Independent Record Stores
Bicycles Are Cool
RECEIVED Tue., Feb. 10, 2004
Dear Editor,
10 Reasons to Get a Bicycle:
1) Burn calories, not fuel. Cost effective and beneficial to the body and environment.
2) Sex appeal. Not only are there natural slimming effects, but that clarity of mind that is reflected in the eyes, that soft sweat, that natural glow that comes with a nice ride.
3) Fight terrorism. Don't pay for gas – don't pay for incentives to destroy in the name of "freedom." In addition, if there is a festival/event with lots of people and a bomb goes off or shit hits the fan in any myriad of ways, on bike, you're golden. Take the back roads, leave the traffic/chaos behind.
4) It feels good. It feels like a crime to take a vehicle anywhere after riding a bike for a while. The bicyclist experiences the cool smells of nature, the patterns of stones, and the silence of ponds – the details that make a journey memorable and pleasurable.
5) Creativity. Bicycling is an exercise in creativity, there are so many ways to get from point A to point B: back roads, alleys, grassy hills, etc.
6) Stress relief. With any physical exertion, the natural endorphins flow, stress becomes magically manageable.
7) It's cool. Just try not to feel cool as you coast up to the bar while others fume in the parking nightmare.
8) Learn your geography. By bike, there are several bistros, cafes, bars, parks, trails, etc. that you can discover, those places overlooked when conducting a vehicle.
9) Don't drink and drive. Bike to drunkenness, cab home. If there are four people, the night's transportation costs anywhere from three to five bucks a person. I can't put a value on peace of mind.
10) Saying hi, aka a sense of community. Via bike, you can actually say hi to people because they actually say hi (this reason obviously does not impress the country folk), the social distance in a car is stark when compared to the warmth of cruising through the hood with that "hey-what's-up" Zen flowing from your spokes.
10 Reasons to Get a Bicycle:
1) Burn calories, not fuel. Cost effective and beneficial to the body and environment.
2) Sex appeal. Not only are there natural slimming effects, but that clarity of mind that is reflected in the eyes, that soft sweat, that natural glow that comes with a nice ride.
3) Fight terrorism. Don't pay for gas – don't pay for incentives to destroy in the name of "freedom." In addition, if there is a festival/event with lots of people and a bomb goes off or shit hits the fan in any myriad of ways, on bike, you're golden. Take the back roads, leave the traffic/chaos behind.
4) It feels good. It feels like a crime to take a vehicle anywhere after riding a bike for a while. The bicyclist experiences the cool smells of nature, the patterns of stones, and the silence of ponds – the details that make a journey memorable and pleasurable.
5) Creativity. Bicycling is an exercise in creativity, there are so many ways to get from point A to point B: back roads, alleys, grassy hills, etc.
6) Stress relief. With any physical exertion, the natural endorphins flow, stress becomes magically manageable.
7) It's cool. Just try not to feel cool as you coast up to the bar while others fume in the parking nightmare.
8) Learn your geography. By bike, there are several bistros, cafes, bars, parks, trails, etc. that you can discover, those places overlooked when conducting a vehicle.
9) Don't drink and drive. Bike to drunkenness, cab home. If there are four people, the night's transportation costs anywhere from three to five bucks a person. I can't put a value on peace of mind.
10) Saying hi, aka a sense of community. Via bike, you can actually say hi to people because they actually say hi (this reason obviously does not impress the country folk), the social distance in a car is stark when compared to the warmth of cruising through the hood with that "hey-what's-up" Zen flowing from your spokes.
With the sincerest delusions of grandeur,
Jeremy Lowery
Jeremy Lowery
