Remember what it was like as a kid? You could just go get your bike out of the shed and ride it. Maybe, you had to pump the tires up. No other special preparations were required.
I spend a fair amount of time thinking about that. What kind of bike is ready all the time, at any time? What stops us from getting on the bike and going for a quick ride? Why not just jump on the bike to go to the store for that small item? Why not grab the bike to run over to Billy Bob’s or Linda Sue’s to watch the chop suey western? What stops us from this?
Sometimes capitol C Cyclists seem to get so caught up in the gear. We know that clipless pedals are a terrific boost to efficiency. We know that the correct shorts improve comfort. But are we so fashion conscious that we are afraid to simply get on a bike without a lot of folderol?
Is it, maybe the bike? What does an “everyday anytime bike” look like? Is it a cruiser? Maybe an older and somewhat battered hybrid? Suddenly the bike manufacturers are bringing out a bunch of new, entry level type bikes. They seem to have the thought that “less is more.” These things have fewer bells and whistles, less suspension, less complexity. They look like they would be more serviceable, more capable of being instantly ride-ready.
I wonder if we don’t let ourselves get caught up in all the “stuff,” and miss the ride. As I write this, I am thinking about putting together such a ride ready bike. Of course I am. And that’s the problem. I have a stable of bikes. Surely at least one of them is ready to go at a moment’s notice, and with no real preparation?
Can it be that the act of cycling is interfering with riding? This will take more thought.
No comments:
Post a Comment