On the road again

On the road again Moving to Parliament Hill took the fun out of riding my beat-up old bike; its broken spokes, distorted rims and creaky power train begged for maintenance time I've never given it. Particularly since, shortly after moving here, Miki’s arrival reduced my interest in flitting around town on my own. However, trotting around on foot and public transport was enough activity to maintain a level of fitness I was comfortable with.

Then three years ago I started keeping a car. Disaster! I can go a week without breaking a sweat. Days I roll out of bed and walk no further than the keyboard, or the car to drive to a keyboard in my customer’s office.

Even a few hours steady hiking produces a noticeable lift. Denmark last week provided hours of walking around Copenhagen, possibly the world’s most liveable city. Also the wienerbrød pastries — unobtainable elsewhere — to fuel them.

Copenhagen is, like Amsterdam, a serious bike city, with separate bike paths and traffic signals, and traffic policies that keep car traffic light. I was enthused by the sight of so many Danes on bikes.

But, more than wanting to keep the fitness lift I got from my trip, I think what tipped the scale was the report in The Week of an article in The Lancet:

According to a new study, people in their late forties and early fifties can cut their risk of developing Alzheimer’s by as much as 50% simply by taking exercise twice a week.

So I’m on the road again with a new bike. This is the first time I’ve ridden a bike built in the last twenty years. Things have changed since Condor built me a modified road racer three decades ago. Alloys have surpassed Reynolds 531 double-butted steel, frame geometries have changed. My new Specialized Sirrus is a hybrid road-mountain bike, light and stiff enough to fly, sturdy enough to rock around London roads. Now encumbered with mudguards, rear carrier frame and a lock that weighs as much as the frame, it is still a thing of beauty, a sight to make the heart “stiffen and rejoice”. (A strong, light lock: that would be an oxymoron, I think, commiserated Pan at the Cycle Surgery.) I’m in love again.

Perfect partners:
» Specialized Sirrus bicycle
» Miki’s Chocolate Bread
» Safe As Milk