
Freedom in cycling
I’ve been cycling since I was about 5 or 6. Dusty farm roads in South Africa, jumping on to my 10 year older brothers bike with my other brothers help. The freedom.. fruit in my pocket, hair tyed back and I was unstoppable — the adventures that lay ahead, water to swim in, animals to escape from.
Some of my biggest adventures have been on bikes. I enjoyed the speed and control it gave me. If I wanted to get away from anything , this was the best way.
The most embarrassing “bike” experience was a ride with a 4-wheeler over heap of stones. As I hit the heap with high speed, the traction of the tires flew me into the air and I landed under the bike, tire grabbing my mickey-mouse tshirt and continueing on the farm road with most of my shirt. Seeing it heading to the goat hock I jumped up and ran after it until it slowed down. All this running topless while my cousins and other farm kids watching in entertainment. That was one of many accidents/almost accidents as a kid I was to encounter.
A boy I crushed on would take me for some makeshift bmx jumps in abandoned construction sites. We were banned from seeing each other after he split his jaw open on some concrete in Randfontein. Then came skate boarding and punk music. Long shorts, baggy tshirts and shoes way too big for me I found myself at the top of a very steep main road at 1am in Krugersdorp. I knew without a doubt that the risk was high of getting hurt. My 13 year old sort of boyfriend and I counted to 3 and his ego set him off. I don’t know for sure but from memory it was at about a 30 degree decline for maybe 150 meters. I found him at the bottom having rolled into the grass, almost no skin left on his knees and lower leg. Phone call #whatever to my mother from a worried parent. Wasn’t sure at the time why I was blamed for his miscalculation. Moving to the city I still yearned for those adventures years later. My ex partner and I got into mountain biking. By that I mean we had actual kit. Whatever happened at uni or work, it took me out of it. Flying down a hill into mud, using my thighs until there was no juice left.. I’d pass out for a couple hours watching movies after driving home not thinking about anything else. Bliss. Our bikes went with us wherever we went.
Fast forward 5 years and some serious life stuff happening I found myself in London starting life again. A little lost, alone and broken I saw a very cheap but cheerful purple Rayleigh bike with colourful spokes in a bike shop. She was my best friend for a year. I don’t think many people would have taken her the distances I did, all I knew about bikes was that they have 2 wheels and that some are more high tech than others..
Moving North of the river I started to see more people cycling, wanting friends that shared more of my interests and wanting to focus and push myself in my 30th year of being an earthling , I took part in my first race at Lee Valley Velopark after joining a wonderfully friendly and helpful club – Velociposse. I’m not that fast but I dont care. Looking forward to many adventures to come. Everyone should learn to ride. Especially women.