What We Would Say

I chose cycling because it’s the only time I don’t feel like a klutz.
I chose cycling because I can’t stick the ball.
I chose cycling because I didn’t play team sports.
I chose cycling because I’m still awkward around people.
I chose cycling because I can ride with other people for two hours and
never speak.
I chose cycling because it’s the only time I see my own mastery.
I chose cycling because it helps me collect my thoughts.
I chose cycling because it keeps me from slamming cupboards.
I chose cycling because I like machines.
I chose cycling because it gets me away from other people.
I chose cycling because it’s an excuse
to clear my head
to smell the world
to earn that next beer
for why I’m an ass when I haven’t ridden.
I chose cycling because I didn’t need to be good at it to do it.
I chose cycling because it has never not been fun.
I chose cycling because coasting.
I chose cycling because it gave me friends who don’t think I’m weird.
I chose cycling because now that I know what it’s like to be good at
one thing, I’ve learned how to be good at other things.
I didn’t choose cycling to learn discipline, but I did.
I didn’t choose cycling to be fit, but I am.
I didn’t choose cycling to learn how to use tools, but I have.
I didn’t choose cycling to see the world, but I have.
I chose cycling because it’s the only way I can have some conversations.
I chose cycling because the sky is blue.
I didn’t choose cycling to fight depression, but it does.
I didn’t choose cycling to learn about pain, but I did.
I didn’t choose cycling to learn about love, but I have.
I didn’t choose cycling to write about, but I needed to.
Sometimes I think cycling chose me.

Image: Jorge “Koky” Flores, JustPedal

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