Zurich by bike

Zurich by bike

A few years ago I did something that I felt was quite outrageous. I sold my car and for not much less than the I price I got for it I bought a bike. Not, I hasten to add, a nice BMW motorbike nor even a Vespa. No, a pedal cycle or a pushbike, a bicycle, basically.

It seemed such a huge outlay at the time but it is one that I have never regretted. Having a bike that actually works, that fits me is a true lxury whose value I always appreciate. Everytime I ride it I remember why I bought it: is infinitely preferable to owning an aging audi with a leaking boot and a thirst for expensive fuel.

I am pleased to see in these past few days that fellow Zurichers have returned to their bicycles after neglecting them over the winter months. The streets are once again filled with two wheelers, quite a feat in a city with the topography of Zurich.

Whenever I am at risk of feeling smug about my level of fitness I simply go out on the Zuriberg and wait until a grandmother on her citybike overtakes me. The level of fitness that local bicycle riders have is quite stunning to me.

And so, with some trepidation, I am about to embark on an Alpine cycle tour. I have bought the appropriate kit: the lycra shorts with their disconcertingly heavy liner, the little cut off weight-lifter gloves, the oversized crash hat and the ludicrous panniers.

I could have the clip on shoes, the GPS navigation kit and rearview mirror but somehow I just didn’t see the need. Let us hope that I don’t come to regret it.

This will be the first proper cycle tour I have done with my new spiffy bike, the last major journey I undertook was on a racing cycle I bought from the Veloboerse for 200 Swiss francs. One day 2 of our tour one of the pedals simply fell off. I don’t know if you have ever tried to ride a bike with one pedal? its quite hard. Rather like trying to swim with one arm. You try to overcompensate with the one side that still works but the result is a frustratingly lop sided experience. in the end I resorted to attaching my foot to the functioning pedal with a pair of boxer shorts in an effort to be able to pull the pedal through the upwards phase of its cycle as well as being able to push down. Did it work? no. Did my leg hurt? Yes.

So I am hoping this weekend will not include a repeat of this little incident.

My cycle tour companions will be fellow Swiss: the result is that we know in advance where we will be going and How many days we will need, the downside is that I fear their calculation of our average speed is more likely to be based on their own abilities rather than my own. I knew there was a reason I didn’t need a rear view mirror. There ain't going to be no one riding behind me.