Day 26: Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle!

It's hard to choose the most awesome Queen song. There are just SO MANY! Freddie Mercury had the Midas touch, every thing he would touch or rather every note he would sing would turn to gold! Even if it was a song about riding bicycles! Rumour has it that this Queen classic was inspired when Freddie Mercury first saw a "tour de France" race...people got so caught up in the racing, they forgot what how simply joyful just riding a bike with no competitive pressure or ulterior motives was! I love the song! I love bicycling!

Cycling is fun, cycling is healthy, cycling is good for the environment and good for toning those legs. If I didn't live in such a large, dispersed city, I would commute using a bike. At the age of 23, being a "learner" driver with the most disorientated driving skills is very embarrassing, especially in a city where driving is not a luxury but a necessity. Amsterdam and Copenhagen inspired me and made me believe that you don't HAVE to drive! I just wish I could hold onto my "hippie" free-will and bike around everywhere and show people how cool it was to bike around everywhere!

Every journey starts with one step or one pedal. As much as I liked biking, I hadn't really done it on the streets of Auckland. Auckland was no Amsterdam or Copenhagen. I wasn't sure what I was in for. I don't even own a bike. So, on Saturday, I borrowed a bicycle from my sister's friend and the three of us set off to grab breakfast at the cafe by the beach, on our bikes. Biking around the eastern suburb of Bucklands Beach was far from tedious, in spite of the crazy wind and breathtaking (literally) slopes. It was actually fun! We don't have designated bike lanes but noone messes with a cyclist! It was safe albeit a bit scary at times.

I'm glad I could ride my (borrowed) bicycle, I could ride my (borrowed) bike. It not only helped me partake in a simple joy of life but also helped me experience the life of a commuter on two wheels! I just wish more people would discover the joy and ditch their fuel-burning/lazy-making vehicles every now and then and experience this fun, natural, healthy, inexpensive and simple joy too!