Riding a Bicycle

The activity that I’ve lost interest in is riding my bicycle. I still own a bike, which has been hanging in the garage, gathering dust for over ten years now. I’ve always owned a bicycle, as far back as I can remember. As a teenager, I would often ride my bicycle from our little village in Merrickville to surrounding towns like Smiths Falls, Andrewsville, Burritts Rapids, and Kemptville to visit friends and relatives or attend events.

I really enjoyed riding my bicycle. I appreciated the benefits that came with it, such as a slim figure, strong legs, and increased endurance. I also learned to pace myself and have patience. Additionally, I learned to stay off the highway and take the backroads instead. Often, I would meet various people on my travels, including dog walkers, fellow cyclists, and people out for a stroll. Sometimes, I would ride alongside a stranger and we would strike up a conversation about our experiences or challenges. Some of these people became acquaintances, while others remained strangers.

As I got older, I used my bike as my primary mode of transportation to get to work and back home, since I didn’t have a car or driver’s license yet. Unfortunately, this also led to my bicycle being stolen on three separate occasions. The first time it happened was in September 1997. I had locked my shiny red Norco ten-speed outside my apartment building in the bike rack. It was 4 am, and I was getting ready for work when I heard a sound similar to a chain clanging. I didn’t think much of it and continued getting ready. However, when I stepped outside, I realized that my bike was gone. I had to walk to work until payday.

The second time my bicycle was stolen was when I stopped at a convenience store on my way to work to grab a drink. I had locked my cool, white, and red mountain bike, but it was gone when I came out just ten minutes later. Again, I had to walk to work and wait until payday to buy a new bike. After this incident, I decided to get my driver’s license and a car. However, I still enjoyed biking on weekends and days off, but now it was for pleasure rather than necessity. I would ride on local wildlife reserves and bike trails, and I had taken up photography to enjoy during my travels.

The third time my bicycle was stolen was on one of these trails. I had stopped for a bathroom break, and while I was in the outhouse, someone stole my blue metallic super-cycle mountain bike. I had to walk five miles back to the main road and then home. Although I was frustrated, I eventually got over it. As the years passed, I found myself heading out to the trails less and less. It’s been a good ten years now since I’ve gone for a decent ride. However, writing this post has inspired me to consider giving it another try this spring.