I’m a writer by trade, and one of the most frequent challenges I face in my work is writer’s block. It’s this paralyzing anxiety about writing that, for me, mostly stems from the thought, “What if what I write isn’t good?” It’s in our natures as human beings to recognize talent before we can recreate it. I know what great writing is, and I feel writing anxiety because I know what I’m capable of producing isn’t exactly Faulkner-level prose.
I’ve had the same anxiety about cycling. My roommate after college was an avid cyclist, and he and his family would often take trips to Moab or Arches in southern Utah to hit mountain bike trails. Even though I’d spent most of my college years using a bike as my primary mode of around-town transportation, I’d never ridden “seriously” like my roommate.
Photo by: flickr.com/tonyhall
There was one solution to my writing anxiety, and it also worked for my riding anxiety: just write (or ride).
I’m sure there are some of you who you read this blog, love with the idea of riding, but can’t seem to actually get to it. Maybe you work late hours, or maybe you’re not in the shape you want. Maybe you’re waiting to buy a new bike once you’ve saved up the money. Or maybe you have a bike but also have kids who will tease you if you try something different. There could be a thousand good reasons why you haven’t started to ride yet. Where should you start?
By getting on your bike. Just ride.
Every Friday, you probably see the awesome bike videos the Wheel Brothers share on their site. You’ve probably also seen the interviews, race recaps, and other posts about people who love riding. If you’re a regular reader, you probably want to join those people if you haven’t already.
There’s good news: you don’t have to wait to join their ranks. Here are some reasons why you can get out and start riding today.
You’ll Get Better at It
No one starts off as a great cyclist. Heck, who can even say what a “great” cyclist is? Is it only the participants in the Tour de France? Or is it only the two or three best cyclists in the world?
There isn’t any really great answer in my opinion. You don’t need to be at a certain level to ride and enjoy it. And the more you ride, the more you’ll improve. It’s an upward cycle.
You’ll Get in Shape Like Them
Cyclists are traditionally in great shape. This is because there are also a ton of health benefits associated with riding. Richard Meyer has a great article on his blog (http://www.richsthoughtsonlife.com/just-get-out-and-ride10-reasons-to-start-riding-a-bike/) featuring a ton of the reasons to start cycling more often. Check it out, and let some of those reasons start to work themselves into your head.
Photo by: flickr.com/bryanpearson
Get Started
Here’s what you need to get started riding:
- A bike (pick one that works)
- A helmet
That’s it. You can purchase both of those for less than $200 if you shop around. You can also check online ads like Craigslist.
If can afford it, buy a custom bike you’ll be in love with that lasts a little bit longer.
Not one of those Walmart specials that break after 2 hours and you don’t have to buy the latest Trek, Specialized or Cannondale. You can buy one for under $400 at companies such as www.solebicycle.com.
However, whatever you have to do, start riding.