modern life vs. human nature

Riding a bike makes you healthier. It is a simple fact. If you ride more you feel better, look better make love better and well..isn’t that all that matters. Well, no. The indirect benefit is that you are actually being good to the planet and to others by not polluting their air. While that is no reason to feel bad about driving a car for long errands or work related trips, it is definitely a reason to feel bad about those short trips. Just think by getting on a bike every so often you are less likely to get a “beer gut”  guys and/or “thunder thighs” ladies.

But what really got me back to this topic was this fantastic article in the New York Times about biking.  The two things that hit me about this article were this:

1) Someone else agreed with me that helmets are a not a necessity for riding.

2) Bike zealots are not helping to increase the idea that biking is for everyone.

In short, I will never wear spandex when riding because no one needs to see the shapes of my private parts dangling around a bike seat. I will never wear a reflective orange and yellow “X” style vest because I will look like an idiot. I will not ride an expensive bike and talk about the cranks, brakes, rims or any other tiny, absurd details that make my bike a “pretentious toy”.

To all those people who do these things I say read this article and stop being so judgemental. You will enjoy the ride much more if you understand that anyone on two wheels is your compatriot.

Enjoy.