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What's The Rush...Where's The Fire?

Blog Date - 09 August 2012

2 days a week I work in Runcorn, 25 miles via A and B roads from my home.  I make the journey first thing in the morning to avoid the rush hour traffic but it still takes just over an hour.  I always set off in good time so that hour is a calm, relaxed hour, not a frantic hour full of panic and fear of being late.  I can keep to the speed limits, I don't need to filter, I've time to fuel up and time to take in what's going on around me.  I can do all this and still arrive 15 minutes early so I've time for a brew.

Yet even at the ungodly hour I leave my home it seems the rest of the world is in a desperate rush and I'm an unwilling participant in a race.  The race is to be the first to the next lights, the first to the junction and the first into a straight jacket judging by the levels of stress some people seem to be under to win.  Every traffic light is a grand prix start and woebetide anyone like me who sets off casually, they're likely to be rear-ended or given a blast of the horn.

What has changed over the years I've been riding is the ultimate top speeds.  Like it or not, speed cameras, unmarked cars and other speed traps makes for what is quite a funny race, the race to 30...well usually 35 at that time of day.  20 years ago it would have been 40 or even 50 in a 30 zone.  Now they all zip off in a cloud of fumes then the brake lights come on and the nose dips as they exceed the limit then worry about the white van parked in the layby. 

It seems in the morning everyone's in a mad rush but they're very busy too, whilst driving.  Of course a number of these folks are involved in a very important phone call, some are shaving while others are applying makeup.  At the traffic lights that boring 30 second wait can be filled with useful activity by reading the paper or looking at spreadsheets.  Some are completely focused on the race, leaning forwards in their seats and staring earnestly at the vehicle in front, trying to will it to speed up or turn off. 

I used to be like that.  Everything was a race and everyone had to be beaten.  Even if I wasn't late it was a matter of pride and prowess.  I'd like to think I'm more grown up now.  In reality I just can't be bothered any more.   I've done enough years and enough mileage to know it's a race I can't win so I don't even try.  And what a difference it's made to how I feel about the ride to work.  No longer is it a tense time full of challenges to my manhood and battles over road position, it's a time to relax and enjoy the sensation of being on the bike, to notice what I'm passing through and to reflect.

The biggest key to achieving this is setting off in good time.  It means getting out of bed earlier, something I do not relish.  It means making sure I'm organised the night before and it means I'm at work before I need to be.  It's all worth it though.  To be able to see a queue of cars at the lights as a lane's closed and know I've enough leeway not to panic.  To save fuel.  To save wear and tear on the bike by riding in a gentle manner.  To be moving but not rushing.  And most of all...to watch the stupid idiots faces as they stare at me and will me out of the way as I travel at the speed limit looking calm and serene.

I'm still in the rat race, I'm just in reverse...

Reader's Comments

John Almond said :-
Same here Ren. When I worked in Bolton an eight mile journey I would always set out early wether I was in the car, or on the scoot. The lads always said "how come you are always in work at 7.30 when we only start at 8.00" I would look at them all fired up and sweating and rushing about loading the vans. I had had a brew and quick smoke and read the morning paper and always relaxed.

Now I dont have that problem what so ever, I only work about a quarter mile away and start at 9.00..........lol..........:)
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Tom McQuiggan said :-
I used to commute to LEEDS and back every day and I dreaded every second of it. And then I changed my mindset - instead of looking at it as a slog to work and a haul back home at night, I convinced myself it was my "ME TIME".

I began to chill out and use the time not to commute, but to listen to music that I never seemed to find the time to play at home. I downloaded all my CD's to my iPod, hit the shuffle-button and enjoyed an ecclectic range of tracks from all music genres. In the end, I began looking forward to my journeys :-)
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC

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