Borrowing a line
from a book I am currently reading "One of the best ways to put me in a
good mood, is to put me on a bike". I've lost count of the number of
times my day has started off a little sluggish or indifferent, but has
dramatically improved by the time I get on my bike, riding to work. Come the
warmer months and these moments of happiness increase exponentially. I am sure I
am not the only one with this suite of emotions.
Bicycle Victoria
has been phenomenal in getting the riding movement an impetus by organising
fantastic rides and incentives for people to keep riding. As part of their
yearly programs, they organise the Ride2Work Day each year around October.
"The
Ride2Work Program is a nationally run, year round program that encourages
thousands of Australians to get started and keep them riding to work."
(Ride2Work)
I've sorely
missed participating in this event last 2 years, due to some bizarre reasons:
a. 2011 - Lack of
coordination. I had most of the things I needed for the ride in, set up the
previous night, but forgot to take care of a puncture.
b. 2012 - No
bike! I sold off my old one, hoping I would be in possession of the newer one
before the event, but that didn't happen and I was left twiddling my thumbs.
Got my bike off the train at South
Kensington this morning and rode the rest of the way to Docklands, one of the
locations for the community breakfast. I am usually aware of the number of
cyclists that use this path to the city (Riding in 3 degrees), but this morning, the
army kept coming. Road bikes, mountain bikes, BMXs, fixies, single-speed,
folding – they were all there. The usual route past Costco (the one with the
heavenly smell originating from the Costco bakery) was closed off for repairs,
so had to do a bit of a detour back of the Costco store. The newly assembled
Melbourne Star looked ready, but a tad uncertain. A sea of lycra descended on
at the NAB forecourt (Docklands).
There was free coffee (one of
those great joys, especially when taken at the end of the bike ride), fruits,
scrolls and other goodies. After meandering around the stalls, I got my bike
engraved (for easy police identification, should it get nicked) and also
contemplated a quick massage. Caffeine was probably the need of the hour, so
the queue outside the makeshift coffee joint was enormous. A few non-cyclists
also sauntered in, eyeing the freebies on offer.
It was good to see so many people
actively riding in to work. I mean, who wouldn't given Melbourne’s generously
flat terrain?
As I wound my way back from the
event, braving the crazy winds, along La Trobe St and up Peel St, right
alongside a bare and unusually quiet (because of the weekly off) Victoria
Market, I couldn't wait to get stuck into my protein/muesli bars, secured
liberally at the community event.
A few more noble souls rode past my
workplace, reminding me of a H.G. Wells quote “Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I have hope for the human race”.
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