More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Really, in a lot of ways being a cyclist is like being a vampire. First of all, both cyclists and vampires are cultural outcasts with cult followings who clumsily walk the line between cool and dorky. Secondly, both cyclists and vampires resemble normal humans, but they also lead secret double lives, have supernatural powers, and aren’t governed by the same rules as the rest of humanity—though cycling doesn’t come with the drawbacks of vampirism.
However, cyclists never forget that they’re operating a vehicle. If you forget to pedal you stop moving. If you lose your balance you tip over. You can’t fall asleep. You have to be aware of the road surface at all times, and you feel every inch of it. You actually recognize different types of pavement. You know there will be ice when it’s cold, you know that heat can make the road surface softer, and you know that the painted lines can be slippery in the rain.
(Humans are the only animals that use other animals to facilitate mating. Have you ever seen a monkey use a squirrel to pick up another monkey?)
We’ve all seen a dog wearing a sweater or a T-shirt. Sometimes, this is because the dog simply can’t handle the cold. However, just as often the dog is wearing clothing because its owner is laboring under the sad misapprehension that the dog is human.
