I have often heard people say that many things in life are analogous to riding a bike. You may not have done it in a long, long time, but despite the hiatus from that activity, you should still remember how to do it–how to balance and pedal once you get back on that bike for a ride.

Is it really true for all things in life? That because you have done it in the past, you will definitely remember how to do it today?… And you can just resume that activity, as if you never forgot how to, like you never even had that long hiatus?

I am a personal testimony to the fact that it is not always possible to just get back on the bike and start riding. After four years, I still have trouble getting back on the bicycle. It’s been so long of not cycling that I have a tremendous fear of falling, of slipping and sliding, of crashing and burning.

The fear is because of my last experience with cycling, where despite my supposed skill and intentions of biking successfully, I lost my balance and fell, flipped out and rolled over, breaking my leg. I was in a cast and on crushes for six months, the doctors having to put a steel rod into my leg. After my leg healed, I was able to walk again; the rod was removed, but still there were scars left from the accident and the surgery that was necessary for my healing.

In the past couple years, I have wanted to start cycling again. I even bought new shoes and cycling gloves, and have been training in the Rec center with the stationary bikes. I really wanted to get back to cycling. So intent and desirous of cycling again, I consulted cycling trainers and other cyclist who have been on the bike circuit for a long time. I read books on the methods and techniques of successful bicycling, how-to’s and also how-not-to’s. Furthermore, I have even gone so far as going to various bike stores to check out what is available today in terms of bikes — new ones and old/used ones.

I have on occasion found a bike that I wanted. Some looked really nice on the outside, but the parts and mechanics of the gear system did not fit my preferences. One looked good, but was an 18-speed while I wanted at least a 21-speed. Other times, I found a bike that had all the specs that I wanted, but the paint job did not look the way I wanted. There was another one that had the perfect gears, brakes and suspension, and even looked amazing, but it was just too expensive and out of my price range! Or, there was a similar one where the price just seemed way too good and cheap to be true. All in all, I have not ridden a bike in all these years.

As I have mentioned, I have recently started training in the gym again, working out on the stationary bike and elliptical machine, getting ready to start cycling again. It has been a tiring experience so far, because I have not ridden in so long and am so out of shape. I wish there was another way to rid myself of the fear of getting back on the real bike, to build my strength and endurance, but such a training regiment pales in its effectiveness compared to just getting back on a bike and really cycling.

And thus, I am seriously considering cycling again. I have found one bike that I’d like to try right now, and would like to commit to cycling with it. However, I still don’t feel like I know how to cycle; I am trying to rid myself of the fears of falling and getting hurt. Even so, I have been reminded on many occasions that the benefits outweigh the negatives.

I just pray that I am ready for this, and hope that my heart can take it.

(Originally published Aug.29, 2007; republished March 27, 2009)

And it’s a sad picture, the final blow hits you:
Somebody else gets what you wanted again.
You know it’s all the same, another time and place;
Repeating history and you’re getting sick of it.

But I believe in whatever you do; and I’ll do anything to see it through
–because these things will change!

Can you feel it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down
It’s a revolution, the time will come for us to finally win!
We’ll sing hallelujah!  We’ll sing hallelujah, oh!

So we’ve been outnumbered, raided and now cornered:
It’s hard to fight when the fight ain’t fair.
We’re getting stronger now, found things they never found;
They might be bigger but we’re faster and never scared.

You can walk away, say we don’t need this; but there’s something in your eyes says we can beat this
–because these things will change!

Tonight we’ll stand and get off our knees, fight for what we’ve worked for all these years.
The battle was long, it was the fight of our lives; but we’ll stand up, champions tonight.
It was the night things changed…

It’s a revolution, throw your hands up, ’cause we never gave in!

Here are the photos of my recent trip to the Creation Museum, near Cincinnati.

Click here for a slideshow of all the photos!  For the lazy ones, here’s a few thumbnails to whet your appetite

I generally don’t want to post this sappy stuff on my blog these days, but I recently quoted the phrase “overwhelmed with gratitude” and accidentally attributed it to Boyz II Men, when it wasn’t them who said it. Thus, here I am to set the record straight, giving credit where credit is due

The quote is actually from the song “Thank God I Found You“, sung by Mariah Carey, featuring 98 Degrees and Joe.

I would give up everything, before I’d separate myself from you
After so much suffering, I finally found unvarnished truth
I was all by myself, for the longest time, so cold inside
And the hurt from the heartache would not subside
I felt like dying, until you saved my life

CHORUS:
Thank God I found you, I was lost without you
My every wish and every dream, Somehow became reality
When you brought the sunlight, completed my whole life
I’m overwhelmed with gratitude
Cause baby, I’m so thankful I found you

I would give you everything — there’s nothing in this world I wouldn’t do
To ensure your happiness, I’ll cherish every part of you
Cause without you beside me, I can’t survive — I don’t want to try
If you’re keeping me warm each and every night, I’ll be alright
Cause I need you in my life

Bridge:
See, I was so desolate before you came to me
Looking back I guess it shows that we were destined to shine
After the rain to appreciate the gift of what we have
And I’d go through it all over again to be able to feel this way

I don’t like fruitcake… but apple jam on a breakfast biscuit is enjoyable

We were just arriving at the coffee shop the other day and this classic happy song was playing on the radio! Crazy For This Girl by evan and jaron:

She rolls the window down
And she
Talks over the sound
Of the cars that pass us by
And I don’t know why
But she’s changed my mind

CHORUS:
Would you look at her, she looks at me
She’s got me thinking about her constantly
But she dont know how I feel
And as she carries on without a doubt
I wonder if she’s figured out
I’m crazy for this girl

She was the one to hold me
The night
The sky fell down
And what was I thinking when
The world didn’t end
Why didn’t I know what I know now

BRIDGE:
Right now, face to face
All my fears pushed aside
And right now
I’m ready to spend the rest of my life
With you