Today is the brief account of how I came to be cycling to work and some of the trials I have encountered so far. It all started with wanting to live in place with more community than the city. A place where people say hello and look out for each other. A place where the children can feel safe. A place where we can connect to nature. A place where the pace of life is more relaxed. So in late May we moved to our house in a small town (a village really but it likes to call itself a town) in the Devon countryside.
Faced now with a 10.9 mile commute to work I had three choices: going by car (horrible - see the first blog entry); going by bus (good for reading but expensive); or cycling (wonderful - see the first blog entry). It all started off so well. The cycle ride was wonderful, refreshing, and peaceful . All that I needed was a new bike more suited to the longer route. So after a couple of weeks I ordered a new bike through the work cycle scheme.
On the very same day disaster ... I tangled with a car. Car dented, bike written off, Duncan only bruised and cut (a very lucky man!!). My poor old bike. I was going to keep it as a spare. It served me so well for seven years.
The next three weeks were a waiting game. When was the new bike going to arrive? I'm lucky to be alive, should I get on a bike again? Why is the bus so expensive? Then a week ago today my new Specialist Sirrus Sport was ready to be picked up (more to come on this later). I catch the bus into Exeter. Pick up the bike and cycle to work. My confidence has gone. The traffic scares me. I see danger everywhere . Can I do this? Wouldn't t be better to use the bus? At the end of the working day I start cycling home. The bike is great; comfortable and light with little road drag. How did I do the journey on my old bike? This bike is a joy to cycle. There is one slight drawback. Me. My confidence is shot. I go so slowly I might as well walk. I'm scared as I cycle through Exeter. Then I reach the lanes. I start to feel better, although I still take it easy and am cautious.
The next day is better. The headwind is a killer. Not far off gale force. Blows over a tree in our garden. But the countryside inspires me, my confidence slowly returns. The rain is lashing down and the wind is howling. It's good the feel the elements. I feel alive.
Once bitten, twice shy, but you'll be a better cyclist for it once you've settled back into life in the slow lane. Well done for persevering and not retreating to the dull predictable safety of the bus or dull unpredictable danger of the car!
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