Things are becoming increasingly complicated.

A friend decided to get into cycling for fitness. Sounds simple enough, right?

The bike shop, however, didn’t just sell him a bicycle. They handed him an entire lifestyle. Fitness tracker, charger, cycling computer, lights, glasses, performance apparel, padded shorts, helmet, water bottle, lighting system. And that was just the beginning. He was advised to get a professional bike fit, customize the frame, understand biomechanics, study riding principles, download apps, analyze data. There were everyday shoes and professional shoes. Pedals had to match. The bike couldn’t be ridden casually. It had to be transported properly for safety.

By the time he finished explaining, I felt slightly dizzy. Are we preparing to ride a bike or preparing to become “someone who rides a bike”?

When I was younger, it wasn’t like this. We rode battered bicycles where nothing worked properly except maybe the wheels. If the bell didn’t ring, everything else rattled. No monitoring. No metrics. No professional fitting. But we could ride for hours. And those bikes often survived decades.

Today’s equipment is more delicate and more demanding. It looks advanced, but it seems to whisper constantly: You don’t know enough yet. You’re not ready.

So “riding a bike” slowly shifts from being an action to being a qualification. From a joy to a procedure.

When preparation costs more than participation, you start to wonder: do I truly want to ride, or do I just want to complete the correct setup?

Sometimes I miss the era when we knew nothing and started anyway.

Back then, we weren’t equipping our image. We were simply riding.



—— XC Scribbles · 壹佰壹拾參 CXIII 🚲