The Insignificant time lost!

Commuting is an activity none of us can avoid in our busy city/rat race kinda life. And, 99% of that time is insignificant and is lost in the stream of time available for a day - adding no value to our day and cumulatively to our years.
Now, what if i can make use of that time at least once a week to start with and then gradually move onto the higher planes of optimization?! Sounds crazy? Yes, definitely it can be used up rather than sitting like a log wood on that motorbike or like a potato on the driver's seat in your luxurious cars (I'm talking in particular riding/driving in the city).

Your guesses are correct, it's by the usage of a simple stuff called the 'bike' aka 'bicycle'. This was supposed to be the simplest mode of transport available in the earlier days, although it has undergone a sea of change in terms of technology and look n feel; it still remains simple and amazing.

That's exactly what i did, like all the other funky looking guys you see on the roads nowadays who've taken to biking recently. It sure did come with quite a number of apprehensions and self-doubts, some of 'em are: wouldn't i look awkward with that helmet n attire, would i be able to pedal 22 km up n down to office and back, would i be found wanting in a long ride for speed and stamina?!
Well i'd say from the experience that, fifty % by part of these stupid reasons vanish as soon as you take your bike to the road; and the remaining fifty % you overcome (apprehensions n doubts) and build gradually (stamina, strength n speed) over a period of time. Well there's  no diminution once you take to it and persevere with it, even if it's to achieve fat loss. :)

Once i started commuting to office on my initial bike which was Hercules ACT-105, i found that i take more or less the same time to commute as i do using a motorbike and definitely lesser using a car!
It was challenging initially to push harder on up-hills, and i used to dread that; not anymore. Now, i long for up-hills, the reason - when there's a uphill you've a down hill too, just like our lives.
The uphills improve your stamina, strength, toughness, endurance and extracts effort and makes you a better rider; just like the difficulties in life makes a person stronger and tougher.

You start to notice much more things around to detail, breathing rate and rhythm becomes better and still more you start enjoying the ride, along with having a feeling that you're not polluting the environs and burning fuel.
         Or let me put it in the colloquial phrase - "Not adding to the Carbon Foot-Print". Sounds familiar? If yes, think about it leaving the typecast perception we all have for it. It really makes a difference - the most would be in your day2day life in terms of the relief it provides from the stressful life, then fitness of course; and last but not the least - to the Environment as well!

Another nice thing's you need not stop at as many places as you do when on a motorbike or car, as you can take it through the footpaths and get down and push it through the signals (provided it is safe!). That saves you a lot of time and avoids the frustration of time loss at signals and traffic bottlenecks.
Burning those calories definitely gives you an extra satisfaction factor as well.

Now, enough of the merits; let's move on to the joy and fun part of it. You can embark on long rides early in the morning to see the magical side of it, it just rejuvenates you when you take to the roads having a lot of trees and a good scenic background.
In fact you don't have to go much far, the ORR-Sarjapur jn. to Sarjapur side road is one favourite among bikers because of its proximity. That road can take you through Varthur back to ORR or alternatively to Anekal road.

Some of the other Interesting routes:
- Banerghetta road to Anekal,
- Kanakapura road (towards Cauvery Fishing Camp),
- Magadi Road towards Savandurga,
- Mysore Road towards Big Banyan Tree to Manchinbele Dam to Savandurga.
- Nandi Hills
- Tumkur road (Shivganga or Devarayanadurga or Madhugiri)

These are few to start off with and then there are lot many you'll take to after that.

As a matter of fact Bicycle tourism is quite famous in other countries, especially Europe and US. And it is slowly but steadily picking up here as well.

Let me finish off this post with a quote:

"The bicycle is the perfect transducer to match man's metabolic energy to the impedance of locomotion.  Equipped with this tool, man outstrips the efficiency of not only all machines but all other animals as well."  ~Ivan Illich








Comments

tell you what. it's not necessary that you take a nature friendly road. Take the road that you normally use to reach office. But when you bicycle you come across many shops, views, posters, and many more things that you would have never noticed. It's a different way of looking at things.
Rathessh said…
well said joe..u captured d essence! joe bola wahi sikander! :)

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