Biking it

I cycle to work and back every day now. I love it; it adds a whole new dimension to my life. I've done it before, of course, but for months and months now I've been commuting via metro. Quite ridiculous when I think about it as it's only 20 minutes by bike and far more reliable and pleasanter. Plus, you can enjoy the view more and don't have to sit there wondering if that guy with the long beard and frock and white crocheted whatsit on his head - that young guy who looks so serene - is actually harbouring something nasty in his little black rucksack. You see, one way or another it gets to you. I don't want to think like that but those thoughts are out there, hovering, waiting to take up residence. So I cycle instead.

My route takes me along the Amstel river. It's always nice there - a feeling of openness. Sometimes there are a couple of people out practising in long rowing boats (practising rowing, I mean, I don't think they're planning anything....) and when I come back in the evening there's a whole life going on there, people sitting out at little cafes having a drink. I pass a little bakery on the way which always has its doors open and I always think of buying myself a croissant or something but so far I never have done.

And part of the journey takes me over a canal and among trees. You've no idea how nice it is to see GREEN, to hear the birds, listen to the trees and smell the grass. I must be mad to have gone by metro so much when I could have been doing this. Nevermind, I'll enjoy it now.

And then you get to the bicycle shed at the office and find it's absolutely choc-a-bloc full, crammed end to end with bikes and you have to walk around looking for an empty rack that you squeeze your bike into, making sure that your neighbours on either side will be able to yank their beloved machines out without dislocating your handle-bars. There's an art to it which I've not quite got yet. And you see colleagues in there like you've never seen them before: guys who've arrived in the latest aerodyanmic head gear, sporting slick T-shirts, sexy tight black shorts and bulging biceps - like they've just come off the Tour de France. You wonder where they go to get changed and how long it takes them to transform into a Grey Suit, ready to sit behind a desk looking useful all day.

It's fascinating. It's opened up a whole new vista of life for me.