Fairytale ride

It always astonishes me how pleasant a simply ride can be if nature is present. I have to admit that although I enjoy to use my bicycle for transportation into the city, the joy I get from urban cycling it is nothing when I compare it with rural cycling. 

The above road is just a road.

But with those tall pine trees aligned in a row on both sides of the road, it is like I'm suddenly on a fairytale land, joining a fairytale ride.

I could hear the birds tweet, the squirrels' squeak while jumping from one tree branch to another and the cracking sound of the falling pine cones. 

I looked up in the far as I was pedalling. My bicycle just rolled and rolled. The road in front of me was a long stretch that seemed endless, but in a good way, as the pine trees ahead covered the horizon. The hour of the ride was also perfect, as the warm light from the sun really complements the surroundings while offering a more romantic feeling to the whole experience. 

I utterly love riding my bicycle! 

Even after all this time, I am still very grateful that I decided to finally purchase it and make it my main transportation vehicle. It actually adds value into one's life. And I'm not referring to the health benefits, that are simply a bonus. I'm talking about the way it can change your life. If you do own one, I urge you to go outside and ride it! You will experience the world differently. You are in direct contact with Mother Earth, the natural environment for all beings. You can release your stress (I know I do) and feel better. You will wake your senses and start to appreciate more of the little things in life. Things that you always took for granted.

One reader emailed me telling she felt sad as she was really stressed and tired from working all day long, and that she wished she could ride her bike and ditch the car. After finding my blog she went for it and now she transports by bicycle 3 days per week and also goes on a recreation ride every Sunday morning along with her 2 children. Now she is happy as she spends quality time with her family and also cut her gym membership, which she said she never used anyway.

What did she relearn? That living is not breathing. It is doing things that feel pleasant. 

Do not forget to live your life, do not let the days simply pass!

A bicycle can be your pal to this suggestion. 

It might be a small change, but don't forget that all changes start small. 

Go yourself and join in the fairytale ride! 

In need of some bicycle culture?

Today morning, when I was returning home after finishing a couple of errands, I came across a surprise. The city has finally decided to cut out all the branches and the bushes that were extended through the fence into the bicycle path. 

We were complaining and asking for this since summer, and they finally decided it was time to cut them. 

I know that this time of fall is the pruning season, but they could do this earlier. It is not that we want these branches to grow again, so they could cut them out beforehand. But anyway, I'm happy as from tomorrow we all will be able to ride there free of weeds and without leaves slapping our legs and faces. 

However, I am still sad as I realise with this action that city's people still simply do not care about people on bicycles. 

It is not that our complaints were heard, it is just pruning season. You see these workers scattered all around the city, cutting the trees and reshaping the bushes.

Weeds happened to be on the cycling path, and the city happened to cut them out. They still do not do anything that will upgrade the cycling experience into the city. 

And this is sad, as courtesy in the roads from motor vehicles is present, but city's efforts towards cyclists aren't. 

Usually it is the opposite that happens. Many fellow riders emailed me, asking questions about the cycling experience here in Volos and Greece in general. They seemed surprised that I ride into the streets and navigate through other motor vehicles with ease. They can't understand how it is possible for a car to wait for you, the cyclist, to pass first through the intersection and that at nights a simple lighting system with a front and a rear light is efficient.

When I'm reviewing the situation from their sides, then I'm happy to live in Volos. I'm happy that I am able to ride freely into the roads. I'm happy that keeping priority applies to both cars and bicycles and everyone seems to obey to that traffic rule. I'm just happy riding a bicycle here, even if the city's attitude impedes in people on bicycles.

I'm happy other citizens aren't discourage at all and still use their bicycles for transportation. 

I'm happy that here there was since the past and still is up to the present time a bicycle culture even without the infrastructure.

Do you feel there is a bicycle culture where you live and ride?

Why do you ride a bicycle?

I looked outside of the window. The sky was clear, only a few clouds were far away in the horizon. It wouldn't rain today. I opened the door and got my bicycle out. It was a bit chilly. The bright sun might disguise it, but the fall season is finally here. I wore my light jacket over my shirt and off I went with my bicycle.

