Posted by Steve on July 08, 2001 at 19:21:14:
In Reply to: Re: Cycling adventures posted by Robin on July 08, 2001 at 14:08:00:
Cycling is a whole new world in so many ways. There is time to look at things and really see them that you don't get when whizzing down the interstate in a car. It's not nearly so difficult to stop or turn around if you decide you really do want to visit that museum or historical marker over there.
I find this amusing. I ride for pleasure not sport. For me, riding is a great time to meditate, to commune with nature, to meet people, to read historical markers, and one thing I really like to do is to go into old roadside cemeteries. In the cemeteries you can learn a lot about when a place was settled, how so many of their children died and very touching inscriptions sometimes. (Now it is your turn to laugh.) The trail near our home was built around a Shaker settlement, there the cemetery has a stone announcing to the world that this was a "Community of Celibate Christian Communists" I asked a Quaker acquaintance about this and he said that yes Quakers are communists with a small "c". The rail trail I was on today is 69 miles in length running from near the eastern side of Cincinnati to the town of Springfield. It follows the Little Miami River and is very scenic but can be isolated in spots (I always carry candy and a cell phone). I have had so many close calls on congested roads (One serious accident) that I no longer ride them. I stay in the country or on the trails. There are drivers that have done some very rude and dangerous things to me just because they did not like cyclists and felt there was no chance of retribution. Too bad.
Hard riding, for me, must be meet with a decline in basal levels or my nighttime terrors can reappear. But with modest reduction and some common sense it is not a problem.
Steve