A certain UK bike journo said in an interview (in Dirt Rag) that he doesn’t feel the need to ride like some people do. Upon reading this I thought it was odd for someone whose very living depended upon our two wheeled hobby to say this. It seemed so alien to me not to have the need for riding ingrained. Then I actually thought about it for a little while. I know some of my riding buddies that don’t have to ride. It occurred to me how strange they are and what a strange plane of existence to inhabit. Then I thought about it a little further. What if it isn’t them who are the weird ones? What if it is me and my insane desire to ride?
Take this week for example. I couldn’t ride Tuesday as I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see a piece of classic British film on the big screen so I rode Monday instead. Thursday I spent helping Mrs Fat Lad pack for her driving expedition supporting three of her work colleagues doing the Three Peaks Challenge. So I rode Friday instead.
Okay, so rearranging my rides isn’t so bad. But what about the times where Pete and company have sent me home from rides because I was so ill I could barely stand yet had merrily decided to come out for a spin?
How about when then the rest of the world is sensibly tucked up inside warm and cosy while I ride in windy wet and near zero winter nights?
How about fitting badly maintained/out right broken parts to my steed and “making do” so I can still ride?
So back at you, do you have to ride or is it something you just do?
Fat Lad
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