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I like to pretend to my coworkers that riding my bike to work is really the most natural thing I could do. It’s fun, it’s relaxing, it’s…
…often quite hard to motivate myself out the door.
I’m always glad I did, but there are plenty of times when I wake up thinking about my over-stuffed to do list and ask: Why on earth would I add an extra 90 minutes to my commute time? I’m always hunting for spare minutes to write fiction, or finish a project, or make lunch, or what have you, and here’s a solid hour and a half just staring me right in the face.
“Oh, but it’s so fun!” I tell my coworkers. You know, except for the part where I’m on a shoulderless, bike lane-less road with cars whizzing by at 50 mph, gripping my handlebars so hard that I can barely unclench them once I’m off the bike, swearing at everyone who passes me, whether they deserve it or not.
“It’s great exercise!” That’s true. And I do need to take time for that. Other people head to the gym, which sounds miserable. Would I rather spend two hours on a stationary bike surrounded by other sweaty people while we all watch fluffy news programs, or spend two hours actually getting somewhere? Count me in for the latter.
“It’s relaxing!” Hell no, it’s not. When I finally get to the trail I’m so frazzled by the close encounters of the previous 3 miles that I usually spend the next 9 miles formulating vitriolic rants inside my head. This is something I’m working on, though. I’ve been sporadically practicing yoga since my crash in April, and I’m trying to apply some of the breathing techniques to my riding.
It kind of works.
Me: How much effort does it take to change lanes? It’s a two lane road with no one else around, so why do you need to zip by just off my elbow? Give me some space, dammit!
Breathe in.
What the hell, you asshole, can’t you even fu–
Breathe out.
Get out of your car you fat–
Breathe in.
Stupid, miserable
Breathe out.
Jerk.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Look! Goslings! Aww, how sweet!
Breathe in.
Man. What a great day for a bike ride!
Breathe out.
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Oh no! You’ve given away the bike commuter secrets. Eeeee! Bunnies!
I see so many bunnies on the trail!
Bunnies!!! It’s duckling and fawn season along my when-not-in-a-hurry commute route. Just a glimpse makes the whole day melt away.