My Life on Two Wheels

There are a couple of posts here. One is the short 350 word article publishedby the Kansas city Star on their Op-Ed page. It's pretty bland. So I decided to also put up the original article as well. Hope you enjoy! It was titled (by the Op ed Editor--

"Riding A Bike Is A Lifetime Thrill"

I must be honest and state initially that I am an unabashed bicycle enthusiast and you will hear only one side of the story from me.

I currently own two bikes. Over the years since adolescence, some 50+ years ago, I have probably owned around 20. So, I confess to a certain unassailable and nearly fanatical love affair with the bicycle.

H.G. Wells once said he would “never despair for the human race as long as he saw adults on bicycles.” Each time I ride, I feel better about myself for numerous reasons. I’m improving my own health for one. For another, by not driving my trusty, rusty, dusty car, so I’m not polluting anybody’s air. And so forth as you’ve heard from far smarter fellows than myself. The way in which I move my overage, overweight body on a bike has not changed for more than a century since the bicycle was invented. It is elegant, efficient and except for the spandex tights, almost beautiful.

The growing bicycling community proves it to be a serious mode of transportation, a serious vehicle for recreation, a serious vehicle for competition and a very serious object for debate about its place in transportation planning. Look at the websites devoted to bicycling in the Kansas and Missouri area straddling the state line. There are at least 10 websites that I know of that cover it (I’m sure there are more as can be attested to by better informed cyclists than myself).

There are lots of things to talk about when you talk about bikes. There’s bicycle safety, bike lanes, trails, helmets, sharing the road with cars and cars sharing the road with us. I want to do my part as just about every cyclist I know wants to do his or hers.

So lets talk. If you disagree, let’s talk about that. Dialogue is good; maybe we’ll both learn something. Just don’t try and talk me out of riding my bike – 50 years, a few spills, stolen bikes, long grinding hills and the laughter of onlookers haven’t persuaded me to get off my saddle (bicycle seat) so you probably won’t.

This article is the original as I wrote it before chopping it up to fit!

 

From above the handlebars by Karta Purkh S Khalsa

I must be honest and state initially that I am an unabashed bicycle enthusiast and you will hear only one side of the story from me. If you disagree, let’s talk about it. Dialogue is good; maybe we’ll both learn something. For now, here’s my part of the story.

I currently own two bikes. Over the years since adolescence, some 50+ years ago, I have probably owned around 20. One I inherited from an older sister (How embarrassing was that for a young male?) Another I hand built from the ground up using trashed or used parts from other bikes and with the help of a skilled and compassionate mechanic. Another I bought brand spanking new, a graceful birthday present from my kindly wife. I have had bikes stolen (two) and I’ve given one away – it’s now somewhere in Africa rolling down some dusty path I hope. All the others have been somewhere in between those extremes. I’ve enjoyed them all in one way or another, whether I have been speeding down some large hills on the coast of northern California or struggling up the long hill to Crater lake in Oregon. Another trailed a group of teenagers as we toured Nova Scotia for 40 days and nights with me as the barely-older-than-them leader. My cycling history also includes a few trips over the handlebars and sliding along now-bloodied asphalt. So, I confess to a certain unassailable and nearly fanatical love affair with the bicycle.

As H.G. Wells once said he would “never despair for the human race as long as he saw adults on bicycles.” Each time I ride, I feel better about myself for numerous reasons. I’m improving my own health for one. For another, by not driving my trusty, rusty, dusty car, so I’m not polluting anybody’s air. And so forth as you’ve heard from far smarter fellows than myself. The way in which I move my overage, overweight body on a bike has not changed for more than a century since the bicycle was invented. It is elegant, efficient and except for the spandex tights, almost beautiful.

The growing bicycling community proves it to be a serious mode of transportation, a serious vehicle for recreation, a serious vehicle for competition and a very serious object for debate about its place in transportation planning. Look at the websites devoted to bicycling in the Kansas and Missouri area straddling the state line. There are at least 10 websites that I know of that cover it (I’m sure there are more as can be attested to by better informed cyclists than myself).

We can also open the Yellow Pages under bicycles and note the number of businesses that sell bicycles and service the needs of the bicycling community. Then there's the Tour of Missouri -- ("The Tour put Missouri in a positive light on an international stage,” Missouri Bicycling Federation director Brent Hugh said. “ Supportive comments have come in from all over the country and the world. The Tour was a great investment in Missouri's future and has put the state out there as a great place to visit and to live. We think the 2008 Tour will be even more successful.") Also, the recent National Cyclocross Championships held in the mud and slush and ice of Wyandotte County Park last year. Yes a lot of that popularity is due to a certain lean and lanky, kick-ass cancer beater from Texas who showed the world what Americans are made of seven freaking years in a row. But all it was really was confirmation of what many of us already knew. Bicycling’s fun!

There are lots of things to talk about when you talk about bikes. There’s bicycle safety, bike lanes, trails, helmets, sharing the road with cars and cars sharing the road with us. I want to do my part as just about every cyclist I know wants to do his or hers. .

Comments

[sat ganesha]

Yo! Another 3HO/Sikh who is into bicycling...wish I would have known years ago then I could have ridden Crater Lake with you. My miles are not a much anymore...but I am considering...keep going!

[Dayajyotikaur]

I would love to invite you to cross country Iowa Statewide bicycling called Ragbrai.
A Khalsa coordinate.(?)

Fifty plus Schwinn Spitfire 5 training in snowfields of some depth.

Whaeguruji
enjoyed your post.