The cool morning air hit my face. There was complete silence. There weren't many cars on the road as I had still twenty minutes before the rush hour. I rolled my bicycle all the way to the city center. Upon arriving to my destination, I said good morning to my colleagues and locked my bicycle to the next shop's pipe drain. I then grabbed my handbag from my front basket and entered the shop where I work. 
Two o'clock. It's time for my lunch break. I must return to the shop at five sharp. I have three hours for eating, resting, catching up with some friends. If the weather is still nice I might go for a ride afterwards, when the shops are closed.

The hours passed really quickly. I returned to the shop and continued my work. At nine o'clock it was time to start closing. We were helping the last customers out and at 9:15 I was once again outside unlocking my bicycle. The air was a little crisp, but nothing special. I wore my light jacket and I was fine. I went for a night ride. I met some friends. We decided to ride all together. We talked and laughed. As our bicycles rolled, the wind blew my hair.
It felt nice talking to friends while riding a bicycle. We paid no attention to where we were going. We just kept rolling with no destination. After some time and because it was late and we all had to work tomorrow, we said our goodbyes and each one headed to its home. 
After a while, I carried my bicycle inside and went upstairs to take a warm shower. 
Another day had ended.

...A couple of days later, I was with some other friends out. We had an appointment at a local cafe. I arrived there as usual with my bicycle. Not long after sitting down they started to ask me questions. At first the questions were just about general stuff related to cycling, we later covered the topic about the city's horrible bicycle infrastructure and after getting that discussion to an end, a girl who came later to our company suddenly asked "Why do you ride a bicycle?".
Truly she couldn't understand why I cycle when the infrastructure isn't suitable. She supported that if it was like that were she lives (Belgium) she wouldn't ride her bicycle at all!
...I sat in silence for a bit to put my thoughts in order. That wasn't the first time someone asked me this question. The answer is simple. Because I like it, I find it convenient and cycling just makes my day! But this answer doesn't seem enough for other people, even if these people are cyclists, too.

The truth is, that even though that the bicycle infrastructure is horrible, we cyclists don't have problems with navigating through the city. We just avoid and don't use the infrastructure. We don't do that in purpose, it is just that the majority of the cycle paths that are into the city are in irrelevant places and sparse to each other. That is why that all cyclists use the roads.
However there is courtesy in the roads. It is easy to move around, either being on a bicycle or inside a car. Everyone keeps the priority. It may seem a bit chaotic to cyclists from other countries with proper bicycle infrastructure to ride a bicycle on the roads here, but in reality it is not. There are a lot of cars only in the main roads. Also the average speed is low. It isn't dangerous. Someone must just try it for himself to understand fully what I'm saying. 
But despite the lack of bicycle infrastructure I ride simply because I prefer to do so. When I cycle to places I feel that I earn time, not only because cycling is faster and more convenient into the city but because when I'm riding my bicycle, I'm living my life! Imagine the day that I've described above without a bicycle. It was a day that I was working for over nine hours. If someone took the cycling out of that day, then it wouldn't be a nice day. The reason I liked that day, it was because of all the cycling. I arrived at work in the morning fully awaken and refreshed from the early exercising. In the lunch break, the three hours were enough for me to recharge my batteries and enjoy myself and the company of others. The same applies to the night ride, too. If I didn't had a bicycle, I would just drive home and watched TV as most of the people do.

In other words, without the bicycle riding, that particular day would be an empty day, with the bicycle riding it was a full day!

Why do you ride a bicycle?

Upright cycling! Is there more to it?

Riding an upright bicycle feels totally different than riding a bicycle that requires the rider to bend forward. 

First of all, the number one myth related to upright bicycles is that these bicycles are slow. Either navigating inside a town/city or suburb areas, an upright bicycle isn't slower than any other bike, it is just more comfortable.

I always support that it is not the bicycle that makes the rider but it is the rider that makes the bicycle! 

If you tend to ride in smaller gears, you will be riding slowly, no matter if using a mountain bike, a racing bike or an upright bicycle. 

When first starting to commute by bicycle it is natural to be kind of slow, but after giving it some time, your endurance will improve, your legs will get stronger, you will start to ride on higher gears and you will improve your commuting times day after day. When first starting to use a bicycle for transportation, most of the people, at least in European cities, choose to buy an upright bicycle and when these people ride their bicycles and see that the other cyclists overtake them, they then blame the bicycle. But in reality it is not the bicycle, it is just a coincidence. They must first build some endurance and they will become faster cyclists themselves overtime. 

