Zen and the Art of City Biking

Zen Seeker: "What has Zen got to do with the Art of City Biking, O learned one?"

Learned One: "More than you can possibly comprehend at the moment, O zen seeker. City biking is not just about commuting from one point to another, of knowing when to change gears and when to go full throttle. It is, in the very least, the Art of Squeeze".

ZS: "Squeeze? Did I hear right?"

LO: "Yes. Squeeze. It is the art of squeezing within obstacles to find a way, just like water finds its way through boulders in upper Himalayas. A city biker must find his path, no matter how many obstacles mar his way. He will end up with scratches, the obstacles will scream at him, but no matter what, he cannot stop, he must go on. And there lies Zen - to find a way around obstacles and to keep going on."

ZS: "Interesting."

LO: "There's more to Zen and the Art of City Biking. It tells us that some people may be in the biggest, most comfortable cars, but they move at a crawling pace compared to the city biker, who has to bear the harshness of sun, pools of puddle, black fumes of smoke and constant blaring of horns, but keeps on moving at a good pace."

ZS: "So some people would rather choose discomfort over stagnancy. Very interesting, but this is getting too heavy."

LO: "You haven't read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, have you? Don't even try! There's more. The Art of City Biking is also the Art of Skidding every now and then, but letting Time the Great Healer (and the neighbourhood clinic) heal your wounds, and continuing biking without fearing the next crash."

ZS: "Wow, that's a lot of Zen for a single post."

LO: "Let me close with one last piece of Zen. City Biking is about freedom, constant motion, obstacles, and exchanging comfort for speed. Last but not the least, the Art of City Biking is the art of synchronizing your office hours to drop that cute co-worker home without worrying about the traffic!"

ZS: "Well said! :) "

Epilogue:
The author travels roughly 70 km a day commuting from home to work and back. He rides an ordinary city bike, and really wants to purchase a Honda.

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