I can remember when I was a kid and lived on Stubbs Avenue near 6th street in the 80's. I was always cutting through alleys and across my neighbors yards on my bike to get to my friends house on Auburn near 18th Street. I did not have to think twice about getting home from school and putting my books down just to grab up my bike and take off, I may end up anywhere from Forsythe Park to the Twin-City Mall depending on which of my buddies was going where after school.
My mom always knew I was on my bike, and she knew that I paid attention to everything I had learned in the bike safety class that I had taken. She was also re-assured by the pins and badges I had earned in Cub Scouts on bike safety. There was also the off chance that something did happen to me, or my bike. It was okay as well, we had registered it with the Monroe City Police Department, and placed the bright red sticker on my bike with its registration number just in case.
One day though, something bad happened. I turned 15, and got my learners permit. It was not much longer after that point that my bike was parked for a much 'cooler' mode of transportation. A 1966 VW beetle if you must know.
The years went by, but I still held onto my bike. Every time my mom wanted to get rid of it because it was taking up space I would remember the fun I had on it and ask her not to. Even after we moved to Arkansas, my bike went with me, and to this day it is sitting at my parents house.
I had all but forgotten about bike riding and the joy that it brought me, till one day I was at the doctor's office and heard the words "you have about 10 years to live if you keep gaining weight", Apparently the problem I was having with getting a good night's sleep was called Sleep Apnea and it was causing me to suffocate at night when I laid down.
I asked the doc what should I do, and was instructed on several different kinds of diets and exercises that would help me lose weight, which would remove pressure on my neck when I would lay down to sleep. About half of that just went in one ear and out the other, then I heard him say something about 'Go ride a bike or something'.
My ears perked up.
Not much else about that conversation stuck with me, as I am a typical guy that doesn't pay attention to anything (especially if you ask my wife). The bike riding caught my attention. Over the next several days all I could think about was those memories of riding my bike as a kid growing up in Monroe. Even as I told my wife the news about me dying in 10 years, that did not seem important to me. But the thought of getting on a bike again did.
So I started looking around for a bike, I went to the local department stores and browsed through them, but none seemed to fit me, or seemed to be able to hold up to my weight (I was over 281 at this time). As I was getting frustrated with trying to find a bike that I could use again, I started searching online for ones that would work. In that search I found several sites dealing with bikes, including a few from the North Louisiana area. So I signed up and started asking for advice.
Shortly after that, I had a bike finally! As soon as I got it home, I took it for a spin around my in-laws property. The results of that shocked me. I was barely able to make it half a mile before my legs were killing me and I was out of breath.
That was all it took to make me finally realize that I was fat and out of shape (hey, round is a shape right?) so I started looking online for ways to lose weight and signed up at a local gym as well.
For a short while I even had my wife interested in eating better and exercising, but sadly she enjoys her snack cakes and cokes too much.
Now though, six months later, I am still eating healthier. Very rarely do I eat something that has more than 5 ingredients in it. And I am quick to grab up a piece of fruit or some raw veggies to snack on instead of a candy bar. I even did away with all sorts of soft drinks and drink mostly water.
All of that has gotten me to where I now weigh 235 and can actually see my feet again, and buy clothing in most every store in town instead of having to hunt around to find a pair of pants that would fit and a shirt that was big enough.
But the part that is more important to me, Is the fact that I now ride on average 25 to 40 miles a week on my mountain bike, either at Lincoln Parish Park in Ruston, or around some of the local trails in the Monroe area as I discover them, or have friends show me where they are located.
Once again, I come home from work. Tell my wife and kid hi, and ask if it's ok if I go ride my bike. Then I am off again, letting all the troubles of the day just melt right out of my head as it is replaced with the sights and sounds of just enjoying a ride on my bike.
I would almost say I feel like a kid again, if it wasn't for the Advil that I end up taking when I get home, or my wife fussing at me because I got another cut or scrape on my legs while riding.
All I can say to anyone else that used to enjoy riding a bike, is why are you just sitting there now and thinking about it? get out and ride!
