Bikography
Chapter 1- The introduction
Let me tell about a person, whom I know personally almost from the middle of his adulthood and going by his conversations, I had observed or overheard over the years. I the narrator, will get introduced in the middle with less fuss.
Going by recent trends at least in his family and friend circles in the place where he resides, cycling activity is uncommon among most. His place is in city, with more eateries and if one walks along a street in his panchayat/municipality, it is common to encounter approximately five shops in a distance of five hundred metres on an average. His previous generation had used cycles for commuting mostly and he had traveled in the city, town and a village either as a rider or as a ridee . The very first occasion of riding as a child, though was difficult for him as it was the art of balancing he has to master in a comfortable cushion seated leanback bicycle. His initial cycle was a used one (alternatively called, second hand product), and it was bought to him at the age of twelve, three years before I know him. He was supported/helped by his father while learning the riding technique. He used that cycle to commute for playground, which was near a cemetery at a distance of 1.5-2 km and boasting to friends, who come to play.
At the age of fifteen, he got a second bike/bicycle; a brand new one to support his ambition of commuting daily and long term prospect of using one. For curious observers/readers, could have observed by basic one plus one mathematics( in a simple plot), somewhere ‘I’ the narrator has to get introduced and three years later mentioned in previous stanza equals age of fifteen for the second person(him), so I am none other than his brand new bike. I am the one he is using till now; I am a mountain bike, briefed as MTB, sturdy in nature and having a carrier behind as was the trend to have some friend or family member seated behind or carry something behind, especially books, that were provided during school opening. Please don’t equate my back carrier, with human body, as mine is detachable.By the way, I guess everyone could have guessed, who is the he( who else it could be? introducing the one and only rider of mine!)
After college, during job search and after joining a job however, the idea of using me for commuting, didn’t click him and anyhow I got used to his negligence, as I have other sight seeings at my disposal. And, he had accumulated an excess of 10 kg during this period, in spite of trying out few irregular gym routines and a half marathon run of 23 k. He had learnt gear motor-biking during this period and was roaming around with it.
From what I learnt, he had not been with cyclist’s trends and had the idea that, in order to go cycling for even a medium distance around 20km, requires good preparation and a good cycle. The only knowledge of maintenance that he had was that of maintaining inflated tyres, to withstand his weight.
One day all of a sudden, he had the gusto of trying out cycling, after noting that he is taking excessive time to go between places and also the adventure spirit in him reckoned to go with cycling than walking, to cover more places. To a man, who got more used with his motor bike, der Farhard (deutsch/aka German) appealed as an alternative.
Then, in order to as though going with the trends, he got some new sports jersey, got his old coolers from shelves and helmet, to ride me. However, I didn’t move as per his pedalling speed. Does checking for the inflated tyres, the only necessity for a cycle to move? I have my chain mechanism to be overseen, apart from spoke bends and others. This person, my caretaker or boss to a certain extent came to know of it only recently after having pedalled, 50 km. He wasn’t able to make me move. He then applied oil on his own on the spokes and chains. Then, in spite of that I am not able to meet his great or the least expectations; yeah, if you aren’t well, you goto a doctor and if I ain’t goto a mechanic. “Sir, there are bends in the cycle spokes and they have to be repaired.” There is a gauge/vernier calipers like instrument, that when closely held and seen help differentiate the bent spokes and they have to be made level. After having a degreaser applied, I feel like having a menthol shampoo applied. ” Cool kanna! I can move, “I shouted. Boss, couldn’t hear but he felt the difference! If my compatriots can be pedalled at 20 km per hour, now I can move at 17 km for the same time(not bad!).
The journey begins..!
Chapter 2- About the journey
The recent rides have been far more entertaining/experiencive than I expected. I am a somewhat non-trendy old bike than my compatriots.
Usually bikes of my type, even though I belong to the MTB category are gifted to their children by parents at an early age in and around adulthood. And then once the child grows, its fancies increase along with its experiences; we then are often neglected by the man and lie in literally like dusty steel philosophers, either in that same house or in a cycle shop, in want of a new cheap owner.
