I’ve bought a lovely bike, and I’d like to use it. Use it more than my standard commute, at any rate.
With all the “Things I’d like to do….” there will be common barriers, mainly revolving around laziness and business. I’m often too lazy to do something, finding it easier to just sit and read or (more commonly) play on the computer. The art of procrastination is very well practiced indeed.
The other barriers to cycling are:
Danger. I do maintain that cycling shouldn’t be dangerous, and I’ve managed many years with no real incident (including cycling round London, and many times up and down the A316 – a horrific road now I think about it). I do still have a certain issue with some junctions, mainly when cycling on a main road with a slip road coming on/off as a separate lane (e.g when the road goes from two to one lane and back to two), also with some roundabouts, but I believe common sense should help me here. I’ve also a healthy respect (fear) of drain covers on corners – I know there’s a decent chance of slipping out if I hit one of these beauties. Of course, forewarned is forearmed, and my respect/fear helps me avoid trouble.
I’m not fully used to my new bike yet, and I’m occasionally unstable on bumps. The issue here is that this bike offers a much firmer ride than my previous ones, and this is something I need to adapt to.
The weather and darkness are always a barrier.
So, when will I get off my padded butt and into the saddle? This weekend. Honest 😉