Riding my bicycle creates a special kind of knowledge. On a bicycle I am exposed to many aspects of the environment that would be closed off to me in a car. This is not always positive! Wind, snow, cold and rain are uncomfortable and traffic can be dangerous, but I would always rather be on a bike than in a car. In John Berger’s book Pig Earth, he describes the life of peasants in the French countryside. The peasants have an extremely intense awareness of the land because they depend for their survival on the food they can grow and gather. Indigenous people often have a very refined sense of their environment. Although they may well love the land, their knowledge of it is very practical. They can perceive things that are invisible or inaudible to other people. Traditional Polynesian navigators can sail from one island to another guided only by wind, smells, and an acute perception of the water. In a similar way, a cyclist must be aware of their environment to navigate and survive. Every time I get on my bike I have to watch and listen to traffic, keep an eye out for potholes and adapt to changing weather.

I believe that our mind and bodies are fluid and change constantly throughout the day. The sleeping body is very different from the one that eats, drives a car or cooks a meal. In each activity we manifest different aspects of our body. We become aware of different things and focus on what is important to the us at that moment.

When I get on my bike and clip into my pedals, I become a different person, a bike rider! I adjust my rearview mirror and become alert to traffic both in front and behind. I have a 360 degree alertness that I don’t have when I am absorbed in a book or having coffee with a friend. Even if I am tired, when I get on my bike I always have the energy I need to get to where I need to go. Recently I did a storytelling event in Waterville. A friend drove me and it was a pleasant event but when I got out of the car my legs were tired in a way they never are after riding!

Here are a few of things I focus on when riding:

Road Surface: Even with paved roads and bike paths there are many surface variations. Potholes expand in the spring and sand and gravel accumulate on the side of the road. There are all kinds of grates and cracks on the Riverside Avenue path. Gravel riding presents other challenges. Dirt roads seem to change from week to week. Sometimes they are very smooth, other times much rougher. I have to pay extra attention on gravel roads.

Wind: Sometimes the wind is is my friend at other times it feels like an enemy. It can freeze me on a cold day and cool me down when it is hot. When I have to ride into a brisk wind for a long time, it feels like the wind is a malevolent being, one who is trying to thwart my forward progress. When it is behind me it as if there is an angel helping me on my way. As a bike rider I am always aware of the wind and when it is cold, I make sure to wear windproof clothing. I look to flags to help me determine the exact direction of the wind.

Hills: When I climb a steep hill I focus on my breathing and pedal cadence, even while continuing to be aware of traffic. Going up a steep hill is a kind of meditation, and breathing hard awakens my body and stimulates my mind. Just as I am always aware of the wind, I always know whether I am going up, going down or pedaling on level ground. I am constantly shifting gears to accommodate the terrain.

Traffic: The routes I take depend on how much traffic there is. Early in the morning, especially on the weekend, I can ride down Main Street in Winooski, cruise through the traffic circle and go over the Winooski Bridge in the left hand lane. That enable me to go straight up the Colchester Avenue Hill. When there is more traffic I have to ride on the sidewalk across the bridge. There is no room for my bike in the road. I have a mirror on my helmet and I constantly check for vehicles behind me and I look ahead for those in front. I also listen for the sound of cars and trucks. Every once in a while, when I am riding in traffic I sense how vulnerable I am. Any one of the vehicles could maim or kill me! I don’t dwell on that fact but I keep it in the back of my mind.

My body: especially as I have gotten older, I am aware of the physical aspects of riding a bike. Because of a sore knee this past winter and spring, I have not ridden as far as I usually do. My aerobic fitness is still good but I can sense that my legs are not as strong as they have been in the past. I am slowly working up to longer rides and I am optimistic that my legs strength will return. On long rides I monitor how thirsty and hungry I am, when I need to stop to pee, and how my legs, back and wrists are doing. Sometimes my hands go a bit numb and I have to shake them out. I am also aware of my body temperature. I add layers when I am cold, and remove them when I get too warm.

My bike: Although I don’t have much talent as a bike mechanic I have ridden for long enough to know when my bike needs adjustment or repair. I am aware of unusual sounds or when my chain is not spinning freely. I can also feel when there is not enough air in my tires. If I can’t make a repair myself I bring it to my mechanic.  

Beyond the practical aspects of riding I also have a sense that my bike comes alive while I am riding it.

Bike riding makes me feel the world!

About the Author: Peter Burns is a long-time bike enthusiast, and one of the original year-round bike riders in the greater Burlington area. In addition to writing about walking and biking, Peter teaches a variety of bike workshops. He also works at a group home for people with psychiatric disabilities, teaches classes for the Vermont Humanities Council, teaches swimming at the Burlington YMCA, and is a regular host of Storytelling VT.  You can contact Peter at [email protected].