I am often asked – sometimes asked, at least once – how I manage to stay so fit and healthy. I’m in my mid-60s and can still keep up with the teenage schoolkids I teach. It’s easy to say, “I cycle everywhere,” but anyone can cycle – and most don’t. So, there must be some principle that keeps me riding my bike when most of my colleagues are comfortably encased in their motorcars.
After some reflection, here are the key reasons I remain fit:
- Stinginess
Cars are expensive, not only to buy but also to run. There’s a constant outflow of money – not just for fuel but also insurance, repairs, servicing, parking, and, let’s not forget, the occasional police fine. Bicycles incur some costs too, but they’re negligible by comparison – perhaps TZS 300,000 a year versus over TZS 6 million to run a typical car like a RAV4.
So I’m saving a considerable sum annually by not owning one. (Of course, I could save even more by not owning a Rolls-Royce!)
- Forgetfulness
A trait that’s often seen as a nuisance, but on the bright side, it means I often repeat journeys – accidentally boosting my exercise. - Lateness
Again, a trait that might seem bothersome, but it means I regularly cycle at top speed in a desperate effort to arrive on time.
Take a typical Friday night: I’ll be cycling to a relaxing spot with happy hour. Ten minutes into the journey, I realise I’ve forgotten my wallet. Cue a frantic dash back home and then an equally urgent ride to the bar – just in time for the end of happy hour.
It’s worth noting my condition on arrival: Hot, sweaty, perhaps a bit tired, but not the least bit stressed.
Anyone looking for a sustainable way to stay fit should consider cycling or walking – not as exercise, but as a mode of transport. The problem with designating fixed slots for exercise – Thursday night football, Saturday gym sessions, etc – is that life gets in the way.
A wedding, a date, a BBQ invite… It would be rude to decline, and your scheduled session (which, truthfully, wasn’t enough to begin with) is lost.
But as a committed cyclist, the busier I am, the more exercise I get. And yes, you can cycle to a wedding. Arrive early, change on arrival. You can even cycle in the dark – modern bike lights are excellent and traffic often gives cyclists more consideration at night than during the day.
Shopping? No problem – just don’t try to carry everything at once. Do a bit each time you’re in town. Parking? Never an issue.
Even dates have potential benefits. Had we both come in separate cars, we’d have left separately. Arrive by bike, and you might just ride home together – with the bike stashed in the car.
The benefits extend beyond me. Raising my children with the same habits resulted in fit, competent young adults who seem better equipped for life. She and children figured out how to free a bike chain stuck between the frame and crank later than me. The answer, you see, was to unlock drains and change fuses. Yes, we’ve had a few accidents over the years, but another thing I’ve noticed: fit people heal faster.
And even ties Kilifair, where parking is a nightmare? Guess where I park.
