Why I Ride

I exhale, but I do not hear the sound of my breath. The only sound I’m aware of is the rushing of the wind. My eyes scan the road looking for imperfections and I lean slightly to the right to avoid a patch of uneven pavement. My hands grip the bars, but my arms are relaxed. All of my senses are engaged and I am in control. I have no fear.

The gradient of the road rises and I shift gears without conscious thought. The bike surges beneath me and my legs pound like pistons to meet the challenge of the hill. I will not lose speed. Regardless of the size of the hill, my determination is bigger. I will succeed.

I arrive at the crest of the hill and shift gears again. I tuck in my arms, still my legs and fly down the hill. I grin to myself as the thought goes through my mind: I am free.

Riding is liberating. It is freedom from my schedule and from my work. When I am riding, I am not a mother, or a wife, or a professor. I am simply myself and this is why I ride.