I find myself enjoying the comments on this thread. Comments such as this...
...which a few people have made now. I think I'm enjoying them because I think I'm a bit lost with my riding at the moment and these comments are a reminder to me. It's easy to get too focused on speed or distance or heart rate or whatever (great if that's your thing, don't get me wrong) and lose sight of the world around you.
I got into cycling via cycle touring (I rode a bike before then but I didn't call myself a 'cyclist', if you know what I mean. I just rode a bike). I fell in love with cycling because I could drift around, largely unnoticed, as a kind of voyaging voyeur. Sometimes I forget that.
Re conversations - I cycle toured a great deal with my younger brother (now sadly passed) and we'd either ride in contented silence just watching... or natter away! And we'd talk some rubbish too. One conversation sticks in my mind; we debated which was better, jelly babies or gummy bears. I don't remember an outcome, I suspect there wasn't one, but it doesn't matter - I can't now see jelly babies without thinking of him
I tend to watch & listen to the world - the birds, the flowers, insects, watching for the signs of spring (now very definitely here (honest)).
...which a few people have made now. I think I'm enjoying them because I think I'm a bit lost with my riding at the moment and these comments are a reminder to me. It's easy to get too focused on speed or distance or heart rate or whatever (great if that's your thing, don't get me wrong) and lose sight of the world around you.
I got into cycling via cycle touring (I rode a bike before then but I didn't call myself a 'cyclist', if you know what I mean. I just rode a bike). I fell in love with cycling because I could drift around, largely unnoticed, as a kind of voyaging voyeur. Sometimes I forget that.
Re conversations - I cycle toured a great deal with my younger brother (now sadly passed) and we'd either ride in contented silence just watching... or natter away! And we'd talk some rubbish too. One conversation sticks in my mind; we debated which was better, jelly babies or gummy bears. I don't remember an outcome, I suspect there wasn't one, but it doesn't matter - I can't now see jelly babies without thinking of him