Saturday, June 28, 2008

What is she thinking?

On my way to town yesterday, I met a cyclist pedalling along the highway in the rain. It was a miserable, cool, soaking afternoon and as I was wondering what motivates a person to go on a cycling trek, I met another cyclist who was lagging at least a mile behind. As I passed by, I recognized that the cyclist was a young woman. This is not the first time I've seen couples biking along the highway, the man way out in front while the woman struggles to keep up.
How much fun is that?
I mean, what is she thinking?
"I'm dying back here. There's no goddamned way I'm helping him set up that friggin' tent. I'm going to pedal right on past him and check into the first motel I see. Next time, he can bring Fat Larry and see how well he keeps up. I should just stop and see how long it takes for him to notice. I'm going to divorce him the minute we get home. No sex for him tonight."
I mean honestly, what woman in her right mind would go on a cycling trip with her husband without a motorized bike? No woman over 40, I'll tell you that much. By the time you hit the Big 4-0 you've gone on hikes, drywalled the basement together, moved a fridge up a flight of stairs and have come to the realization that hey, you're just not as strong as him. Trying to keep up is an exercise in futility, unless of course you're super fit and married to Fat Larry.
The only adventure I'd ever go on with Mark would be a canoe trip. I'd make sure it was with both of us in the same canoe. I'd sit behind him and chat up a storm and then whenever my arms got tired, I'd just stop paddling. It would be great fun. And we wouldn't have to get a divorce afterwards.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

How true that is! I have been walking the dogs down our road which is rural for our area and a whole team of these cyclists are coming down the road. There are no women. These guys are fanatics. They yell things that only they understand, then suddenly the guys in the front slow down, the guys in the back speed up and switch places, again yelling something incoherent. My dogs scramble to the ditch dragging me behind through the bullrushes and mud until the road is safe again. The dogs are not afraid of my bike, but then I ride like a 41 year old woman.
La di da.....
Nance

Karen said...

Speaking of bike riding, I have to get out and get some exercise today, too. Will do a comparatively short ride to these racers and trekkers, probably 4 miles or so. I'll be outriding the mosquitoes that are pretty thick . . .

Thoughts about writing and life in rural Manitoba

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