My Cycle & I: Cycling in dartford
Dartford is a beautiful town and my love for the place and it’s people has only grown multifold with time. The community is so rich and diverse, people are grounded and it’s real. I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said that the feelings have only become stronger after I discovered the opportunities for Cycling in Dartford.
I wonder how many of you are able to understand the relationship that I share with my bicycle. When I say, it helps me breeze around effortlessly and also excites the child in me, does it connect with you? I describe the attraction as a crush as it is an intense emotion, even faded with time, now reappeared with a strong sense of longing and desire for the object of attraction: “The cycle”
There’s a kind of confidence that comes on when my feet are on the pedals with my hands holding the handlebar. I am not one of those strenuous cyclists who cycle in a particular posture for hours on complex, laborious terrains. No offence to them. They are of a different calibre and I can admire their competence.
I only cycle because it gives me a special kind of freedom. It gives me joy. When the wind brushes against my face, I know I am blushing. When I see the plants, the trees, flowers, fruits and the smaller animals on the way, I am excited about this creation and feel grateful to be surrounded by such beauty. It will be very restricting for me not to be able to move my head around and enjoy the beauty of the journey.
Etymology of ‘Cycle’
The word ‘Cycle’ originates from the Latin cyclus and Greek kuklos, both meaning “circle”. According to historical records, the origins of cycling dates back to 1791, in the gardens of the Palais Royal, in Paris, France. The first cycle was a rigid two-wheeled contraption, called a celerifere.
Over the course of the 19th century, the addition of steering, pedals, rubber tyres and metal frames improved upon the original celerifere design. Thus came the invention of the Rover or the Safety bicycle in 1885.
Cycle king Dartford
2016: It was almost as if I had forgotten that I ever rode a bicycle! The move to Dartford, slowly getting to know the place and further, a chance glance at this shop, on the high-street, definitely shifted something in me. I wanted to buy a bicycle, but wasn’t sure if I could ride one, especially, here, in the UK. Now, it all seems so easy. Then, I was immersed in a lot of doubt. 
To add to the dilemma, I fell off the cycle on my test ride. What an embarrassment! I am sure I swallowed the pain because I went on to buy my first cycle in the UK from Cycle King, the same day.
Cycle King Dartford is very much the local shop with some amazing staff who are so passionate about what they do. I have been there seeking advice on even trivial matters and they have always been extremely helpful. At times that I have needed their help the most, I have received it. Not even once, I was made to feel awkward.
Cycling in Dartford – The Dartford Cyclety Club
The Dartford Cyclety club was the next big blessing in my cycling journey. I have met some amazing people here, I struggle to think who is better than the other. The truth is that they are all pure cycle enthusiasts and I struck a chord with them instantly.
I must say that I have been blessed with some wonderful time, cycling in Dartford with the club on beautiful and adventurous routes. There are people like Sally, Andrew, Louisa, David & Ian who lead the rides in and around Dartford, week after week. The ride begins in front of the Dartford library at 10am every Saturday. The brain behind the club and it’s amazing logo is Gennaro, who also organises the Free cycle repair events. I have been lucky to be part of a few where I had the opportunity to learn how to fix a puncture and also observe the ‘bicycle experts’ at work.
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The most favourite of my rides are definitely the ones along the river. There are some hilly rides which are not only scenic but also provide the adrenaline rush coming down the slopes. The distance covered may range from 11 to 14 miles.
Needless to say that the Dartford Cyclety club and it’s members are phenomenal in offering encouragement to new comers and also planning rides to suit the newest member who joins on the Saturday. Another interesting high was participating in the London ride with my husband and hundreds of other people. It was an unbelievable sight and experience with no cars or buses on the streets of London, an absolute rarity.
The London Ride
Cycling in Childhood
Where we lived in India, most kids cycled to school. So we would cycle home for lunch and return within the hour. Our school encouraged cycling and maintained a massive cycle stand. My father bought me two cycles, not the one I wanted though. It’s interesting in retrospect, because I wanted a bicycle like the one I have now. The model was then called BSA SLR, very sleek and stylish. My father who was obviously concerned for my safety, successfully overrode my desire and bought me an ‘Atlas’ cycle, a red one while I was in primary school. In secondary school, I got lucky again. This time it was a blue one. As the name suggests, it was a tough, robust cycle.
I do not remember being dissatisfied or unhappy with my cycle at all. I made the most of it. It gave me a lot of freedom to go wherever I chose to. I cannot write this and not think of my cycle buddy. Revathy, a cycle enthusiast, go-getter, nature lover, someone who had great ideas and created magic with her pen, now works for the movies.
Cycling and Homeopathy
Being a homeopathic practitioner, naturally, I was curious and looked up the homeopathic repertory to find the homeopathic connection. I found the following few symptoms and remedies:
Dreams of riding a bicycle: lac-leo, dulc, ruta
Pain in the nates from riding a bicycle: nit-ac
Pain in the knees, patella from riding a bicycle: mag-m
Numbness of hands aggravated by riding a bicycle: ars, caust, merc
Numbness of feet riding a bicycle: lach
Back pain, sacral region, riding a bicycle: sulph
Back pain, lumbar region, riding a bicycle: alum
Interesting, isn’t it? That’s because riding a cycle is a voluntary activity and an enjoyable one when performed for leisure. On the contrary, there are roughly 90 remedies for complaints from riding in a car or a carriage!
Benefits of Cycling
Cycling is a low-impact exercise that’s easier on the joints when compared to high-impact exercises like running. Hence, it covers a wider range of fitness levels.
>Cycling can be a fun way to get fit and have vibrant health.
>Cycling engages major muscle groups and helps to build core strength.
>I realised that Cycling can be a form of meditation, especially when you are on very narrow paths. There is an intense awareness that comes on with the focus. It also helps to foster a sense of calm.
>Cycling improves circulation and is good for the heart.
Impression
My understanding is that if you absolutely enjoyed going around on your bicycle, as a child, which is not uncommon, until study or busy life took over; inviting it back into your life and feeling the joyous emotions all over again can perhaps bring about a paradigm shift. It could also be that you are working on your paradigm shift either consciously or as an unconscious competent and this happens naturally.
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