As easy as riding a bicycle?

        Hello, lovelies. 

                With our roads partially closed due to the local council's bid to help maintain pedestrian and cyclists social distancing, should we be embracing the gridlock that is now an everyday occurrence? Can we struggle through the tailgating streams of cars in order to help slow the spread of this deadly virus? Or has the government gone mad, and is implementing a knee jerk reaction to their disastrous late response to the pandemic? Should we be ditching the cars and jumping on our bikes? Or is that just not realistic in this modern-day and age? 

    

            I love my car. I use it every day, either in driving to one of my four jobs, using it for shopping or just acting as the proverbial taxi of Mum. But I honestly don't know what I'd do without it. Over the years I have tried to use public transport, but with mixed results. I love using the underground. I'm not too keen on being pushed and shoved when it comes to rush hour, but with Cornia, we all stay a very healthy distance from each other. But on a train, I can switch my brain off and sit, if there are any seats available, and open my travel book of Su-Doku, and just whiz up to my great city of London, knowing that I don't have to pay the congestion charge, find parking and remember to fill up my petrol tank before I go, as the price for fuel in town is sky-high. I can just sit back and try to figure out my latest Su-Doku grid. Then there's the added joy of having a free book swap at the entrance to the station. I can't tell you the immense joy of finding a really good, free book. The downside is having to carry them all home with me.    

            And with busses, I have mixed feelings about them. My 2 youngest children ride them every day to and from school, and in principle they're great. But I have seen a lot more conflict on public busses than on a train.  I had to intervene on a bus last week when a man tried to sit on a seat right next to a pregnant woman. The seat had been closed off for social distancing, but he was adamant that he wanted to sit there. So in order to keep the peace, I offered him my seat, which he took without a please or thank you. It was then that I regretted picking up all those free books. I also find that only about half of the passengers use face masks and most that do wear them only cover their mouths and not their noses. So for me, busses are not the best way to get around. But what's the other option? Maybe I could use one of those new fancy electric scooter things? But in knowing me, it's probably better that I don't. But there is one thing I could try. My bike.

        When I was a child, I loved riding my bike.  As a teenager, I had a BMX, and I was the bee's knees on that. I could ride around the streets for hours. But I haven't ridden a bike in years, or, to be more precise, in decades. But it can't be that hard, surely? And as they say, 'It's as easy as riding a bike.' I do own a bike. I managed to pick it up a couple of years ago for free, and it has been sitting in my garden ever since. And with only a bit of TLC and a trip to the bike shop for a new bike chain, 2 new wheels and a serious look at the breaks, I have a functioning bike. It looks amazing. All I need to add is a wicker basket and I'm set. With my children raring to go for a bike with me, we all jump on our bikes and head off. Well, I say head off. I managed to get to the end of my driveway before I felt the tiny seat almost disappear to a place that must go unnamed. I watched as my children zoomed off and I was still only feet away from my front door. So with gritted teeth, I slowly began to ride my bike. With one revolution of the wheels, I felt that I wasn't doing too badly. By the time the wheels had gone round twice, I felt my thigh muscles turn to jelly. And by the time I had reached the end of the road, I knew that I probably would never be able to walk again. What had happened to me?   I used to be able to jump on my bike and ride anywhere, and now the razor-like seat bad been inserted to my body. I had throbbing, aching legs and was breathing more heavily than if I had walked all the way from London to Timbuctoo. Is this really better than jumping in my car and driving to wherever it is I want to go? 

        I know that cycling can help in the fight towards some really serious diseases. These can vary from strokes, heart attacks, depression, diabetes, obesity, arthritis and some cancers. Jumping on your bike and going for a ride is a healthy, low-impact, fun form of exercise that can be enjoyed by everyone of all ages. It can be attained by any household income, as you can regularly pick up a bike of your local Freecycle, that with some small care can have you visiting places that you never knew existed. What a super quick thing to pop into your daily routine for the shops, school run, local park or to work. 

        So cycling is so beneficial for our health and fitness. It only takes between 2 and 4 hours a week to help improve your general health. It's low impact, causing less strain and injuries than other forms of exercise. It helps work out your muscles, and all this without needing a high level of physical skill. It helps with strength and stamina. You can start off slowly, then build up to some serious workouts. And the best part of all, it's free. And that's a price I really like. 

        It can also save you time, as it's easier for bikes to move through our stagnant traffic. And you don't have to have any contact with anyone else while you are riding. It also has a very low carbon footprint. And the upkeep costs are minimal. 

            So apart from helping me keep fit, reducing our carbon footprint, helping to unblock the vehicle packed roads, riding is a fun free mode of transport. But is it practical for my everyday needs? Sadly it isn't.  Between my jobs, sometimes I do 3 different jobs in one day, I can't afford the time to get from one place to another. I usually go shopping and buy too much to be able to carry on a bike. And it's not always safe for cyclists on our roads. But thats for another blog.    

        So what's the answer? I believe that if I begin slowly, build up my stamina, maybe I would be able to work my bike into my daily life. I can't change my motor hadits over night, but I can make a start. Reducing my need for fosil fuels, and a reduction of carbon dioxide can only be for the better.  

            So as I sat on my bike and slowly made my way towards my children, we all, slowly, made our way to the park. They didn't mind my slowness, but they loved that I was able to ride with them. For me the journey was worth it. I loved seeing my children laughing as I walked like a cowboy for the rest of the day. And that is what it is all about.