Hmm. Burning off calories, getting in shape, and
staying off a painful heel spur. How
does one accomplish such a feat? Oh, and
without access to a swimming pool. I
know that’s how they handle it on Biggest Loser. Weird, non-impact exercises on the rug? Maybe.
I know that helps with core strengthening, but it doesn’t do much
aerobically, so there’s not much getting in shape involved. What is the answer? Why, a bicycle ride, of course.
I
hope I managed to say that so it sounded cheerful and excited, really fired up
about the prospects. I’m doing my best
to convince myself. See, I never have
really enjoyed bike riding. Oh, I did
enough of it as a kid. But back then
there was always a purpose behind it.
You know, I had to get out to the airport for baseball practice. Or maybe ride over to the Wilder’s house to
trade some baseball cards. Or most
likely, ride over to the 7-11 to see if they had any new baseball card packages
to sell. Of course I couldn’t do that
until I had gone door to door asking people if I could sweep their gutters for
a quarter. And a quarter back then got
me five packages of cards. I guess my
point is … there was always a point to my bicycle excursions. To ride just for the sheer joy of
riding? Not in my realm of existence.
So
this whole bike riding for my health thing needed quite a boost in my
eyes. Some reason behind it other than
enjoying the scenery in the short term and “getting healthy” in the very long
term. In an effort to make the
experience more palatable, Chris worked hard to deck out my bike with several
amenities. A seat that is rectangular
and roughly suited to my anatomy Way better than the triangular nightmare that
works from the moment you sit down to cut off blood flow to the lower extremities. A special holder for my iPhone so I can stay
in touch with the world as I tool around in it.
Actually it is there in case of emergencies, of course. I would never, say … accept a FaceTime call
from Cailyn while I was riding. Well,
maybe I would do that. OK, so I did
that. But the idea is that if we have a
crash we will have the phone right there in front of us (Notice I switched to “us”? Chris has one, too). I even have a cup holder for a water bottle
for those long, grueling treks in Galveston summers. Not that we have taken one of those yet. We just got the bikes a few months ago. But my all-time favorite bicycle extra, the
one thing that has kept me excited about riding around the neighborhood with no
immediate goal in mind … my horn. For
Christmas Chris got me one of those old-timey honkers that fits right on the
handlebars. Now you’re talking.
I
love my horn. Sometimes I honk it
randomly, just to announce to the world that I am on my bicycle and I have a horn. Most of the time I honk it when I see
someone, just to get their attention so I can wave and smile. Except that one little old lady who was
getting something out of her car. I guess
she did have her back to us, and who would have expected such an awesome sound
as my bicycle horn? She did seem a
little startled. Maybe that’s why Chris wouldn’t
let me honk at her when we came back around to her house again and she was
watering her grass.
Other
than that, thus far everyone seems to appreciate the gesture. They all wave back and often add a grin of
their own or maybe even a verbal acknowledgment. The one response that also seems universal is
the slight shake of the head from side to side as we pass by. I think they might be thinking, “Why don’t I
get a bicycle like that guy – and a horn of my own.” Chris thinks it might be more along the lines
of, “There guys one weird, probably senile old dude on a bicycle. Hope he’s not dangerous to himself.” Either way, the smile has happened and they
can’t take it back. Mission
accomplished. And I have my BRP – no,
not “Burp.” My Bike Riding Purpose.
1
John 2:28 says, “And now, dear children,
continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed
before him at his coming.”
Father,
thank you for my neighbors and for the chance to get them to smile just a
little bit. Amen.
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