Rambling Roads

A Reason to Ride
by Jeff Beilfuss
February 2010

In the last Rambling Roads I quoted Mark Twain on his first experience with the bicycle: “I renewed my youth, to outward appearance, by mounting a bicycle for the first time.” Imagine old Mark clad in spandex and a glow-in-the-dark jersey, cigar in his mouth, and mounted on one of those big-wheels that was later replaced by the “safety bicycle.” His inner youth may not have been renewed, but anyone watching his demonstration of this death-defying feat most certainly had their inner youth renewed by the shear force of laughter.

The bicycle is often taken for granted as it has been around for at least 130 years in the pedal form. If it would have been invented during the oil embargos of the 1970’s it would have been heralded as one of the greatest breakthroughs in personal transportation. But alas, it was just something that was an anachronism, a quaint device for children to use before graduating to their first cars and lives of couch-potato living. A lot has changed since the late 19^th century of Mark Twain, and a lot has changed since the 1970’s. One thing that has not changed is the never-ending quest for that youthful vigor, both inner and outer.

With the rapid changes occurring today it doesn’t take much for something to become an anachronism, out-dated, and relegated to the junkyard of our memories. That is even done with people. The old get pushed aside for the more ‘enlightened’ youth culture. The new technology displaces the old and once advanced technology of the past. Snail mail was replaced by the faster e-mail and if that wasn’t fast enough, e-mail is now being replaced by instant messaging. First came steel bikes, then aluminum and now the ultimate carbon fiber is everywhere. And who would want one of the big clunky speedometers of the past when a computer the size of a wristwatch can be mounted on your handlebars. How fast am I going? How far did I go? Not enough! What’s my heart rate, my cadence, elevation gain, calories burned, ETA, average speed, maximum speed, slope grade, current temperature and…

I ended the last paragraph with the word ‘and’ because a recent article on technology asked the reader to recall the greeting, “What's new?" and to ponder the word ‘new’ has been replaced by the work ‘next.’ The danger in pursuing ‘next’ is it can lead to unhappiness and disappointment. The next thing always becomes the old thing. So, ask yourself why you started bicycling in the first place. Was it for the pursuit of the next latest-and-greatest bike or gadget, or was it just for the joy of moving under your own power and enjoying the wind and sun on your face? Are you in a rush to be in a bigger rush? Does the finish line seem farther away the faster you go? Just enjoy the adventure wherever it may take you and be safe in your travels.