I would love to say that I ride everyday. But if the truth be known I don't!
I do however ride most days. It's just that as I sit here writing this today, the wet stuff is teaming down outside (well... I hope to God it's outside!). Now I know we poms talk about nothing but the weather but can you blame us! I mean for f**k's sake. It's starting to get demoralising.
Anyway, I digress...I am fortunate enough to be able to decide whether (nearly put weather!) to go into Welly to work. I freelance you see, and that means I can either do it from home, or - if I'm bored with the cat's company - I can go into town and work from there and enjoy some human social interaction. (Read: Go to the pub for lunch!) Naturally my decision is based on whether (nearly did it again!) I fancy getting the bike out. Fancy getting the bike out??? Silly question. Of course I do. So I wait for the rush hour (huh...you Kiwis don't know what rush hour is!) to die down (or is it up in this hemisphere?). Anyway, I'm digressing again, sorry. I normally pootle down SH2 on the CB from UH to the CBD. (TXT speak, lol). Sad thing is that if the bike and conditions are "on song" then I'm just beginning to enjoy my ride when I arrive at the office. But a crust has to be earned so I lock the bike up underground, grab the laptop (a Mac of course! - goes without saying.) and take the lift to the eleventh floor to start my day. I suppose at 55, the early stages of dementia (SP?) could be to blame for the fact that I actually say "cheerio, see you later" to the bike as I walk away. Another secret that my work colleagues don't know is that I am so vain that - if I have had the misfortune to ride in the wet - then I remove my Dri-Riders in the gloom of the carpark rather than rustle and squeek my way into the lift and through the office. I mean... its bad enough having to explain what my kidney belt is for let alone be ridiculed that I look like a soaking wet Michelin Man! Nobody else at the office rides so they dont understand. They just gawp. Some dumb arse actually saw me in my bike gear and carrying my helmet the other day. They said "Oh, do you ride a motorbike?" "No, I am going to a fancy dress party!" I replied. (Dickhead).
So I guess what I'm saying in all this drivel is that I do live to ride rather than the other way round. Mrs Ceebie joins me in my enthusiasm too which is great. It means we get out on the bike most weekends...no kids you see, all grown up, gone, flown the nest etc., so we are free agents. (Well, apart from Domino, our cat. Sadly he doesn't go far these days after a contratante with a possum trap. He was close to being the Douglas Bader of the cat world, but the vet did very well to rescue 90% of his leg.- The other three were amputated. lol) - How did I get on to that? Anyway, back on topic, we actually get withdrawal symtoms if we don't manage to get out and about. Certainly the bike gets a birthday if I'm not able to get out on it. You see, I like my bike to be clean. I am fanatical about that (as noted in previous threads on here). If I'm going to show it off and people are going to oggle at it, then it might as well be clean. Besides, I'm sure it goes better when it's clean too. Don't get the wrong impression will you? I'm not a fair weather rider, Im not a wuss and I'm no slouch when it comes to hard riding or some twisties, but I am not stupid enough to get the bike out in the rain. That ain't pleasure to me. If I get caught in the rain, well that's another story...I'll be in the nearest bus shelter! I tend to ride defensively and with precision using road craft knowledge and experience (been riding for 39 years on and off. Well, three "offs" in that time!) Having said that, I have been done for exceeding the statutary speed limit once or twice. (insert Tui phrase here). We both enjoy holidaying and touring on the bike, not being afraid to munch some serious k's in the course of a day. My longest solo ride was from Saltzburg in Austria to London stopping only to pee, eat and fill up. Oh, and to board a ferry - small detail. We are very much of the school of thought that the journey is more important than the destination so we never tend to rush anywhere. If we choose to stop for a coffee or whatever every forty minutes then so be it. It's all part of the biking experience for us. We never rough it. We like a hot bath and a nearby pub/restaurant after a days riding. So that's pretty much it. I hope I have enlightened you all with regard to the biking lifestyle that is Mr and Mrs Ceebie 13.
Fuck me!! It's stopped raining. I'm off. Bye.
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Originally Posted by Ixion
But know when to call in the experts. I do ride everyday to work and at least try to get out on a decent run every fortnight and the odd rally.
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