2.18.2008

#1 又一個環島的笨蛋 - 之行前囘想篇



話説又有一個笨蛋打算環台灣島一圈 !



Why do anyone want to do something like this?



It is stupid, waste of time, waste of energy and torturing ... not to mention hazardous to your health.

So why?

I asked myself the same question as well.


You would be thinking that there must be a better way to spend my time then to devote one's time and energy to such a mindless act. Consider that I have not been active in any form of sports for a long time. The last time I was madly in love with cycling was about ... er ... [counting with fingers] almost 20 years ago.


Yes ... I was once in love with cycling!



My hero then was Greg Lemond.

The bike that I was drooling over was Colnago & Bianchi.

I was fastinated with Look clipless padels.

It was Campagnolo Record (it is still THE crankset to get today) that I wished I was padeling on.

I bought myself a Okleys Razor Iridium then as it was the only thing that Greg Lemond has and I could afford with my misarable pocket money.


Also ...


I was about 25kgs lighter then and was able to maintain a speed of 35km/h without much serious effort.


About 4 years ago, 15 years since I last cycled, I decided to get back into cycling. Bought myself a Giant Yukon as the latest fashion then was to have a moutnain bike.


Why mountain bike?


I really don't know but one thing is for sure, I was not about to climb any mountain with it. Don't think I could even handle street road, needless to say off-road. The moment I cycled home with my spanking new bike, there was the immdeiate dissappointment (you thought I was going to say satisfaction, right?). Yup, you heard me right ... great, great dissappointment!


Why? ... There was no wind in my face, no satisfaction of speed. No matter how hard I pedal, the speed remains at 25 km/h. The immediate thought was that: "Could I have been that bad in my physical health that I could not relive my days of youth again?"


I tried a few more times, taking the new bike on short (really short) trips. Every time, it was the same conclusion. It was terribly de-moralizing.


A year later, the condition of my bad back worsen. I had to undergo surgery. Hence, I sold my Giant Yukon on Yahoo! Bid to a young chap. And have not been really on a bike ever since, doctor said so ... "It is not advisable ..."



Yet the desire and yearn to cycle laid silently to be re-kindled ...