The people you meet..
When I ride the push bike, I generally have a smile, or an attempt to smile as I catch my breath at some segments...
And I try hard to say good morning or hello to the people I pass.
And I do it because sometimes, just sometimes, they'll smile back.
I used to do it when I took public transport too... to ensure I had a relaxed, friendly smile - that it might brighten someones day, or at the very least confuse the hell out of the person who can't understand what I'm smiling about...
Just like any group, there are friendly and unfriendly people - people who are focused on something, people who aren't paying any attention, people who hate fat people, people who love seeing fat people exercising... I see all these faces and while the stories behind their eyes are just a theory in my mind, I see a myriad of possibilities in the community I meet each time I ride.
I look forward to seeing some of the regulars - the older gentleman who is always standing outside his house between 7:30 - 8:30am and if I catch his eye we both nod and smile at each other - that perks me up.
I find it interesting which cyclists are willing to talk when we're stopped at traffic lights - it's not a lot of people. And I seem to be the only one that laughs/enjoys/self coaches herself. There was a guy today on his mountain bike trying to make it a bit of fun taking some bumps and getting a little lift and I laughted. Yesterday I was passed very quickly on the one big incline that still gets me - by a guy on an electric bike - I laughed and said "hey, that's cheating" as he rolled up the hill... The next guy who passed was just bloody fit... I said "fair enough"...
I find myself also counting as I push to stay in higher gears for longer... and I count out aloud. I tell myself to "come on" "focus"... all those things and I do it out loud. I just don't seem to find others doing that.
I've always said that I have two speeds when I cycle - the fastest I can do, and stopped. Maybe that's why I've never understood how people can ride and talk at the same time... But anyway - thanks to an unexpected warm burst in autumn I've been enjoying some lovely commutes to work again... And with the long sleeved tops supposedly still coming... they might arrive soon enough for me to be able to wear them when this beauty stops.
At least... for now... it's been relatively dry and I've been enjoying the observations of my travels!
And I try hard to say good morning or hello to the people I pass.
And I do it because sometimes, just sometimes, they'll smile back.
I used to do it when I took public transport too... to ensure I had a relaxed, friendly smile - that it might brighten someones day, or at the very least confuse the hell out of the person who can't understand what I'm smiling about...
Just like any group, there are friendly and unfriendly people - people who are focused on something, people who aren't paying any attention, people who hate fat people, people who love seeing fat people exercising... I see all these faces and while the stories behind their eyes are just a theory in my mind, I see a myriad of possibilities in the community I meet each time I ride.
I look forward to seeing some of the regulars - the older gentleman who is always standing outside his house between 7:30 - 8:30am and if I catch his eye we both nod and smile at each other - that perks me up.
I find it interesting which cyclists are willing to talk when we're stopped at traffic lights - it's not a lot of people. And I seem to be the only one that laughs/enjoys/self coaches herself. There was a guy today on his mountain bike trying to make it a bit of fun taking some bumps and getting a little lift and I laughted. Yesterday I was passed very quickly on the one big incline that still gets me - by a guy on an electric bike - I laughed and said "hey, that's cheating" as he rolled up the hill... The next guy who passed was just bloody fit... I said "fair enough"...
I find myself also counting as I push to stay in higher gears for longer... and I count out aloud. I tell myself to "come on" "focus"... all those things and I do it out loud. I just don't seem to find others doing that.
I've always said that I have two speeds when I cycle - the fastest I can do, and stopped. Maybe that's why I've never understood how people can ride and talk at the same time... But anyway - thanks to an unexpected warm burst in autumn I've been enjoying some lovely commutes to work again... And with the long sleeved tops supposedly still coming... they might arrive soon enough for me to be able to wear them when this beauty stops.
At least... for now... it's been relatively dry and I've been enjoying the observations of my travels!