I have learned to keep my cool while riding my bike. I know there are drivers who feel that roads are only for cars and bikes should stay off the roads. I have been honked at and have had things thrown at me. Yeah I feel like shaking my fist or yelling at someone, but I really don’t want to get into some altercation where I could be beat to a pulp or killed. Best thing for me to do is to keep pedaling along like nothing has happened. I read this somewhere and it is good advice, “You can be dead right and still be dead.”

I’m not a big fan of city riding. Too hectic for me. I love when I get on a quiet road with no traffic where I can just pedal at a nice pace, enjoy the scenery, and listening to nature.

Whenever I approach a hill my first reaction is, “I don’t want to do this and should turn around.” But I keep going forward and sometimes the climb is not too bad and sometimes it is killer. But I can never tell what I’m going to get until I start doing the climb. It is all about the grade.

I know people who ride a bike and think everyone should be riding. But one thing they forget is if someone does not like riding a bike they are not going to ride a bike no matter how convenient cities make bike riding. I ride a bike because I like riding my bike and it is the best zen time I know of.

Not all my rides are long rides. Sometimes I just ride to Peet’s for my jasmine green tea and something to munch on while I read a magazine or book. Then I head to the Hercules Library to catch up on magazines. Then ride back home. A day well spent.

My Top 10 for the Moment:

1. We Are One-Maze featuring Frankie Beverly

2. The Fox-Ray Anthony and his Orchestra

3. Everybody Knows (We’re Through)-Englebert Humperdinck

4. Computer Games-Yellow Magic Orchestra

5. For Dancers Only-Billy May and his Orchestra

6. Leap Frog-Les Brown and his Orchestra

7. Hit ‘N’ Run-HorrorPops

8. Why Should We Try Anymore-Hank Williams

9. ‘T’Ain’t What You Do-Billy May and his Orchestra

10. Let’s Dance-Benny Goodman and his Orchestra