On a bicycle built for two...

Guess what - I've started riding a bicycle again! While this may not seem like much to an average reader, for me it's a momentous occasion since the last time I rode a bicycle was about 30 years ago and I have never in my life had to buy one before since the last one I had I found waiting for me under the family Christmas tree.

I've noticed more than a few things have changed since then. This bike (called a "push bike" or "pedal bike" in Australian) is really for knocking around and I picked it up at the nearest big box store. Even so it has 18, count them, EIGHTEEN gears. Now I remember when a 3- or 5-speed was the norm and if you had TEN, woo-hoo! You were ridin' high.

That said, I'd also been shopping for a proper bike from bicycle shops. Did you know bicycles were fitted today? Like shoes or pants? You have to make sure it feels right and rides comfortably before they'll even sell it to you. While a far cry from picking any old thing it does seem a bit over the top for a leisure cycler like me. After all, Lance Armstrong I'll never be.

But I've taken to it pretty well short of a few aches and an unmentionable bruise or two. Kinda amazing the places you can cycle to in just a few minutes and back vice hauling out the gas guzzler.

Maybe there is something to this going green thing after all.

- Farmer Ted