I do a lot of speaking (some would call it preaching) to various audiences, most recently at a Langara class of recreation students. One of them – Matthew Bains – mentioned that he had started to cycle to school after watching others on bike speed by while he was stuck in his car.
So I asked Matthew to tell his story in his words. And here they are:
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In the months leading up to the summer, I remember one day sitting in traffic, coming home from a long day at work. It was on a busy single-lane road in Richmond and traffic was at a standstill. I looked out my right window and saw a cyclist fly by not only me but all the other cars in the lineup – and I thought to myself: “I really need to get in on this whole cycling thing. I want to be one of those guys that flies by cars!”
I also couldn’t help but notice the size and definition of the biker’s calves, which reminded me of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s legs. I always knew that cycling was great for cardio, but I didn’t think that it could give a rider “ripped legs”. With all of this taken into account, my decision to invest in a bicycle had been solidified, just in time for the summer riding season.
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Matthew Bains
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After visiting Kap’s Crusty’s Bicycles in Richmond, they were able to equip me with a beautiful all-black Kona Dew hybrid bicycle. I was ecstatic. It only took one bike ride after work along Richmond’s South Dyke trails and into Steveston to rekindle the love I had riding a bike as a little kid, almost forgotten after I started driving.
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… and his beautiful Kona
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Throughout the rest of summer, I made it a goal of mine to bike to and from work. Thankfully, with the weather being beyond spectacular this past summer, it allowed me to bike to work on weekdays, and then spend my weekends biking into Steveston and riding around Richmond’s beautiful trails.
These days I am riding my bike to and from Langara, at least once a week. It’s a great ride, especially going over the Canada Line Bridge. Although getting up the Cambie Hill to 49h is quite the challenge, the ride back down the hill is a well-deserved thrill ride. Even though the weather may be getting colder and a bit soggy here in Metro Vancouver, I will still make it a goal of mine to bike year round.
I find it hard to believe how attached I’ve become to cycling since I started back in May 2013. Honestly, I used to be one of those people who would be quick to “bash” cycling and the controversial topic of “bike lanes”. I can recall myself saying things like “Why are we spending millions of dollars on some painted lines?” “These road bikers think they own the road!”
However, as I learned more about cycling from people close to me and by seeing how popular it was becoming in Metro Vancouver, I couldn’t resist. I’ve rekindled my passion for cycling. I truly believe that it is here to stay in my life, and that it is now my time to turn others onto cycling.
This kind of article irks me. ‘my time to turn others onto cycling’ makes it seem as though it’s some fringe thing that needs converts. Stop treating cyclists like some special group or super people, it’s just another way to get around.