Category: cycling

Even when riding solo you are never alone

Ian HunterLeave a comment

I mostly cycle in a group

Its much safer and the camaraderie is great fun

Today the rest of the group were unavailable

So I did the ride to Key Biscayne on my own

I have done the same route many times before

It never gets boring

There is always something new to see

I left late to avoid the morning rush

Carefully negotiating heavy traffic at the start

Valet parking for breakfast diners at Sadelle’s restaurant

Expensive cars and expensive coffee and bagels

Next challenge was crossing the roundabout on SW27th

Miami drivers don’t seem to know the rules of the road

Ignoring the cars already in the circle and just entering at high speed

I see near misses ever time

Today I waited for a big gap before sprinting across

Then onto a deserted Tigertail Avenue

Slowing to let a flock of peacocks walk across

I swear one of them winked at me

The short section of South Bayshore thankfully had light traffic

I turned towards Alice Wainwright park on a quiet street

Passing the former homes of Madonna and Sylvester Stallone

Its has become a Billionaires row with huge mansions

Some of them have security guards parked outside 24/7

I must be stressful to be so ultra wealthy

Pedaling onto the Rickenbacker causeway

Breathtaking views of Biscayne bay and the Miami skyline

I pushed hard up the bridge hugging the cycling lane

Cars speeding by just a few feet away to my left

My only protection is the white painted line on the roadway

I wear bright colored clothing to make myself visible

My bike has strobe flashing lights front and rear

I worry that drivers may be distracted and veer into the bike lane

Its not just the Miami skyline that might distract them

To my right there is a pedestrian walkway full of joggers

Mostly supermodels in skimpy outfits plodding up the bridge

I tried hard to keep my eyes firmly on the road ahead

I sped down the descent at an exhilarating 35mph

Thankfully all the cars stayed in the roadway

After a fast ride towards the village, I looped back

Onto the safety of Virginia Key

No cars on this uninhabited section

Just bikers enjoying the sunshine and cool December air

A large truck passed me hauling a smelly cargo

Heading towards the sewage treatment works

I reached the rest stop at the beach

Unfortunately no model photoshoots were in progress today

The beach was deserted apart from the yawning beach patrol guys

Although devoid of any wild human activity around the beach

There was plenty of of natural wildlife to see

Its amazing how close you can get to animals on a quiet bike

Raccoons were out playing in the roadway

Scurrying away when they spotted me approaching

The massive iguanas stood their ground as I got close

Miniature dinosaurs claiming the roadway for warmth after a cool night

A flock of white ibis were running along the side of the road

Pecking the grass in search of sustenance

They totally ignored me as I pedaled by

One more loop of the key and I turned for home

The Peacocks were still wandering around Tigertail

Watching the construction of new large contemporary homes

Which are progressively taking over the old neighborhoods

More expensive cars for the peacocks to dance on

I sped round the surprising empty roundabout on SW27th

Soon I was back home and taking a shower

I reflected on the 30 mile ride

Even when riding solo you are never alone

A perfect day

Ian HunterLeave a comment

I woke up restless

Bad thoughts filled my head

The dawn light was breaking

Wife was beside me sleeping soundly

Reality snapped back in

All was good, it was just a bad dream

Slipped out of bed to make tea

Birds were singing outside

I made a high protein breakfast

While hydrating to excess

Checked over my bike in the garage

Pumped up the tires and tested the brakes

It was time to get dressed

Heart monitor strap went on first

Then my bib n brace and cycling jersey

Loaded the bike with 2 full water bottles

Filled my back pocket with emergency supplies

Added a couple of energy gels

Bike shoes and helmet donned

Took the wife some hot tea

She was only half awake

Rolled out to taste the air

It was super hot and very humid

Started to pedal steadily down the empty streets

Soon met the rest of the group

We set off in a pace-line

Wheel to wheel matching speeds

The rider in front dictated the pace

While pointing out hazards ion the road

I took my turn at the front

Pushing hard into the strong wind 

Riding mostly on back roads with virtually no traffic

Great conversations as we whizzed by farmlands

We reached the half way rest stop

Time for a comfort break and a snack

More hydration and chatting ensued

Back in the saddle for the fast ride home

Mostly downwind so we could fly

Made it back home safely

34 miles on the computer

Lifted the bike onto the wall rack

Ate protein, showered and took a short nap