We are not professional MTBs, who go on a long mountainous voyage. Guess, because of our sturdy nature we are termed so. We look, in a way attractive than our previous generation, but the real line of demarcation lies in, how much respect/usage performance they had compared to us.
I have asked my master(like Harry Potter Dobby) to post a picture of mine at the cover, for whoever continues to read this biography and wonder, how I might look like, either alone or along with my community.
So, coming back to recent rides which I mentioned at the beginning, and which enthralled me are concerning the different areas and kind of places visited. Imagine me to be like an old protagonist in the ‘Up’ movie and how he enjoys the journey of having visited different places towards the end of his lifetime. It is kind of that feeling, for an old timer like me, though my lifetime might not have exact or approximate expiry date.
The places I visited are of tourist attractions, art houses, in the middle of nowhere (lonesome highway), nearby and a distant hospital, different kind of shops, roadside shops, railway station, recent trendy globalized bicycles (the current generation possibly, having high speeds and greater velocity), all in two months time. I will tell this as mere unimaginable and I was ignored by my master just a year back, when he was asking his father to sell me, by reasoning it out with under-performance with his expectations.
I will explain the journey in detail and what caused the sudden change in mindset of my master(him) in next few chapters.
Chapter 3- Dasein- Being state
Different religions/philosophies might refer in different ways; the state of being. Human being and being human seems to be different, from what I understand in the glaring stickers stuck in front of two-wheeler and four-wheeler vehicles.
A cycle being or a vehicle being is also correct, according to me. We are the ones, who whatever happens around us, remain in the being state. There’s no need to react for us nor can we react possibly, except for our occasional feelings of disappointment or happiness.
I am no expert in human philosophy or studied the texts properly, to comment and extrapolate on those matters. But, from what I understand and have seen in my master, I can tell he hadn’t been in the being state for long or has not understood that state properly. To try to come to or think of being state( current moment) manually is itself wrong, without a proper reasoning or different kinds of experience. From there, comes a will or determination to be in the state as such. I am in the being state because many solid iron particle ores having been molten together at higher temperature and then crafted into a shape/physique . I don’t have knowledge that you posses; knowledge can be expanded, but different experiences along with proper reasoning/rationalising out only helps that knowledge *
*-conditions apply, for that last statement
So far, I had narrated only what I had observed. It is possible, only when the state of being is present. Drawing conclusions often, being fanciful with more fantasies, being regretful for mistakes often, being weaker, not performing to full potential, going with pre-defined axioms/beliefs without reasoning it out are all not experiences to be had very often, from my experience. Why I say so ? Can I draw the conclusion, that I am almost finished when I was talked of up for sale or that I am limited to use only within the city, as often is the conviction in my locality? Even so, if I am sensing fishy, can I do something proactive and if I had done, considering as a human without knowing fully what would have happened, I might not have other good experiences. Fancying, what could have been made out of me, than a mid-model MTB ; no use. Should I be regretful, that I cannot move on my own or faster than a motorbike; no use, I am having a life of my own and I am made out for a very different purpose. Mistakes happen when actions are taken and as a quote goes by, “The best thing that can be taken in a decision is good action, the bad thing is wrong action and worse thing is inaction”. Am I a worse thing then, not taking any action? Hmm, I will repeal the quote, then if possible! Lol! 🙂 I am a machine and I can tell from my doctrine, how far it’s applicable and wise can one analyze/act as per the scenario quickly, effectively and efficiently lies in their innate and perceived capabilities.
Chapter 4 : The tedious journey
Guess, it might be a bit tedious monology. Of course, if there are far better monologues that could be written and told by my perhaps superior compatriots, who might have travelled thousands of kilometres and miles in far distant places, under superior landscapes. My journey is a simple one, comprising some good places and some pettiest places. I could have waited for some more time, to list down all places I had gone and then provide selfies perhaps. As another quote goes by, “It’s not how much it matters, but how it matters (purpose “.
