Lifelong dreams: Now fully realised!
Gone are the days when I fretted over wearing a hijab and cycling.
I can now say that I have worn a hijab-helmet combo, and cycled fourteen miles in the torrential rain and wind around the bonny banks of Loch Lomond.
In case you didn't get that, that was FOURTEEN miles. (Google calculator helpfully tells me that's 22.5km, for all you metric-heads). That's pretty much the longest bike ride I've ever done since, oh... ever! The second longest ride I had was probably to school and back, in the blissful days of primary school cycling proficiency tests - which was incidentally the last time I rode a bike too.
This all might sound like I'm gloating, but really, I'm shocked (and only gloating a little bit). The whole time, as I rode merrily along getting wetter and heavier and colder (but also happier), I was fully expecting to end up in a ditch, sobbing for my mother - but alhamdulillah, I got through it! And would thoroughly recommend it... minus the rain though, maybe?
So as I type this, my muscles screaming in agony at the slightest movement (they're not usually used this much, okay?!), I turn my thoughts to my theoretical next cycle trip. For some reason, I feel like that last sentence should be written in old lady cursive script. Whatever. Anyway, if I ever do decide to cycle through a monsoon again, I'd like to do it with nicer gloves.
These maybe? And I'll need a good waterproof jacket...
Perfect! They even have that awesome d3o shock-absorbent stuff that's just so James Bond. Not that I like James Bond, the pouting, adulterating loser. He's just the benchmark for coolness in gadgetry.
Now I just have 3 obstacles to overcome:
1) the lack of funds for these slightly extravagant products
2) the fact that I freaked out and wibbled all over the road whenever anything dangerous like a car, dog, or falling leaf came near me (on second thoughts, wibbled is an unfortunate choice of word in this situation - please don't turn those b's around!)
3) the fact that my mum says khabardar and has threatened various cruel and unusual punishments if I attempt anything stupid like cycling again.
Hmm... I'll work on it!
5 comments:
I'm LOVING that jacket...and the idea of cycling in the rain. :)
Mums are always khabardar-ing over one thing or another; in one ear, out the other.
Ha ha ha! You had fun then! Last time I went cycling was,like, 5 years ago? When I was 10 or something. Ah, happy days!
Misspecs: It's far less romantic than it sounds, since it was a proper Scottish downpour and biting cold - but still, definitely an experience I wont forget in a hurry!
Yeah, I'm used to my mum's khabardaaring... but I'm afraid to push my limits, since I'm planning a big panga next year iA!
SrTuba: It's definitely worth going again - you work muscles you don't know you have!
I can't remeber the last time i went cycling.. can i cycle??
Really i have no idea.
But one day iA i shall try it out whether i break anything or not is beside the point.
outcastrebelchic: you go girl! if you've ever been able to cycle before, even in the distant past, you'll be good to go again (just a bit wobbly to start!). Otherwise, it's pretty easy to learn! Just find a nice quiet space where no-one can laugh at you :P
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