Tackled the rest of the day with vigor 

Did tons of stuff in the afternoon and evening

A perfect day

inside the mind of a lone cyclist

Ian HunterLeave a comment

I set out to ride thirty miles alone

I give a solidarity wave to the construction workers picket line 

Outside a new tower where the condos start at $2M

It feels good when the striker smiles and waves back at me

Soon I am whizzing down Tigertail

Taking great care as cars pass too close by me

I will not risk passing inside the stopped car ahead

Sure enough he turns right without using his turn signal

The traffic gets lighter towards the end of Tigertail

I gaze at the beautiful peacocks roaming around

Wondering if they scratched any expensive parked cars

They are the kings of the street hooligan bird gangs

Its time for a short sprint along Bayshore Drive

Slowing down as I enter Alice Wainwright Park

Lots of cute young mothers with babies and toddlers

I think back those distant happy days of taking my young kids to the park

Time to pick up speed on Rickenbacker causeway

The spectacular Miami skyline always takes my breath away

I tell myself to stay focused and pedal hard

The bronzed bikini babes on the nearby beach steal my gaze

Now I attack the very steep long climb over the bridge

My legs will ache and my heart will race before the top

I tell myself to push hard stay focussed on the ascent

Trying not to be distracted by the supermodel lycra clad joggers on the path

A short rest coasting down the hill at 39mph

My bike computer flashes drink time

I am not thirsty but decide to obey her orders

I miss chatting to my biking companion Randy

I hope he comes back from his business trip soon

Now turning onto Virginia Key with a welcome rest stop ahead

15 miles into the ride my full bladder is screaming at me

I visit the well maintained restroom and step outside a lot lighter

I take a photo of my parked bike

Ensuring the sun sea and sand are all in the shot

Is it so wrong to gloat to my friends wintering in their cold northern lands

I mischievously hit the send text button without feeling any guilt

One more loop towards the village of Key Biscayne

Passing slower bikers who look at me with disdain

Slow moving traffic is ridiculed by my 22 mph drive by

The drivers are annoyed when I weave through their stationary cars

Another loop back to Virginia Key

Gawking at a photo shoot with supermodels on the beach

I pretend not to look at them

They pretend not to look back at me

The photographer clicks away with abandon

Time to head home faster with a welcome tailwind

Checking my rising heart rate on the computer as I climb the bridge

I decide to ignore my maximum heart rate warning

I wish I was young again

I take the underpass at the end of the causeway

Passing a homeless man sleeping under the bridge

Cursing myself for not stopping to give him some money

He gazes at me as I ride by

I sip on my hydrating electrolyte drink while his belly is probably empty

Why is it that some folks are unable to put a roof over their head

I reach home and the end of my ride

I am tired and sweaty but strangely sad that its over

Looking forward to my next adrenaline fix tomorrow

Hopefully my cycling friends will join me on my next ride

Alone and dripping in the elevator I realize how badly I need to shower

Fortunately nobody else steps into the elevator

My life is split into two distinct parts

I ride and I sweat

I think then I write

Nothing else matters

from dreaming to biking

Ian HunterLeave a comment

Dreaming

Waking

Morning

Quiet 

Dawn

Birds

Singing

Flexing

Stretching

Reflecting

Anticipating

Planning

Meditating

Watching

Sunrise

Tea

Drinking

Thinking

Reading

Writing

Poem

Sending

Dressing

Pumping

Tires

Kissing

Wife

Smiling

Exiting

Pedaling

Riding

Feeling 

Wind

Biking

When I ride my bike

Ian HunterLeave a comment
Photo by Mabel Amber on Pexels.com

When I ride my bike

I can taste the wind

The scenery is closer

Animals are all around

When I ride my bike

Passing cyclists smile

I am energized 

I feel sorry for motorists

When I ride my bike

Time goes slower

Pedestrians say hello

I love cycling

When I ride my bike

My computer talks to me

Tells me when to eat and drink

Shows me how fast I am going

When I ride my bike

Sometimes I get a puncture

But I carry tools and spares

Soon I get going again

When I ride my bike

I wear a tight cycling jersey

Its full of logos and bright colors

I pretend it helps me go faster

When I ride my bike

I have flashing lights front and back

To warn motorists of my presence

But they still try to run me over

When I ride my bike

Flies crash into my face

Occasionally I swallow one

They don’t taste good

Tour de France ghost rider

Ian Hunter1 Comment
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The middle aged man walks the halls in banner painted lycra

