I Ride Bikes
Why Do I Ride Bikes?
Riding my bike as much as I do gives me a great deal of time to think about life and, indeed, the question of why I spend so much time out on my bike?
As a result, of these moments of contemplation, I have decided to collect a few of my musings direct from the saddle and share them here.
The Early Days
I was always fascinated by my bike and cycling as a sport. As a child, every day, I would take advantage of having two wheels and would be out on my bike all of the time, usually from first light, until late in the day. Wandering the lanes near my home or creating a challenging course with friends to zip around, push ourselves, and hopefully fall off.
Cycling provided freedom, joy and a wonderful sense of doing something I was good at and enjoyed immensely and riding frequently helped me to learn about making mistakes, the chance to toughen yourself up and to get back on when you fell off. It was a quick and incredible learning curve developed throughout my childhood and into adulthood—leading to some memorable moments out on two wheels.
Cycling To Work
As I have previously mentioned, I have always ridden bikes, competed in cyclocross and triathlons events, and continually found pleasure by travelling on two wheels to destinations new.
Since moving to the Netherlands some six years ago, I thought what better way to integrate into a new society than to cycle the 27 km from Rotterdam to The Hague to get to work and back.
At first, people would question my sanity and said ‘I was mad,’ and when the mornings are cold, dark, the wind is howling, and the rain lashing down, I had similar feelings.
Considering all these factors carefully, I love and value this, and it is a massive part of what makes me the person I am. With these thoughts in mind commuting to work by bike is something I do, something I love and intend to do for as long as I can.
Of course, there are days when you question your sanity and repeatedly ask yourself, why do I do this? But, for me, there are more positives in doing this than anything else. I feel fitter than I ever have. I get daily fresh air, which I need and love. It gives me freedom, space, valuable thinking time and a great sense of peace to gather my thoughts and unwind from a sometimes stressful and challenging workday.
This Beautiful World
Spending most of your days out on two wheels undoubtedly allows you to see our beautiful world in a completely different light, something that is unique and not necessarily copied by other forms of transportation.
I'm a nature lover; I like my own space and love to spend my free time outdoors. I have too much energy to burn, so I find being active in the outdoors my little slice of heaven and allowing me to do the things I love in the most interesting of places.
Waking early in the morning, setting out on the bike, feeling the cold on your face, lanes shrouded in fog and watching the sunrise means so much to me. It provides the chance to be alone and enjoy the simple things, like those precious quiet moments before the hectic world awakes and helps disrupt your day. Following this routine suits my personality and continually allows me to experience our beautiful planet and how I want to enjoy it, not being continually pushed and poked, or made to follow others just because others think that's what you should do. It is my time and the chance to see my corner of the world as nature intended.
What Next?
Like most things nowadays, we are blessed with the opportunity to do pretty much anything and have options to do that right at our fingertips.
Over the years, cycling technology has snowballed; it has also become costly.
By sharing my passion, I want to remain humble and adamant; I'm no different from anyone else out there. I believe that anything is possible, and if you set your mind to the task, you can achieve what you set out to do. It might just involve a bit of hard work along the way.
By commuting to work by bike, I am achieving something that I wanted to do. If time allows, I would love to seek opportunities to cycle further and undertake a challenge that will bring further fulfilment for myself and others.
Many of my cycling heroes have achieved what seemed like the impossible. For example, one of my favourites is Mark Beaumont, who cycled the world and many others like him—doing something he loved to do and something that would hopefully bring about change. Still, many regular people continue to undertake a commute like mine every day and it remains a positive source of inspiration to me and my adventures leading forward.
Happy Cycling!