Over the past few months I have been taking part in the racing league up at Tameside circuit. It is certainly fun and a great thrill to be racing with what are some of the faster cyclists in the area. This week as I was pounding my way around the track, my legs on fire, my muscles screaming at me to stop. Even as I felt like I was turning my lungs inside out as I could hear my own pulse banging in my ears. I was still loving every minute.
Why?
I think the reason I love cycling and racing at the track is to know I can push myself and my machine (however mainly just myself) to my limit and keep on going.
I can do this safe in the knowledge that the only chance of me being killed will be my own doing. I will hopefully not be one of these office bound business types that manages to have a heart attack whilst playing squash etc. and with a good healthy lifestyle I am intending to live forever!
That is racing and living healthy.
Part of my good healthy living lifestyle is also cycling to work everyday (or near enough).
My daily commute takes me though Hyde. Down the A57 into Denton, across the M60, then again on the A57 all the way to the city centre.
A fairly straightforward and simple route that at 9 miles each way you would think shouldn't be a problem.
In actual fact I am more at risk on this route of being killed by a driver just not having a good morning, busy talking on their phone, in a rush so ignoring the lights today, or just have the attitude that cyclists should not get in their way.
This morning was a prime example of several of these in one fol swoop.
I driver using a mobile phone, passed me so close that the wing mirror hit my right hand. Thankfully I am quite good at my bike handling so thankfully I managed to stay up with only a minor wobble!
As I carried on down the road (no the driver didn't stop even after I shouted "TOO CLOSE!" I did eventually catch them at the lights in Denton. Not much effort involved driving by car is far slower than using a bike in real terms.
When I asked the driver why they got so close as usual I got the shouts of abuse and you shouldn't have been in the middle of the road, you don't pay road tax etc.
Really amazes me in all honesty that this is how some people think they can treat other human beings.
This type of behaviour is what I see daily.
Now I have previously worked as a professional driver. I hold a full HGV (class1), bus/coach licence, plus I even qualified and worked as transport manager. I obviously hold a car licence and have been driving since I passed my test back in 1996.
The drivers I see on the roads today have to be some of the worst I have ever seen. Not just as a motorist but as a cyclist too.
Its really not hard to give someone room. Slow down. Pay attention to the road markings. It's everyone's responsibility to look after each other. If your driving, walking, cycling or any other mode of transport. The bigger you are the more responsibility you have.
Cycling to work is something I love doing because I get to work feeling great, park for free. Have a nice shower when I get to work, it's cheaper and quicker than any other way of commuting. I kid you not! It would take me the best part of 1 1/2 hours to drive the 9 miles to work. Then I would have to find somewhere to park. Plus the cost of fuel and parking. Then I would have to continue on foot as unlike when I cycle I would not be able to park in the building I work in.
The only down point about cycling is having to put up with the abuse and murderous attitudes some drivers put out, plus having to slow down for all the motorists as they sit in metal boxes isolated from each other and the world outside.
When I cycle, I regularly have a quick chat with other cyclists as we sit at red lights, or just get stuck in traffic and are unable to filter past. It's a really nice social thing.
If you see me out there give me a nod or a wave and you will get one back. If I pass you or you pass me say hello, I always do.
It's great to have the community attitude, the communication, the recovery of the lost society! Of course the shared suffering too.
All cyclist love it, but for those that don't ride it just seems lost and they will never know what they are missing.
Happy cycling. :)
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