When I’m cycling down the car-filled roads of Austin, I often feel like I’m like one of those tiny lap dogs who has never looked in the mirror and totally thinks he’s a raging pit bull. You know the kind I’m talking about. They weigh 3 pounds and are only a few inches high, but stand in the face of big dogs (and other animals) like they are ten feet tall.
That’s probably the best way I can describe how I feel when out riding. I may be only 125 pounds and riding a 52cm bike frame, but I honestly don’t feel intimidated by any vehicle, animal, or anything else when I’m out there. I once wrote about feeling like a Giant on my Bike, and how my “Bike Confidence” almost got me in a heap of trouble with the 250 pound dude behind the wheel of his monster truck. But this lap dog/pit bull feeling is slightly different.
Now I’m not trying to say that this attitude is the ideal approach to take on your riding, and I’m certainly not suggesting you follow along with my lunatic “attitude”….but for some reason this is the persona I take on while riding my bike. Off my bike, there’s no way I would likely do the things that I do out there.
Do You Fear Riding on Busy Roads?
I have a lot of beginner cyclists who contact me and ask how to overcome their fear of riding on busy or traffic congested roads. My advice is simple, “Be confident and smart, Own your space, and Remember that you DESERVE to be out there.” I honestly feel that being confident and riding without fear is the greatest asset for staying safe. Those “big dog’s” might look intimidating….but you absolutely deserve to be out there.
bing.com’s Week of Riding
This week has been dedicated to bing.com’s week of riding for their Summer of Doing promotion, and today’s post goes out to all of our new followers who found us through bing as well as all our loyal members of the Loving the Bike Army. Above all else, what I wish to accomplish most over here at Loving the Bike is to inspire more people to take up cycling and to fall in love with it. It’s part of a great lifestyle of living and I sure do hope there are a bunch of people yelling out “I’m Loving the Bike” this week…..and always.
