I'm Glad I Got a Flat Tire

Patrick Perugini — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:38:00 -0500

Normally, I ride to/from work with a backpack filled with snacks, spare clothes, work papers, and of course a spare tube and tools. Well this week, I decided to leave clothes in the office and switch to a smaller waist pack. The ride into work was nice having a smaller, lighter pack. One slight problem. I forgot to pack my spare tube and tools. So, as Murphy's Law would have it, last night I got a flat on my way home. Without a spare, I had to call home to have someone come pick me up. But as I sat waiting to be picked up, I realized that I didn't feel anxious or impatient. I surely would have a year or two ago before I started riding to work regularly. Which got me thinking. When commuting by bike, you can't feel rushed. You can't be impatient. You're not going to keep up with traffic, nor do you necessarily want to. You need (and want) to slow down, not just to enjoy the ride and workout, but to keep your world in perspective. In a car, you can never get where you are going fast enough. The cars ahead of you are never moving fast enough, and your time in the car never seems productive enough. When commuting by bike, you are separated from this frantic pace, if only for a few minutes a day. No phone, no headline news, no coffee, no traffic. For me, this brief daily respite from the daily rush has helped me keep my perspective. I relish my time on my bike. I can block out everything that in a car would normally drive me crazy, and relax. In hindsight, I'm really glad I got that flat tire...now I remember why I ride (although I WILL remember my spare tube next time).

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I'm Glad I Got a Flat Tire