Bike

Post date: Nov 13, 2015 6:40:28 AM

My mom rides a bike. Ever since I can remember, she has been riding one everywhere she goes. She goes to the market, church, social gatherings, and many more. She practically uses it as her legs. When she rides, she kicks her foot on the ground a couple of times and jumps up onto the seat. Then, with a very straight back she rides it. In summer, she wears a sun shade and in winter, she wears a hat, but she never wears a helmet.

Now I ride a bike. I go to all my yoga classes with my bike. In the beginning, I used it only when I had enough time and if the distance was not that far, maybe within 2 miles. I used our car for the rest of time. But I started teaching more classes and had to travel farther. Then the traffic started to irritate me. I remember one evening I was in the car driving to a yoga class. There was so much traffic that I was just sitting there in the street. Soon after, I felt my shoulder tightening up, my heart beat got faster and I felt nervous that I might miss the class. As I worried, I tensed up more, and as I tensed up, I worried more. The vicious cycle had begun. Then it just hit me, what the heck I am doing? Why do I make all this stress to go to a yoga class? It just didn’t make sense. So, I started riding my bike. Not that I loved to bike, but I chose it because I hated driving in rush hour and also wanted to be “green.” When I first rode my bike to commute on the bike trail, it was kind of a culture shock. There were so many bikes and they went by so FAST!  I was riding my best but bikers kept passing me saying, “left”. I felt a bit alarmed and observed the one who just passed me. Okay, his bike seemed like a really nice one. Another one passed me saying, “left”. Hmmm, okay she seems very young she must have a lot of energy. One by one, even senior citizens with gray hair passed me saying, “on your left”. So I complained at home how my bike is not good to ride on the trail. In fact, it was a mountain bike with a broken gear. My husband took a pity on me and bought me a nice looking second hand, but in excellent shape, bike for my birthday. It was like riding a breeze when I got on it. But on the trail, I got so competitive and tried my best not to be passed. I knew it was silly but somehow I felt everyone is so competitive out on the trial and I had to go with the flow. You know you have to go with flow when you drive a car. But then I realized that it is not only my bike but it was me that can’t ride it as well. I didn’t have any more excuses so I just slowed down and started looking around. I started looking around to pretend that I was intentionally riding it slowly. You know how some people ride a bike just to enjoy. I started to pretend that and then I actually started to enjoy the ride. The trail was so full of beauty and it was kind of nice to watch people passing by as well. I listened to my breath and felt the breeze on my face as I pedaled. My eyes caught all the beautiful scenery and I smelled beer brewing and chocolate making as I rode past some local business. Yes! There is a chocolate factory on the way! What a wonderful ride! It was so interesting how I was so caught up with myself that I didn’t notice the beauty around me fully. Of course I still try to ride fast once in a while and I do pass other bikers sometimes as I ring my bell and think, “on your left”. By the way I do not like the word, “left” on the trail. I got a lot better at riding as well. But now I don’t get alarmed when others pass by. I try to be in the moment on the bike whether I go fast or slow. And I try to soak up all the beauty around me.

I often think of my mom as I jump on my bike. Even though she is far, far away in another continent, she may be riding her bike somewhere at the same time as I ride home from a class. I feel connected to her. I miss her.