Fear of Flying

LAST NIGHT A BIKE MECHANIC SAVED MY LIFE…

There are few things more amazing than the feeling of flying. Some of us get it by diving the ocean depths, some by racing cars or even para-gliding but in my not so humble opinion, the bicycle rules. The simplicity of design, the endless possibilities of form and function but when such simple parts come together it is pure magic. Remember that amazing freedom when one took those first tentative wobbles with or without a parent close behind. And when you had the “Ah ha!” moment! That was when the flying kicked in. Warm summer evenings in the ‘hood, early fall days riding to school or maybe riding by the sea or a river with your family. Any way you slice it riding = flying!

In fact, to this day if I have a flying dream I am almost never able to fly higher than two meters off the ground, the exact height of my eyes when riding my bike! And when one is in the saddle  there always comes a point where speed comes into the equation. Maybe it was your first time out, maybe later when you and your friend “decide” to see who can get to that stop sign first. Either way eventually speed becomes part of your life and with speed comes flying too.

Then the inevitable crash. That first big one. Everything was going so well and then… sky, bike, ground, pain, blood. The day everything changed. Welcome to the world of earth bound angels. Now you have two competing factors when you are on your bike. The need to fly vs. the need to keep ones skin intact and ones limbs in place. If you are like most cycling addicts that I know, the rest of your riding career is spent balancing between fear and flying. And if you go the freeride, BMX, dirt jump or downhill route as many of us have then there is even more flying! And this time the air is real! Gap jumps, log drops, step ups… the list of ways to get your bike into the air and fly is growing every day. And with each revolution (nudge nudge) there is added… consequence.

So how do we manage the fear and the flying? Everyone has their own methodology. Some use banned substances, some visualize, some practice, practice practice and some stay home and watch other people ride on the wide screen. But for myself when it comes time to “slipping the surly bonds of earth” there is one thing that gives me the confidence to fly.

My mechanic.

Whether you do your own wrenching or frequent a local shop for your weekly dose of mechanical courage. There is nothing like the feeling of a freshly tuned bike to inspire the confidence to “chase the shouting wind along, and fling, my eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .” Well… maybe I am being a bit poetic but what I am saying is… a properly maintained bike lets you fly!

Don’t skimp. If your brakes feel “funny”, if your tire has a wobble, if you have crashed hard, bring your bike to your local shop or the garage and make sure its ready for your next “flight” because having broken more bikes and parts that I care to talk about the thing that keeps me launching skyward is simple.

Regular inspection, maintenance and care.

Do as the man said and, “Just Do It!”

Poetry from: High Flight by: ~John Gillespie Magee, Jr