Growing up at the local interior of Ibadan south west Ososami, Oke-ado was fun and what most kids at the age of 8 years would have missed is cycling as a sport. Far back then, all we do is to rent a bicycle at the rate per hour or half an hour (thirty minutes) at a fluffing rate of 5kobo at every thirty minutes and 10kobo for hour that sounds weird to the Gen Z because of the currency rate.
We spent money to rent bicycle of our choice from our “pocket money” giving to us by our parents and take bicycle rent on credit when we do not have money because we have an agreement with the bicycle owner to be on special loyalty bicycle lease that tends to make us ride six times every week with every other kids within and outside the 3km to Ososami, Oke-ado streets in Ibadan, Southwest, Nigeria.
We ride daily except Sundays only because we tagged it as Sabbath day and the bicycle owner will not entertain such being a Christian or open his store sameday for such purpose .while same implies to all other shops in Ibadan aside from Saloon, beer parlor or restaurants.
There several types of Bicycle that we do rent for different purposes such as BMX, Shopper and regular brand know as village bicycle or market bicyle to name a few. It was observed that we can only rent bicycle that match with our height or lesser in order to enjoy the groove per every zones of riding both uphill and slope depending on your preference for the area of you which to ride. Some prefer sprint ride within the Old Liberty Stadium and her vicinity while others preferences would be to ride straight to Mapo hill and enjoy the slope mapping out on a return ride to adamansigba stadium.
I took kin interest in cycling at the age of eight and was practically riding six times in a week with a sacrificial and discounted cost of 30 kobo per an hour ride versus the actual cost price of 60kobo for an hour with Fifty percent discount due to long-term relationship with the bicycle shop owner by enjoying a loyalty and reward scheme as stated by the rentals policy.
The above tends to be natural interest at a young age to love Cycling. My parent later relocate from Ibadan to Lagos and I had to drop my cycling hobby due to relocation to attend Military school where I engage in other extra curriculum activates like Football and lawn tennis.
You‘ll be amaze that after Thirty- five years Interlude of cycling; it was on Saturday morning when I was driving early to meet up with task for Saturday banking and all I saw was set of “Cyclers” quickly I became a SAG to the peloton of “cyclers” and enjoyed the ride until they stopped for few minutes to rest and quickly beckon by making enquiries on how to join.
Boom!!!!! Now, I am back cycling as a professional rider compare to what I was riding decades ago because I got a professional coach to teach me the rudiments of cycling and read a lot of YouTube channels for better understanding on how the aerobics in cycling works and what tool to use in measuring the distance and pace that I do. As a professional rider, I was introduce to Strava being one of the major or well recognized sport tracking tool and that can aid to appraise or evaluate every ride.
It will be fun to inform you that there are great benefits in cycling, which I will be sharing tips and benefit in my next post…… Why I love Cycling as a sport? Series 2
