I started riding "seriously" when. Was 13 years old. I got a decent quality Japanese touring 10 speed from a pawnshop and used it to explore most of southern California. I used the bike for commuting to school, trips to the beach, and regular errands, I was always on my bike until I was 17 and got my first car.
Having a car was wonderful, it greatly expanded my horizons, and allowed me to go places far beyond the range of my bicycle. For years afterward I stuck to driving, and rarely even touched a bicycle.
Several years ago I was shopping at another pawnshop, and I came across an old Pinarello Record racing bike. I had always dreamed of owning such a bike during my early riding days, but they were priced far out of my reach. The pawnshop wanted $200 for the bike, but I negotiated 25% off the price.
I began riding the Pinarello a few miles each weekend, but not so much. At the time I was working 6 days a week 10 to 12 hours a day. Due to my long work schedule and crappy diet, I was not at all healthy, and riding was difficult.
One week I made the decision to ride every morning before work. I got up at 6, dragged out my bike, and rode for 20 miles. At first I felt stiff and sleepy, but after 30 minutes, I was warmed up and began to feel good. I did this every morning when the weather allowed.
After a couple months, the riding began to have a positive effect on my health. I lost weight, my blood pressure and pulse fell, and I began to sleep much better. My body began to get used to the endorphins, and every morning I woke up with a strong desire to ride.
Then I made the decision to begin commuting by bicycle to work. The distance was 30 miles each way, but after several months of daily rides, the commute was not difficult at all. In my driveway I had a new car, a two year old Jeep, and a motorcycle, but the only times I ever drove any of them was when I needed to go shopping, meet friends, or commute in bad weather.
One day while riding, I met up with another cyclist who was admiring my old Pinarello. He invited me to go on a weekend group ride held by a local bicycle shop. It was a great experience, though I got a flat tire halfway through and had to drop out. I began joining the group every Sunday for a fast 40 mile ride.
At around this time I decided to upgrade to a newer bike. I went to a pro shop looked at some catalogs, and was measured and fitted. I ordered a custom steel-framed Gios bicycle from Italy. It took several months to arrive, but it was a work of art. I still have this bike today, and I ride it often.
After a few months of group riding, I entered a few amateur races, and I did quite well. I was too old at the time to consider racing for anything other than fun, but fun it was. Sometimes I would race back-to-back days on the weekend. I would be so sore from the previous day's that I could barely walk, and lifting a leg over the saddle to get on the bike was especially painful, but after half an hour I would feel fine, and at the end of the race I would be sprinting to the finish with everything I had.
Now I live in Tokyo, and I no longer have much interest in racing. But the very act of riding is soothing to me, and comforting to my mind and body. It is a way to exercise as well as to unwind, with the added benefit that I can do all this while actually getting somewhere. At the moment I am commuting on the train out to the countryside, I have my folding bike packed in a bag next to me. It's a beautiful day, sunny and warm, and I am looking forward to a good ride.
