How I Got Into Bicycling

On a fateful eve in February, 2002, my good friend and almost-cousin Jay Resh suggested that I take up cycling as a way to lose weight. He has recently overhauled his beloved 1982 Mercian, though it was collecting dust in his garage. Jay wanted to see it being used. He meticulously outlined the physical, mental, economic, social, and religious benefits of cycling and I was convinced. Jay warned me that cycling is a sort of cult. I reassured him, and indirectly myself and Stacey, that I would not be swept into any such cult....

A year-and-a-half later, several thousand miles farther, 50 pounds lighter, and several hundred dollars poorer, I savor every bit of saddle soreness that the faithful Mercian has unleased upon me. I ride the bike to work every day. I've gone on several century rides and participate in regular group rides throughout the week. I now realize that those silly bike shorts and tight jerseys I used to mock are the difference between utter pain and suffering, and... well, milder pain and suffering. And how can you appreciate the art of cycling without admiring the quintessential artist of cycling, Lance Armostrong? I taped all 21 stages of last year's Tour de France and have my cache of tapes waiting to record this year's inevitable five-peat.

It is rather ironic that Houston, Bicycling Magazine's worst city for cycling, has turned me into an amateur cyclist and that Houston, the fattest city in North America, has allowed me to shed over 50 pounds. But maybe I did it to spite all those rankings. And now that it has, I couldn't be more satisfied. The bicycle has imparted on me, to quote "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," a lasting peace of mind.

Is the transformation complete? Hardly. There are still new speeds to achieve and new hills to conquer. The competitive nature of a cyclist dictates a constant struggle for improvement. You can't just sit on the couch with a bag of chips, watching the world's greatest athlete suffer through uncategorized mountain climbs without an ounce of regret. And so it's not very hard to find motivation to get back on the bike. If only I had the motivation to take care of my other responsibilities....

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