Freewheeling freedom

You can talk about multi-modal transportation, the reduced environmental footprint, the health benefits and all that BS, but the Number One El Primo reason for cycling has got to be the freedom of it.

Think back to when you were a kid. If you wanted to get somewhere, someone had to take you. You were essentially baggage, at the whim of someone with a car.

Unless you had a bicycle.

If you had two wheels, decent weather and the time to get there and back, the world was your oyster. I rode down back roads and along tractor tracks. I explored woodlots and  deserted race tracks. I went to the library, the golf course, the corner store. I bought pop and chips and comic books and fireworks and never had to wait while someone picked out groceries or shaving cream or the right colour of socks. I was beholden to no one and the commander of my own destiny.

Do I want to go left or right? Shall I stop right here? Shall I ride through this park? Yes, yes, yes and yes.

I was reminded of this a couple of years ago when I rented a bicycle outside the train station in Tianjin, China. I had a map, a bicycle and the day ahead, and could do any darn thing I wanted. I stopped to buy strawberry-sized oranges and to watch a tiny Tibetan child dance and twirl. I roamed the hutong and the major streets. No worries about a place to park or the gas gauge. When my own "engine light" went on, I stopped for a drink.

Do I want to ride my bicycle into an adventure? Do I want to amble down a lonely lane? Do I want to stop, right here, and watch the world roll by? Yes, yes and yes.

Comments

[plam]

Very much so. Even more, I found that, in Vietnam, bikes were much better than walking around, due to obstacles on the sidewalk that didn't affect you if you were biking in the street---you could just bike around them.

[AlanM]

I was thinking about this posting of yours this morning as two friends and I cruised west from Waterloo just after dawn.

It was a warm and dripping-humid morning, the road wet from a brief overnight shower. Heavy mist and tendrils of ground fog turned the countryside into a Herchendrader scene. To the west the gibbous moon hung dark and orange. In the east the newly-risen sun hung like a dull red navigation beacon, low in the sky, veiled in the mist. The damp air beaded in dewdrops on my forearms, and absorbed even the whir of our tires, leaving us to spin along in grateful silence, or letting us chat in almost whispers.

All the way along Berlett's Road, through Lisbon and down newly-paved 104 Line, out through Amulree, south on 107 and west on Line 40 past the Stratford Airport, all the way to Balzac's in Stratford for warm cinnamon buns and Balzac's famous coffee ... it was a magical morning ride, one of those rare rides when the company, weather, scenery, no traffic and no wind conspire to make one wish it could last forever.

Only on a bicycle can one explore the beauty of our region and truly enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and feeling of freedom.
...alan

[Chas Bean]

I gotta agree brother... a sense of freedom for sure. The bicycle for a child is probably one of the greatest empowerment lessons they can experience.

Reading your blog reminded me of riding the bike on the farm...up to the reservoir to sink bottles with stones... riding up that unforgiving hill at the corner of beaverdams road (lol). How about the crotch jarring rides down uppers lane or trying to out race the digby dogs??

Now that was livin!!

Cheers, CB

[Bill]

Oh man, that hill at Beaverdams and Beechwood. Everybody must have a murder hill in their bicycling past.
For me, even worse was the hill way down Beechwood near the Garden City Raceway. I rode down that like a rocket, and then discovered halfway down that there was a loose dog at a farmhouse along the way. I had to go back, but couldn't grind back up that hill until the dog was distracted elsewhere on the farm. I think I nearly matched the Tour climbers as I powered up that hill out of the jaws of "Cujo."

[Chas Bean]

I forgot about that one... and as you know, now I live in Calgary where the hills here make the hills of Niagara look like speedbumps.

But the one you just mentioned, that one was a good one... a real grinder on a one speed 24 inch CCM... once up the top and around the crazy curve there was a house where we would stop for a drink from the garden hose.. Maybe the place with the dog?? lol

Best hill in Niagara however has to be the St. Davids hill... that was grind... again though it doesn't compete with climbing Stoney or Sarcee Trail hills out here... but then, my 5200 trek is a bit different than that old candy apple red special...

CB