Einstein and the Art of Mindful Cycling by Ben Irvine

Author:Ben Irvine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ilex Press/ Ivy Press
Published: 2012-09-23T16:00:00+00:00

Road Rebels

Ever since the pioneering days of cycling, the public majority’s attitude towards cyclists has ranged from indifference via irritation to indignation. Why this is the case is something of a mystery. You’d think that people everywhere would welcome with open arms an affordable vehicle that alleviates congestion on roads and public transport, reduces noise and air pollution, and hardly ever harms pedestrians.

Alas not. Being a cyclist often means going against the grain, so a thick skin and a rebellious streak are required from the outset. Once you’re on your way, though, you find that your impudence grows with every rotation of the pedals. A pedestrian fiddling with a smart phone waddles insensately into your path, gets a fright, then glowers at you. You rise above it. A driver ravaged by stress leans out of a nearside window and, like a rabid dog barking at a butterfly, rants in your wake as you nip through stationary traffic. You’re glad you didn’t take the car. A fashion victim waiting at a bus stop sneers at your luminous jacket then gets splashed by a passing motorcycle. You smile mischievously.

By the time you finish your cycle journey, you just know you made the right choice, never mind the naysayers, and it’s a feeling of assurance and conviction that infuses the rest of your day. Sometimes you encounter the same boorish looks you got while you were on your bike, when you’re off it. Whatever the issue may be, you feel ready to stand up for yourself when you see those looks. The impudence you get from cycling is long-lived, indeed.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.