Let’s Go Ride a Bike

Since we moved to Hertfordshire, cycling has become a regular part of my commute. This started as a necessity; our nearest station is two miles away and the buses run every hour (screams in TFL). Whilst I’m not adverse to a 40 minutes walk, two 40 minute walks with all my work stuff, one of which is after 9pm is impractical to put it mildly.

I also don’t feel comfortable driving as I haven’t been behind the wheel in nearly 10 years. Some refresher lessons are definitely in order before I drive J’s car!

So my parents kindly fished my bike out of the garage, got her serviced and she’s been ferrying me to and from the station ever since.

Unless it’s raining. Or I have a suitcase with me.

Anyway, she’s great. She also apparently has a gender, but no name…

What I didn’t anticipate was the childish joy and nostalgia I felt when I got back in the saddle. When I was a kid, our cul-de-sac was one of many built on an incline. They opened out onto the main road, but further in there was a path that connected them all. I would cycle my bike up to the top of the path, and start peddling. I’d pump my feet as fast as I could, building up speed ‘til as was flying as fast as I could go, streak across my road and free-wheel back round to the front of my house.

It was exhilarating! I would do it over and over again, feeling the wind against my cheeks.

I currently live at the top of an incline.

Every day I get to streak down inclines like my 9-year-old self. Granted, on the way to work I’m on the road and it’s daytime, so I can’t completely surrender to the wild abandon of my inner child.

But on the way home…

There’s a section of my route on a cycle path with a downhill incline where you can really pick up speed. The first time I cycled it I had so much fun! Even tonight, cycling home with a headache (because we’re in the third heatwave of this summer - thanks, I hate it), cycling that section brought a smile to my face.

And to think, if I still lived in London, I’d never have re-discovered that I love to cycle.

I wish I could write more, but this headache isn’t getting any better and I have washing that needs putting out to dry. So, until next time, friends. x