Wheeling his bright red bicycle to the elevator

His clumpy cleated shoes tap dance on the tiled floor

Announcing his presence loudly

waiting for the elevator

Leaning on his two wheeled walking stick

This handicapped walker is like a fish out of water

Speeding downward in the elevator

Emerging at ground level into the parking lot

Checking his back pocket for keys and sugar laden snacks

A strong leg is thrown over the cross bar

Straddling the tamed beast for a ceremonial moment

Adjusting the visor on his helmeted head

Cranking the left pedal backwards

Until his foot is near the ground

A resounding click welds his shoe to the pedal

A slight backward crank primes his muscles for takeoff

The beast lunches forward as his right shoe clicks in

Man and bicycle are now welded together in unison

Hands push down on the odd shaped bars

Palms resting on the hoods of the infrequently used brake levers

Padded shorts rise skyward to meet the ridiculously high razor blade seat

Arms stretched out into the wind

A small computer on the handlebar displays his progress

Speed and heart rate rise in unison

While pedal rpms stay constant

Gear changes are fully electronic on this high tech machine

Every nut and bolt has been trimmed for weight

The featherlight carbon fibre frame mimics airplane wings

Slipping through the reluctant air softly

The middle aged man flies low at 25mph

His skin tight costume refuses to flap in the wind

It will be a short 30 mile ride today

The computer reminds him to hydrate every 15 minutes

And to eat something every hour

He obeys all the computer commands

Resembling an android caught up in an exercise video

At the end of the ride he hits finish on the bike computer

Now back in control of his own life he sighs in relief

The sweaty middle aged man walks back along the halls

Dripping perspiration along the corridor

Passing residents nod either in admiration or disapproval

Upon arrival back home he consults his home computer

Which has monitored every parameter of his ride

Via a link to his bike computer

It tells him is effort level is way too low

He needs to pedal harder and longer

He nods in acceptance of the computer instructions

Lycra goes in the washing machine for a tumble

While he naps and dreams of riding in the Tour de France

His computer wakes him up

He briefly questions why he rides this bike at all

The home computer reminds him he must try harder tomorrow 

He has had enough

The hammer pounds the home computer

Leaving debris allover the floor

Its a short walk to his beloved bike

The bike computer is switched off

Saved from the fate of the hammer

The next day

The middle aged man walks the halls in banner painted lycra

Wheeling his bright red bicycle to the elevator

He rides his usual path without data reporting instruments

Riding the rest of the day at his own pace

Stopping for lunch by a river

Dropping his bike computer into the deep water

Freedom at last

Coming home alone

No computer to interrogate him

No data analysis

No speed, cadence, distance, power and heart rate tracking

From now on its just him and his bike on the open road

Back to old school cycling

No more data driven decisions

Riding by instinct from now on

He rides in the Tour de France nightly in his dreams

The other riders are in awe of his riding style

As he speeds up the mountain

Leaving them for dust

They all ask their computers for instructions to catch him up

But their computers have no answers

They do not know how to compete with a non-data driven human

The middle aged ghost rider wins the Tour de France nightly

Enjoy the ride

Ian HunterLeave a comment

sometimes life is like being a tightrope

a constant battle to balance everything

one slip and you face eternal doom

however many careful steps you make

you can never seem to get beyond the middle of the rope

the end is in sight but you just cannot get there

you might see carefree people dancing on their rope

others walk their rope with eyes closed oblivious of the dangers below

when something makes you lean over to one side

it takes enormous strength to keep yourself upright

if you can find your equilibrium its an easy journey

so what is the secret to keeping everything balanced

you would not choose to ride a bicycle carrying a heavy bag in one hand

wearing a back pack will help keep you balanced as you pedal

riding uphill is less effort if you discard all those unnecessary items

so think carefully before taking on any new tasks or burdens

when you do take on a burden keep it well balanced

celebrate the gift of riding your bicycle along the tightrope of your life

enjoy the ride and marvel at the beautiful scenery along the way

another day another ride

Ian Hunter2 Comments

A middle aged man in banner painted lycra walks the halls

Wheeling his bright red bicycle to the elevator

His lumpy cleated shoes tap dance 

Announcing his presence loudly

He leans on his two wheel walking stick

This crazy walker is like a fish out of water

Speeding downward in the elevator

Emerging at ground level into the parking lot

Anti covid mask is bagged and stashed into a back pocket

Nestling with keys and sugar laden snacks

A strong leg is thrown over the cross bar

Straddling the tamed beast for a ceremonial moment

Adjusting the visor on his helmeted head

Cranking the left pedal backwards

Till his foot is near the ground

A resounding click welds his shoe to the pedal

A slight crank primes his muscles for takeoff

Man and bicycle are now welded together

The beast lurches forward as his right shoe clicks in

Hands push down on the odd shaped bars

Palms resting on the hoods of the infrequently used brake levers

Padded shorts rise skyward to meet the ridiculously high razorblade seat

Arms stretched out into the wind

A small computer on the handlebar displays his progress

Speed and heart rate rise in unison

Whilst pedal rpms stay constant

Gear changes are fully electronic on this high tech machine

The skin tight costume refuses to flap in the wind

Every nut and bolt on his bike has been trimmed for weight

The featherlight carbon fibre frame mimics airplane wings

Slipping through the reluctant air softly

The middle aged man flies low at 25mph

It will be a short 30 mile ride today

The computer reminds him to hydrate every 15 minutes

He pedals hard up the bridge to Key Biscayne

Rolling back down at 40mph

He meets a group to ride in formation

Pulling hard at the front for a mile

Before dropping to the back for a tow

He takes a rest stop at Virginia Key beach

A long gulp of coconut water washes down the sugary energy gel

Snapping a photo of his ride to share with his friends in the frozen north

One more loop with the group at maximum effort

Then its a gentle cruise back home

Click clack down the halls of the high rise

Wheeling his red machine back to his condo

The beast rests while he showers and recuperates

Another day another ride