From the Rider's Point of View: An Odyssey into the Mind of a Cycling Enthusiast

Riding a bicycle almost seems very ordinary to the casual person as they make their daily commute every day in the family car to their every day jobs or to take the kids to school. They see a person wearing a helmet and struggling as they pump their legs against the pedals and a mesh of gears and wires that are strapped to an aluminum alloy frame. But, is that all that can really be seen when it comes to the bicycle rider? Are they simply just that, or are they perhaps something more than merely an eccentricity upon the road?

Before automobiles were even invented by the late, great Henry Ford, people got around to their appointed destinations by other means, such as horse and buggy, train, or they may have simply just walked if they needed to go somewhere. But, when the idea of the bicycle was first though of by Baron von Drais, (*who then called it a 'Draisenne' or 'walking machine'), in 1817 as a means of getting around the gardens of his large estate, it turned into one of the newest and biggest transportation evolutions there ever was, making cycling in existence a lot longer than the auto. Of course, it has went through several changes over the years, such as from not having pedals to having pedlas, wooden wheels to metal wheels, big front tires to tires of the same size, some with spokes and some without, and so on. Now, we have the good old simple type which is called "the mountain bike", with its sturdy and heavy aluminum alloy body, large tires, bigger and faster gears and gear ratios and faster speeds.

But, for some strange reason, there is still scrutiny from motorists over those that ride bikes. Have they ever really thought of why a person even rides a bike? The most typical responses that I have heard are as follows:

1) "He must have lost his license because of too many DUI's."

2) "He's a hippie and tree-hugger trying to make some sort of political statement."

3) "He must be gay if he's never driven before."

There are a great and many multitude of reasons for people becoming cyclists, and they are not always in the negative context. For example, did you know there is an actual association that is for people who ride bikes? It was established during the Gay Nineties and was known as The League of American Wheelmen (*today it is known as the League of American Bicyclists), who support bicyclists and actually provide services such as safe bicycle routes to schools for children, bicycle shows, riding groups, and etc. Does this actually sound like a negative aspect toward those who ride bicycles? Logically, I would have to say no.

Information concerning the ecological benefits of cycling could also be a point. For every four miles that a person cycles, they take fifteen pounds of pollution out of the air, helping our enviornment and making a decrease in the greenhouse effect. Even if it is only a short ride, a rider can take almost four pounds, which is a significant step towards the halting of this effect on our planet. A fact that most motorists do not know is that our air is polluted three times faster on a short trip than it is on a long trip, which means that for every short jaunt a driver takes, he is putting three times as much emissions in our air, therefore causing such things as smog and air pollution. Maybe this cycling thing is not starting to sound so bad?

Maybe it is perhaps economic, as it has been found that when people ride bikes, use buses, and maybe even an occassional taxi now and then, they can save nearly 25 % of their yearly annual income. You know that second honeymoon you were thinking about? That could perhaps become a reality if a person were to purchase the bike and the gear needed, allowing them to save even more for that special occassion. Also, bicycle maintenance, by far, is a lot cheaper than auto maintenance. Where a car owner may pay $300 or more at their local mechanic for car repairs, at a bicycle shop, for something as simple as needing a new rim for the bike, altogether it may run you slightly over $50. Again, cash that goes back to the person's bank acount.

Lastly, a person may ride for health reasons. I, myself fall into that category as I have high blood pressure, arthritis, and bursitis. It has been proven medically that riding a bicycle or any kind of exercise can lower blood pressure, speed metabolism, lower stress, and above all else, make you have a better mood and attiude towards your life and/or job.

So meanwhile, before judgement is passed on cyclists from the local motorists of any community, perhaps take a moment to think of what it's like while you are sitting waiting for the light to change. While you may be a car owner and have easy access to wherever it is you want to go, there is also the subsequent realities of traffic jams, congestion, high gas prices, auto repairs and so forth.

Before you go and try to make a decision of who is wiser, why don't you think of giving cycling a try? It will help you, help the planet, and even help your pocketbook. In the end, you may feel better for it!