Cycling in Bangalore - Adventure of sorts!

Yesterday I saw a guy with a super cool bicycle and on a whim decided to get one for myself. I am not exactly honest when I use the word "whim" for it was some thing that I was always wanting to do though I never quite thought the eventual decision would be so quick and it surprised myself. I would like to think of myself as a little cautious and not prone to spontaneity of this variety. In the end, unless one finds oneself in a situation that tests some prejudices and stretches them to their elastic limit, one can't really know oneself. There are some mental blocks that as human beings, we develop and persist with quite unreasonably and to our loss and discomfiture. When we break out of those shackles, it is a pleasant feeling that takes over.

Now coming to my new bicycle, it is a Hercules Ultima Shox 6 SP. I don't know the technicalities pertaining to the vehicle for as I write this, its only the second day that I have it in my possession. I wanted to commute to office and did that today with reasonable success. 12 kms in 45 minutes in the morning and 1 hour in the evening traffic is, I suppose not bad for a start. Its an adventure of sorts navigating Bangalore roads with a bicycle.

One never knows what lays next. Is it a forlorn horse looking terribly bored or a buffalo suddenly about to shit? The roads seem to abound with possibilities; something akin to a tight rope walk after which the feeling is like that of an elated circus performer. Where rules are only on paper and signals exist to be deceived unscrupulously, the stage is set for a dramatic act of juggling. Indeed, I shall not be exaggerating if I say so. So, when I started off at 6 in the morning, I was thoroughly excited and when the mission was accomplished, I was ecstatic with joy.

The evening was even better and I grew in confidence. The Sun was blazing and the path was winding; the cyclist in me was up to the task. This is certainly one adventure that every person should attempt - in the interest of the environment, to conserve non-renewable resources, to have some exercise and fun at the same time. I hope that this new found love of mine keeps me enthused in the near future with her stupendous ability to invoke pride, respect, admiration and joy- that intoxicating combination that turns a person on and gives a "real" high!!