Is there more to upright cycling?

Upright cycling isn't slow as I stated above, it is just more comfortable. You are being able to ride with a straight back, which feels more relaxing. Additionally you can see better, as the upright position is the natural position of a human being, and because you are higher off the ground you get to see above cars too (which for me really is a plus, for obvious reasons!)

Also, by using an upright bicycle, you do not have to sacrifice your style and wear cycling appropriate clothing, but your everyday normal clothes are just fine. No wrinkles from bending over! Upright cycling is no different than sitting in a chair! (You have to look presentable for work.)

But the most important thing of all is that with upright cycling you're looking good too! Now, before starting to object and argue about not caring for the looks, let me explain this part a little bit.

- What we cyclists want more?

-  Being safe and free when moving around the city. 

- Why it isn't safe right now?

-  Because there are many cars and little of us.

- What if it was the other way around? Wouldn't be safer? 

- Yes.

- How will the number of cyclists increase? 

- By making cycling more desirable to other people and by decreasing the convenience of car usage.

- How will cycling become more desirable?

- By looking good.

Exactly! This is the first bate. 

It may not be the primary goal, as cycling has a lot more to offer to a city (cleaner environment, more space for the citizens and for planting trees, etc.) Also, people on bicycles are feeling more proud of their stamina, good health, and lively energy, than if they are looking good when riding an upright bicycle or not. 

Us humans, do not forget though, that we are more visual types. To open our minds to a new approach we have to visualize it first. Most people relate bicycle riding as something that will need a lot of effort and that will make them tired, sweaty and late to work. By riding an upright bicycle and sitting up straight, we are looking good and we are more attractive that way to non cyclists. We are the given example to them of how it is to ride a bicycle for transportation.

I believe the marketing behind promoting cycling into the cities is all wrong, because it only emphasizes the positive impact bicycles have to the environment.

People care about the environment, but not many are willing to "sacrifice" their attractiveness for it.  As swallow as it sounds, it is true. 

I strongly support that the key marketing for promoting cycling into the cities is to make it attractive to the people who do not ride a bicycle and the only way we can achieve that is by looking good while doing it, and we make it look good with upright cycling!

Do you believe bicycle advocates should highlight the fact how good people that ride upright bicycles look, as well? 

Do you think it will attract more non cyclists into cycling?

The iron bicycle

This bicycle is a project created by the students and the teachers of an elementary school in a small town that is located 70 kilometers norther from Volos.

As you can see in the picture, it's really obvious how big this sculpture is! Especially if you compare it with the regular bicycle that is shown in the photograph.

The purpose of this project is to promote cycling as an alternative way of transportation. The frame of the iron bicycle is made from steel tubes, the tires and the bottom bracket are made from old cars' wheels and the saddle is a car's tire pinned in the seat tube.

The first time that I saw it I wondered why did they use car parts for building a bicycle sculpture that promotes cycling? But after some thought I realised that it must be a metaphor. In my mind it is something like: "where cars die, bicycles rise", which means bicycles are the future, either we like it or not and either we understand it or not. 

The sign says "I ride a bicycle: for better health and cleaner environment". It's nice to see efforts like this, especially if they are made from such a young audience, because these kids are the future's citizens. They're the ones that will not depend on their cars when they will want to go from one location to another, but hopefully they will just jump on their bikes and ride. As simple as that!

It is known among it's users, that the bicycle is indeed a very convenient mode of transport when someone wants to move around into the city. You don't have to worry about parking, red lights, traffic and gas. 

Furthermore bicycles are quiet and take up little space. Why am I saying this? Imagine that there are two streets. Each one has 100 people who pass through there every day and multiple times per day. In the first street people are using cars. In the second street people are using bicycles. The result? In street number one there is chaos from 100 passing cars with their honks, fumes, pollution and noise. In street number two there is nothing but peace and quiet, as 100 bicycles won't even be noticed and the only noise you will hear is an occasional cling-cling from a bell, which to me is so pleasant to hear!

Where would you rather your house to be? In street number one or in street number two? The answer is right in front of us. Cities weren't built for cars, they were built for citizens. 

You want to live in a modern, livable city, that is safe, user-friendly and clean? Ride a bicycle! 

It's the most simple, easy to use, autonomous and flexible mode of transportation ever made!