A toast to my companion on her birthday

She came into my life 19 years back. I still remember the day – the evening that I met her standing there – glowing skin, all fresh. I walked her down the 2 km distance till I reached home and the pride I felt was insurmountable. She was my constant companion through thick and thin for the next few years – 5 years to be precise – and then I had to share her with many others. Before your thoughts go wandering, let me clarify – am talking about the cycle that Appa bought for me when I was in my eighth standard!

Well, this was the most prized possession of mine for a long time. The gleaming maroon BSA-SLR cycle was the one that I took to school – having learnt cycling on my sister’s silver Speed King that had served it’s purpose quite well and could have been mine, but for the perception of ignominy that I had in mind in taking a ladies cycle to school on a daily basis. By the way, she is still cross with me for being the root cause of taking the cycle away from her – Appa gave it to his friend for a nominal amount since she had left home to pursue her higher studies and also because it became difficult to maintain and keep two cycles at home.

The first day was an eventful one. All was well in the morning ride – even the notorious district court bridge junction in our small town was negotiated with calm. However, in the evening, just about a furlong from home, the first “accident” happened – these two school girls were just alighting from their school auto and I could not brake hard – or rather the front brake did not work since my school lunch bag had already pressed on the brake wire – bump I went and hit into the younger one who fell down and started wailing! I did not know what to do, but then the elder sister picked her up and turned off, not before making a scornful face at me. The only other disaster that happened was the evening I was going to the badminton club for the first time, directly from school. The lunch bag was again to blame and my front wheel went straight into the sari-fold of a lady who was walking towards me. Before she could react, I was off in a hurry.

But for these two occurrences, the first 5 years were a breeze. My father used to go cycling to the temple and his driver used to take her out for lunch and these were the only rides she had while I was in college, away from home. But then, I used to more than make up for lack of activity for her, by cycling 10-12 km over the weekends that I used to be at home. And as I went farther away from home – job, post graduation etc, I used to ride my cycle less and less frequently. But still, Appa used to take care and ensure that annual overhauls happened and that she was fit for a ride whenever I went home.

The last two years have been difficult – no cycle rides at all, thanks to a niggling back pain. Was it the reason for me to turn an avid fan of Tour de France, the best cycling event in the world? Maybe! My friend and I had an interesting debate on whether cycling is worth watching, what with the drug tainted sport falling victim to too many controversies this year. But, I am afraid he is too clinical in his analysis and at times cannot relate to the thrill of wind hitting the body – my view is that cycling is the only activity where man and machine are so closely and physically involved in the process of transport. Watching the cyclists attack the Col du Gabriel mountain climb and the subsequent race down amid the scenic French countryside has to be seen. The sheer physical effort involved (drugs or no drugs!) took me back in time to those little races that we used to have, while in school. I used to win a very different race quite often – the slow cycle race which required more balance and control than effort.

As she enters her 20^th year and celebrates her birthday today, here’s wishing her more activity after a 2 year rest, since I am looking forward to getting back on my cycle. There is the interesting option of riding to work on my wife’s cycle, but then am a bit apprehensive since you guessed it right, it’s a ladies cycle!