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Not everyone who wears lycra is the enemy.
I just wish I could stop sneezing. Riding home from the lecture last night (which BTW was amazing!) all I could do was smell tree pollen and avoid bottle brush in an attempt to not get more sick than I was already going to get. I enjoy riding, but riding through flying pollen attacks is less than optimal. I also enjoyed riding into work this morning and I have reached my initial goal of riding 50kms this challenge. Low I know it seems, given my boyfriend can smash out 90kms in an afternoon without working up a sweat (that last bit was a lie), but I don't live very far away from things and my bike is really really hard to ride. It's like when the website tells you that a 15km ride will be very plesant and not take long and I'm like, DUDE have you ever ridden my bike? It's awful. You'll get sweaty after a couple of K's. And it's hard and I have to keep reminding myself to pedal and that I can get up that small incline because I did it yesterday or the day before that. I once lost a broccoli on a street pedalling up a hill, and I didn't realise til I got home and wanted to cook it. At any rate, I'm proud of my achievement and I have another few weeks to see if I can get to 100kms. I doubt this will happen, I think I will fall just short. If I hadn't been in Melbourne the first week I would have gotten there. Maybe this means more cycling, I don't know if I can rise to that challenge. Between the pollen and the working it just doesn't seem like it's going to happen. I am not spiralling into depression, becoming unenthused or giving up. Not at all... I'm just, respecting my boundaries and being realistic. I need to do my tax.
Speaking of all those things, pollen, tax and goals that dangle above us, I would like to talk about something very similar; lycra. To many of us who are confused by people who wear this material and who have had bad encounters with those who are clad as such, it can be like the above. Irritating, infuriating and intimidating. There is an important story in this; for every lycra wearing and super fast cyclist who nearly knocks you off your little push bike, there is another who wears lyrca when racing or riding for sport and who would gladly wear normal clothes and ride with you, look stylish and even, lord forbid, help you if you are in trouble. Knowing how to take care of yourself on a bike is important, but it's also important to remember that if you did get into a pickle, these are the people most likely to be able to help. These are the people most likely to have a spare tube or patching equipment, to know the nearest cycle shop and to be able to give you some help. It might be awful to think we might have to ask, but at the same time, it's important not to fear them. I'd like to think some of them are, after all, human beings. I know a few of them who are; my boyfriend for one. He's seen crazy cyclists speed past me and nearly knock me off my bike and he's raised his fist to the heavens and cursed after them, and I am sure he would do the same for you. I'm sure he's nearly been hit himself by some and likewise, he's probably ridden along with people he doesn't know just for the joy of riding. Maybe we'll never be fast enough to do that, and that's fine, but I think it's nice to believe that there are some people who you'd be able to catch on their bikes, complete strangers, and be able to ride with. I wonder if I can do that.
Also, lycra (I am told) is easier to cycle in. Now, I have thought about this scientifically and it seems sound. I for one know how annoying it is when your skirt blows up in the head wind on the way to work, lycra doesn't blow up, but it also means they can ride in more comfort and faster. If you are anything like me, the prospect of going faster is enough to make you want to ride in 3 woolen jumpers to weigh you down, but I guess some people like that feeling. And helmets seem to be built on similar premises. Again, if you are like me, the rounder skate helmet looks cooler and so I wear that instead, but I have seen some sleek helmets on ladies that looked very cool. I have also seen Andy Schleck be cheated out of a Tour Win (subjective opinion) and do some CRAZY stunts to catch up. It was AMAZING and the aerodynamics of that technology are very interesting to me. Plus I totally roll down my street making myself as small and bullet like as possible to emulate that ride in some small way. Seriously, I did it this morning. It might be sad, but it WAS also a little fun.
So be kind you your fellow cyclist even if he's awful to you. We are better than that. And maybe if they stop thinking the world hates them, they'll have no need to hate the world.
And now, to press onto things that are in no way shape or form lycra, please see today's Star Lady Pin Up, Kate Hudson. I love this picture because she looks so business dressed and it would be really cool to see more ladies dressed such and riding into work. It's a very good look. There has to be a mindset change; that you CAN ride in everyday and even stylish clothes, that you don't have to ride far to be a cyclist and that sport and going to the local pub (or comic book store) in a singlet and jeans (or a huge Alice dress) can coexist.
Speaking of all those things, pollen, tax and goals that dangle above us, I would like to talk about something very similar; lycra. To many of us who are confused by people who wear this material and who have had bad encounters with those who are clad as such, it can be like the above. Irritating, infuriating and intimidating. There is an important story in this; for every lycra wearing and super fast cyclist who nearly knocks you off your little push bike, there is another who wears lyrca when racing or riding for sport and who would gladly wear normal clothes and ride with you, look stylish and even, lord forbid, help you if you are in trouble. Knowing how to take care of yourself on a bike is important, but it's also important to remember that if you did get into a pickle, these are the people most likely to be able to help. These are the people most likely to have a spare tube or patching equipment, to know the nearest cycle shop and to be able to give you some help. It might be awful to think we might have to ask, but at the same time, it's important not to fear them. I'd like to think some of them are, after all, human beings. I know a few of them who are; my boyfriend for one. He's seen crazy cyclists speed past me and nearly knock me off my bike and he's raised his fist to the heavens and cursed after them, and I am sure he would do the same for you. I'm sure he's nearly been hit himself by some and likewise, he's probably ridden along with people he doesn't know just for the joy of riding. Maybe we'll never be fast enough to do that, and that's fine, but I think it's nice to believe that there are some people who you'd be able to catch on their bikes, complete strangers, and be able to ride with. I wonder if I can do that.
Also, lycra (I am told) is easier to cycle in. Now, I have thought about this scientifically and it seems sound. I for one know how annoying it is when your skirt blows up in the head wind on the way to work, lycra doesn't blow up, but it also means they can ride in more comfort and faster. If you are anything like me, the prospect of going faster is enough to make you want to ride in 3 woolen jumpers to weigh you down, but I guess some people like that feeling. And helmets seem to be built on similar premises. Again, if you are like me, the rounder skate helmet looks cooler and so I wear that instead, but I have seen some sleek helmets on ladies that looked very cool. I have also seen Andy Schleck be cheated out of a Tour Win (subjective opinion) and do some CRAZY stunts to catch up. It was AMAZING and the aerodynamics of that technology are very interesting to me. Plus I totally roll down my street making myself as small and bullet like as possible to emulate that ride in some small way. Seriously, I did it this morning. It might be sad, but it WAS also a little fun.
So be kind you your fellow cyclist even if he's awful to you. We are better than that. And maybe if they stop thinking the world hates them, they'll have no need to hate the world.
And now, to press onto things that are in no way shape or form lycra, please see today's Star Lady Pin Up, Kate Hudson. I love this picture because she looks so business dressed and it would be really cool to see more ladies dressed such and riding into work. It's a very good look. There has to be a mindset change; that you CAN ride in everyday and even stylish clothes, that you don't have to ride far to be a cyclist and that sport and going to the local pub (or comic book store) in a singlet and jeans (or a huge Alice dress) can coexist.