For on that morning when I drove to work
and stopped at a set of traffic lights the car
was actually being rocked by the winds.
There are certainly times when one has
to ignore the often misguided concept of
calling someone a fair weather biker.
Taking a staunch approach, in
outrageously dodgy and unpredictable
conditions, is not clever, and as I shuffled
into the gale I quietly applauded (in thought
you understand) those riders who all chose
to leave the two wheels in the shed and get
a lift or take the car.
Ditto for the cyclists. There was not one
in the green-painted cycle lanes on the
main roads into and out of town from the
suburbs.
Impossible to control. Bit of a logistical
nightmare for parents though as they
become the delivery service to get the kids
to the school gates. But again, sensible
because letting the kids loose aboard a
slight frame with two wheels in the sort of
conditions which led the Metservice to issue
severe weather warnings is just nuts.
There is a bonus for some kids though.
“It’s only one day... you might as well stay at
school because we’ve got drinks after work
and I can’t pick you up.”
I only once took on a very daunting
wind aboard the bike and once was
enough, although the option was finding
somewhere to kip on the Takapau Plains as
I was heading home from Wellington. I’m
sure there were times the side winds had
me at around 30 degrees... and seeing a
couple of caravans pulled up and shaking
themselves about to the distress of their
towers, was unsettling. It frightened me and
I accordingly steered my way along at only
about 65km/h.
Mother Nature is a brute when she wants
to be, but she demands and accordingly
deserves respect. It’s winter time and that
means weather woes will emerge and at
times they will emerge with real venom.
If you have any doubt don’t wheel it out.
Take the bus.
Or even better, stay home. You can always
chill out with Judge Judy or Dr Phil.
Stay safe.