The purpose is to be perhaps be among first few, atleast from my compatriots to write about again a personal victory/landmark. I had travelled or been made to travel more than 600 kilometres in around 35 hours over a course of around 2 months. I could see the city that crafted me and I might or might not have seen the creators, who were instrumental in my design, engineering and production, but atleast I could see the place. I mentioned earlier in previous chapter of the places I had visited; tourist attractions, art houses, in the middle of nowhere (lonesome highway), nearby and a distant hospital, different kind of shops, roadside shops, railway station, recent trendy globalized bicycles (the current generation possibly, having high speeds and greater velocity). I will expand on those now.
The motto why the sudden interest surge on me has to partly do with my master’s search for fitness, exploration, increased focus, reasoning and some change in attitude due to various reasons. The first revived ride was to a nearby beach; the to and from distance covered was almost 40 kilometres. He couldn’t complete towards the end and walked for somewhere around 5-10 kilometres. The world’s second longest city beach(Marina) has a good view and a nice breeze. It’s a wonderful break to have for me ! He paused for few minutes and walked along the pavement. I had a good sight on the people, rickshaws, the beach and the memorials nearby, erected for various leaders. Hmm, wish they could give a memorial for me too, wherein whoever comes to me and asks the wish of cycling, will be granted that wish, along with other accessories!
Then there were a few rides to nearby temples. Chennai and in often Tamil Nadu referred as kind of temple town/state. Many Gods, nice works of art can be found here. I had a glimpse of them, in my few visits. There are some nice interesting temple histories along. I can ask him to provide some reference material of the books, he might have come across towards the end of the e book.
After first few trips, my boss started to dress up as a sportsman, like a jockey (not RJ or a VJ, but the very traditional one !) He also got me some new bells, front and back lights for night ride. There were many onlookers, who tried to catch sight in the night; I felt top on the world. It’s like a child wearing a LED light shoes and jumping, to show of the flashing lights. I have become his number one steel horse, (overtaking the bike) as of this time; the distances he otherwise thought of as quite long or wasn’t sure, how to cover have become some new benchmarks with me. There is one complaint though, I like to be cleared of the bird’s shits quite often and doesn’t happen as I expect. My boss tried to clean one day and the very next day saw, two more shits on some steel covers near the tyre; he didn’t clean thereafter till now. Those were some dried marks on top. (Disgusted? How about me then ?) I am perhaps like unhygienic, dirty looking street pet animal to others and him on occasions. I know, what he thinks; his surrounding is like that, with uneven distribution of posters, overflowing sewage and others; ” What could I do, with failed attempts?”.
The rides are what I meant for; so coming back to the rides there was one occasion where I was made to travel in excess of 100 kilometres or 88 miles approximately to the nearby union territory. It is common for bicyclists to go in a gang and complete the to/fro in a pre-planned and well executed manner with accomodation booked, dresses packed, with repair tool kits, spares etc for these long trips. My dear boss didn’t have such notions; he went in due to awkward scenario of unable to rmake a u-turn and return in night, as the other side of the road didn’t have a separate pavement for two wheelers. So, he went in with literally nothing and waited for a bus to have me lifted and return to Chennai. Trips come in as surprise; I enjoyed the trip and he too mostly did, except for avoidable scenario of weariness that sets in the next day end. He often says these days some affirmations to reinstate a belief strongly and one among them is, that he and his partner of common sense are having a strong relationship; they are made for each other, in spite of the ups and downs in their relationship . Among everything, why did he choose such a partner is still a surprise to me and wish his hadn’t run, during such a trip. He hangs out with her in order to be accepted as a somewhat good, studied person in the society and look sanguine under all circumstances. He should keep more faith in her, I guess to have that strong relationship that he likes.
Other places I visited are some art houses, museums, gardens, theatres among others. My place is at the parking space and I don’t have x-ray vision to penetrate and look behind the walls. There were some nice trees and I like how nature has often shown her strength and I am nothing in compared with her.
Almost three days once, there were rides in last two months and it is easy to cover 10 -20 kilometres at a stretch in an hour. With some big to medium trips, the distance traveled approximated 40-120 kms. In two months, hence 600 kms was covered a bit easily. I have my own envies on the effortless capabilities of my superiors and just have to be happy with what I am today, from what I was yesterday.
Will check if my boss has still the knack and perseverance for a year to continue with me and what new ideas, he can come up with to places he can visit, improve my speed/effeciency thereforth.