Cycling

I went out for a long cycle today in the afternoon (about 12). It's been a long time since I've done it, and I've forgotten how good it really feels. Until today at least.

It's blisteringly hot, the iced water you brought out with you has turned into steam (exaggeration, but it gets hot. Which sucks. Thirsty + hot water is not a good combination), you feel your neck burning, and the rubber handles of your bike are starting to stick to your hands.

Sucks? Nope. Surprisingly enough, I find it way more relaxing than cycling in the evening, or in the morning. For one, the view when the sunlight is strong is awesome. The leaves are reflecting the light, the cars passing by flashing by. Awesomeness. Besides, there's this real feeling of peace when you pedal. I got this from a fanfic I was reading (yep, Honey and clover) which sums up the feeling, (titled Life is more than just a bicycle journey, obviously drawing its inspiration from Takemoto's journey on self discovery) :

Life is more than a bicycle journey. Because while at my journeys, I realized that riding my bike is more than the pleasurable wind that touches my skin as I ride against the air, and the bumps and humps that make you laugh and curse at times. Those are all just a part of it.

But what I loved the most is the sense of peace you feel whenever you pedal and see the sudden transformation of the places you luckily pass by.

For truly; life is more than a bicycle journey. But instead of places, you pass by circumstances. Circumstances that however weird or hard to handle is natural in a person’s life.

Ah. Epicness. Shall not get emo over cycling, as it's pointless really, but my point is, the feeling you get is really nice. The scenes passing you by, the wind in your face, the only thing I can think of is : Ah, this is living. I feel truly alive while I'm panting up a hill. *Lol, weird habit of mine is that I keep on muttering "pain is weakness leaving the body" whenever my legs burn and I feel like giving up while going uphill. And there are incredibly funny moments. There was this time I was crossing a grill, and I was mock-snarling at a dog chained up in a house I was passing by, and my bike tyre slipped through the gaps of the grill. One moment I was snarling and making faces, the next moment I was on the floor, with my bike half dropped through the grill (thank god the body of the bike was wider than the wheels). Seriously, I just had to sit down and laugh for a moment before getting back up and continuing.

I wish I had more places to explore though. As much as I love BK, it does get a bit repetitive cycling to the same places. I'm thinking of cycling to Bandar Puteri (where Evelyn stays) one day, seeing that Eugene showed me a shortcut which bypasses the main road. 4 hours of cycling =D I anticipate the burn.

But my primary complain about cycling is the drivers on the road. I am pissed that some of them do not respect the right a cyclist has on the road. The majority of the car drivers I meet are lovely people, giving me space or whatever (and I try my best to stay out of their way) but some people are real assholes. I mean, I'm cycling uphill, trying to stick to the side of the road as much as possible, and this asshole comes up, speeding by, extremely close to me even though there are 2 lanes and he could have picked the other one, and screams profanities about how I should get off the road. You fucking bastard. I have the right to the road as much as you do, and I'm trying my best not to slow or inconvenience anyone. Give me some slack will ya?

That, and the amount of noise and dust generated by cars are UNBELIEVABLE. I understand its not the driver's fault, so shall not rant about them, but damn. It becomes really unbearable sometimes. It gets so dusty, or the smell is so god damn bad from the exhaust, sometimes I have to stop riding and just cover my face with my shirt. And its noisy too. Like, really really noisy. Its depressing really, I'm just taking this peaceful ride along a long road, and these bunch of cars pass by, the engines revving and dust blowing out of their exhausts. I really really want to cycle in the countryside. Which is why, I've decided, once I get my car, I'll disassemble my bike, shove it into the boot, drive out of the city, park, set up my bike, and go for a ride.

Ah. My tour around Malaysia. I am seriously dying to do this. It seems pretty improbable though, seeing that my parents are so paranoid that even cycling to Seksyen 3 is "incredibly dangerous". Haiz. Malaysia's a beautiful place, and I would love to see all the sights it has to offer before I go out of this country.

I love my bike. =(. You'd be surprised that you start noticing things you've never noticed before. While I anticipate getting a license to drive, I think that by driving, I'll never get the feel of a place and the road. When you cycle, you feel, you see the place because you have to sweat and go through everything using your own legs and willpower, something that by driving, you will never have to do. Driving, while having its own merits and advantages to cycling, just does not hold the same attraction I have to my bike. Besides, I love working on my bike. There's so much parts to inspect, to improve and to tinker with. The derailer, the handle bars, the chains, add-on, the list goes on. Admittedly, I don't know much yet, but I'm learning. I love fixing it on my own, instead of sending it to the shop when there's a problem (though I do have to resort to this occasionally)

Final thing. I know it's weird, but I really prefer cycling alone. Cycling with a friend is cool and stuff, to relieve the inevitable boredom that comes sometimes, but I don't get the same feeling of freedom and discovery. I love exploring new places. I love cycling up hills to see the views. I love cycling to fields, to sometimes lie down or sit back and just look around. I have pictures, and a documentary (lol, I was just testing it out today. Weirdest whacked-out thing I have ever done. I think I'll start recording parts of my cycles, and the places I explore. Might consider posting them here =D)

Ciao. LANCE ARMSTRONG FOR THE WIN. EDDIE MERCX TOO. OMG. U R T3H EPIC INSPIRATION.

"I didn't understand the question. Pleasure? What pleasure? I cycle for the pain".

EPIC <3