel connected with the streets, noticing things that being in a car just doesn't allow. It forces you to take a step back, slow down, and enjoy the sights and smells.
I remember the first time I put a basket on my bike. I used to constantly make fun of people with baskets. Who would want a big milk crate or dorky basket hanging off the back? My world was changed when I discovered how much stuff I could cram onto the back of my bike. From carrying cold beverages to a box of kittens, keeping your belongings off your back is a wonderful thing. Gone are the days of sweat lines from your backpack straps, or the hunchback-like lump from carrying too much gear. You are riding free and easy, ladies and gentleman.
The second chapter in my transformation happened when my bike was stolen and I had to start from scratch. Here are some tips on buying your commuter bike. Start by finding a used bike. Your bike should be like your favourite pair of underwear - ugly and comfortable. If you ride something that looks like it was made by NASA, it will inevitably get stolen. If your bike looks like you found it in the dumpster, you will enjoy years of pedaling bliss. Next, install bike parts (i.e. handle bars, commuter tires, bike seat) to suit your individual riding position. If it's comfortable, you're going to keep doing it. Finally, visit an independent bike store to tune up your bike. If grandpa's old 10-speed was sitting in the garage for 20 years without so much as a whiff of oil, it will need a little TLC. Trust me, it is totally worth it.
Now that this new chariot of yours is ready to ride, where will you go? That, my friend, is up to you. Enjoy the benefits of not having to worry about traffic or parking, and get back to enjoying life. Go shopping, to a friend's house, or maybe even to your favorite patio. Who knows, you might even lose a few pounds.
{italic) This is the first of a 4-week series leading up to Bike to Work Week. Hosted locally by the Prince George Cycling Club, Bike to Work Week encourages BC residents to commute by bicycle. A variety of local businesses and organizations will be sponsoring "Celebration Stations" during the week of May 26 - June 1st. Visit these stations for food, beverages, education pamphlets, and prizes! Please visit http://www.biketowork.ca/prince-george to register online as an individual or a team.
