Zen of Bike Riding

Something clicked for me this week.

I've been riding my bike to work every day for 3 weeks now (except for the day it was raining). We purposely got a house within riding distance because we haven't purchased a car yet, so now my fear of driving will last just a little longer. But Mackay is a great place to learn, whether it be biking or driving, because it's a small city and drivers seem to be relatively more courteous here. And I have a really flat route. It only really inclines at all around the bridge over the creek and another bridge over the river, but even those are minimal.

I was probably afforded the opportunity of enlightenment this week because my rear end has finally stopped hurting when I sit on the seat, which is magically wonderful in itself.

The most important thing that clicked was 'slow and steady wins the race' when it comes to biking, especially after becoming so unfit the last 7 months without a gym membership. I'm also not a seasoned biker and up until I moved to Oz, I hadn't ridden much since I was a kid. So for some reason, I think when I get on the bike, I feel like I need to go really fast (something I also coincidentally feel like doing when driving), which isn't a good strategy because I just end up getting tired and have to stop peddling for a break. Then I slow way down, then the cycle continues.

But finally this week, I subconsciously (I guess) decided just to peddle slow and steady. Amazing! It's so much more fun now!!

I've learned some other things on my zen biking journey as well, like:

better understanding of how traffic here works... which will help me when I finally start driving;

what to do when your wheels are loose because the movers didn't put your bike back together properly... actually, this one requires a meltdown phone call to your husband so he can calmly give you instructions. But it all worked out;

it's not so bad wearing stretchy pants... at least while actually on the bike, anyway... off the bike, still not cool;

the bike helmet isn't that bad either... but I still don't see how it's going to protect anyone in a car collision, though. But everyone else has to wear them, too, so I don't feel like such a dork; and

riding my bike is a chance to smell the roses... or at times, the fish guts people leave on the sidewalk on the bridge. "Wow, the river smells fishy today... oh, it's just the fish guts on the ground..." But for real, some days the bike time may be the only time I spend outside all day, so why not enjoy it? You get to see all things you wouldn't normally see through the car window. (photos of which I'll post someday)

So along with getting my free daily exercise and free transportation, I'm starting to really enjoy bike riding.