Pri kolesarjenju imam rad več stvari. Všeč so mi sama kolesa – tako elegantna so, tako spretna in tako učinkovita. Obožujem kolesarjenje, ker me ohranja v dobri psiho fizični kondicij in pri dobrem zdravju, omogoča mi, da sem ves čas aktiven in uživam v življenju. Všeč mi je kolesarjenje, ker me vodi ven iz mesta, v naravo in na podeželje. Všeč so mi dolga potepanja s kolesom in raziskovanje novih krajev. Všeč mi je, ker mi nudi neodvisnost – saj se lahko dejansko vozim s kolesom po vsej državi in s seboj nosim vse, kar potrebujem in se mi ni treba zanašti na bencinske črpalke. Všeč mi je vznemirjenje, ko zagledam strm klanec in se trudim, da ga premagam in ko dirjam navzdol na drugi strani klanca ... Kot bi premagoval življenjske ovire!
Dejstvo, ki me pri kolesarjenju najbolj navdušuje, je, da kolesarjenje deluje pozitivno na naravo in svet kot celoto. Rad imam neokrnjeno naravo in mislim, da imamo moralno dolžnost skrbeti zanjo. In verjamem, da kolesarjenje k temu močno pripomore.
Ali ni nenavadno, da uporabljamo avtomobile, ki tehtajo več kot tono, z močjo več kot 100 konjev (in ustrezno porabo goriva), da prestavimo eno osebo za nekaj kilometrov? To je tako, kot da bi uporabili 1000 W reflektor za nočno lučko. Gre za neustrezno uporabo tehnologije. Kolo je lahko ustrezeno prevozno sredstvo – vsaj večino časa - in v mnogih državah vsi (ne samo revni ljudje ali prismuknjeni profesorji na fakultetah) to vedo in se ves čas vozijo s kolesom. In zato gre pri tem kolesarjenju – dokazati, da se s kolesom da premagovati razdalje. Tudi daljše, tiste med hribi in dolinami, med polji in rekami, in med državami … V dobro zemlje!
I like more things when it comes to cycling. I love the bikes themselves - they’re so sleek, so nimble and so efficient. I love cycling because it keeps me in good mental and physical condition and in good health, allows me to be active all the time and enjoy life. I love cycling because it takes me out of the city, into nature and into the countryside. I love long bike rides and exploring new places. I like it because it gives me independence - because I can actually ride my bike all over the country and carry everything I need with me and I don’t have to rely on gas stations. I love the thrill of seeing a steep slope and trying to overcome it and running down the other side of the slope ... Like overcoming life’s obstacles!
The fact that excites me the most about cycling is that cycling has a positive effect on nature and the world as a whole. I love unspoiled nature and I think we have a moral duty to take care of it. And I believe that cycling helps a lot.
Isn’t it unusual to use cars that weigh more than a ton, with more than 100 horsepower (and adequate fuel consumption) to move one person for a few miles? It’s like using a 1000 W spotlight for a night light. This is an inappropriate use of technology. A bicycle can be a suitable means of transport - at least most of the time - and in many countries everyone (not just poor people or sneaky college professors) knows this and rides a bicycle all the time.
And that is the essence of cycling - proving that cycling can cover distances. Even longer, those between hills and valleys, between fields and rivers, and between countries… For the good of the world!