Tag: belgium

Cycling across a map of Tiny Perfect Moments

A few months ago, I read a review of a new film called “The Map of Tiny Perfect Things”. Judging by the review and the trailer, it appears to be about two teens who find themselves reliving the same day again and again, Groundhog Day-style. In an allusion to the conclusion of the earlier film, they start looking for Tiny Perfect Things: moments of serendipity or quiet beauty in the course of an average day.

Now I confess that I have not actually seen the film, so maybe I am reading the wrong thing into it, but the idea of Tiny Perfect Things or more specifically Tiny Perfect Moments resonated with me.

Because there are these moments in almost every day that can be appreciated.

They can be moments of physical beauty: mist rising from a field or lake, the play of sunlight through leaves, a beautiful house, a pretty woman walking along, the sight of poppies, forget-me-nots, daisies or cornflowers, an old barn with a red roof, a church spire.

They can be moments of sensory beauty: the unexpected smell of a log fire, the waft of freshly ground coffee, the sound of birds in the trees or a cockerel on a farm, the taste of fresh cherries, the feel of wind in your hair.

Or even moments of near silence: floating through a cool forest on a spring morning; the meditation of riding up a long hill, listening to your breath and the spinning of the pedals; the silence of a lonely farm road.

But they can also be strange and sudden moments of companionship from strangers: the words of encouragement as you ride up a hill “Allez! Allez!”; a dog bounding up to you and the friendly smiles with its owner; the often unspoken bond with other bikers, joggers, hikers out on a beautiful day. 

Just a few weeks ago, I went out on a 50 k ride – a completely improvised and slightly random connection of different segments of rides I had done before – and stopped after about 15 k for a drink of water. Across the street, I noticed a couple also out riding and also stopped for a drink, the girl in a bright pink top. We all moved on. About 10 k later, I passed them by the side of the road and again kept on my random route. Then about 15 k further along and many turns later, they passed me again. “Wow! Them again” And then five minutes later, as I was riding up a hill, I saw them coming down the other way, and the girl laughed and said “Hey!”. They had also noticed me…

Now this was a tiny moment and I am pretty sure that I will never see that couple again or if I do that we will not recognise each other, but that moment of companionship had me buzzing for a week and still makes me smile.

And this is part of why I ride a bike week in, week out. Because my rides through the Belgian countryside may not be filled with stunning landscapes or architectural marvels (and my photographs are usually underwhelming), but they are populated with tiny perfect moments that keep me going for the rest of the week and sustain me through these exhausting times. 

There is something about the pace of cycling that makes these moments come: fast enough to see a range of sights and experiences but slow enough to appreciate them and stop to take them in.

So please be alive and alert to these moments. Don’t look for them. Let them find you by getting out and seeing the world beyond your front door. “The Doorstep Mile” as Al Humphreys calls it.

You can help engineer them, by being spontaneous, creative or just fun. creating a space or a moment for yourself or others. On Friday, in the middle of our weekly walk through the forest, my friend E pulled out three glasses and some cans of Jupiler beer and three of us sat there at a wooden table in the fading evening light, laughing, chatting and being in the moment.

But above all, watch the world around you and to be alert for the beauty. Stop. Watch. Appreciate. It is so easy to miss these tiny perfect moments when we are hurrying along or engrossed in a conversation or ruminating on our own lives. 

And when you put those tiny perfect moments together? A few hours of blessed escape, of sanity, of freedom in these troubled times.

Live your life. Live your life. Live your life.

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Why Autumn is the best season to ride a bike. REALLY.

A few Sundays ago, as I had breakfast, it was cold and the brief glints of sunlight that got me out of bed had been replaced by grey skies and pouring rain… Yet I couldn’t wait to get out on the bike.

Maybe it’s because I was born in Autumn, but it is my absolute favourite season to ride.

Let’s start with the colours. Bit by bit, the monotonous green of summer gives way to yellows, oranges, browns and if you are lucky, spectacular reds, a varied and vibrant palette that transforms the landscape and lights even the dullest of days.  Looking out of my dining room window just now, the greyness of the sky was offset by a brilliant splash of colour in the distance. And like Spring, the colours change from week to week. Leaves gently falling to the ground are like a golden snowfall, leaving a magical carpet on the ground.

Then let’s talk about the light. There is something quite wonderful about the sunshine of an Autumn day: a paler gold that strokes the landscape.

And as dusk falls, the light becomes gentler and is complemented by pinpricks of light from houses, shops and inns. There is something magical about the transformation and the emotional warmth coming from those lights, especially in a year as hard as this one. And when one is lucky, a bonfire or the flickers from the fireplace in someone’s home. Don’t be afraid to ride at dusk and night: it can be wonderful.

Which takes us to the smells. Those rain showers liberate the scents from trees, plants and the earth: a gorgeous smell of life amid the slow decomposition. And how lovely to catch the smell of a wood fire as you pass people’s houses. There is an intensity that is hard to beat.

And then the sounds: the crackle and rustle of dry leaves, the swish of wet ones, made more audible by the relative silence around. The crowds of summer have gone, leaving nature to the more determined cyclists and hikers. To cycle through a forest in moist silence is very heaven. It becomes a meditative, contemplative experience in which the senses are sharpened and the mind becalmed.

And finally, the feeling of the air. I love the crisp temperatures of Autumn: the slight chill in the air but with some remnants of the warmth of summer. Autumn is also about mist and fog. Riding on a misty autumn morning with the sunlight caught in the rising mist can be mystical. Afternoon or evening fog can be equally magical. 

When you get home, a warming shower and cup of tea, all the better to round off that feeling.

So with the rain lifting, I set off and it was wonderful, whether through the forests or in farmland or small towns. OK so in all honesty, in the final five minutes, a storm came through and I was soaked to bits, but by then I was close to home and could rush indoors, strip off and get under the shower.

Get out there! Treasure every minute, even the rain!

A few practical tips

Autumn and spring are about layers of clothing, being ready to adjust as the day develops. I often start with a long-sleeved jersey or a short one accompanied by arm warmers, covered in a luminous rain jacket. As it gets colder, I also start to wear or pack a lightweight fleece. I wear bike shorts covered in long leggings.

As it gets colder, foot covers can also come in useful. Again, I start with something basic, like luminous rain covers and when it gets really cold, move to full rubber covers which are a torture to get over my shoes, but keep my feet relatively toasty.

I often take different types of gloves and adjust according to how warm or cold I feel: fingerless if it is warm; full if it is cooler. Also good to pack a bandana or muff to protect your neck against the cold.

I also pack different lenses for my sunglasses, able to adjust according to the light. Yellow lenses can be good for dull days.

In terms of the bike, this is a good time to check that your tire treads are sufficiently thick to handle riding over leaves or the wet, and to check the brakes.

Finally, I ride with plenty of water and as it starts to get cold, often pack a thermal water bottle or thermos filled with mint or other herbal teas, great for a mid-ride cup of tea to warm up.

Crisp3 Comments