Excuses,Excuses

       Something I always find amazing is that people feel a need to justify riding a bike, like having fun is not part of their paradigm.   The spandex hamsters do it by being meticulous about recording their mileage, weight and tracking their fitness levels over all sorts of programs and mobile electronics.  Some actually imagine they must develop themselves systematically to reach a level of "excellence" as if preparing for some imaginary competition.
      I started riding years ago because I didn't like to sit down, and had a 16 hour per day sedentary routine between work and school.  That was enough.  I never really have understood the routine of going out once a week to a club ride and calling myself a cyclist.  But that is what is acceptable in our world because being a fitness fanatic is justifiable.
     What about simple things?  Like going to work, the grocery store, the bank or the mall.  That is really not on the radar screen for Americans.  The comments I get are really hilarious at times.  On many occasions I'll ride to the store to pick up some stuff, run into an aquaintance (who knows that I cycle)  and while talking on our way out they see me stop and start loading things onto my bike.

and have them stop, stunned and say, "My God!  I had no idea.  Do you need a ride?  No, really it's no problem."  They react as if it's unthinkable to choose to carry something on a bike.  Or, in some cases the well meaning individual will give me the "high road" out of the situation and say something like:
"Getting some exercise today, hugh?"
and I reply,
"No, I'm just getting some groceries"
"But getting your exercise..."
"No, just eggs, salad, some steak and beer."
Or the other day I got one who feigned admiration in his own way.
"Boy, that's great, you must be saving some money, not burning up gas, good exercise too.  Yeah great for the heart.  There must be a thousand reasons we should do more of it!"
I said, "Yeah, I suppose, but I like it because it's fun."
He turned his head to one side and stared at me.
I smiled.
He blinked.
I rode away as he continued to stare...and blink.