You can't move forward if you're Neutral

It's probably getting a little old for people who already know me. Some of them don't even look at me weirdly anymore, which is SUCH a relief! Seven months and seven falls later, people in my inner circle and I have gotten used to the fact that I use a geared vehicle. It's not even fun anymore! I finally hit a sixty and don't freak out; then, I realize that I can't go ANY faster than that. But one thing never changes: The reaction I get every single day.

Do you know how densely populated Bangalore is? You'll know if you're a female bike rider. Even if you take the same route everyday, you won't get to see ONE familiar face. Even along the store fronts and cafes that people hang out so often, will you get to see a FLICKER of recognition. Zilch. Jeero. It's so embarrassing to have so many eyes riveted to you! And then when you saunter into college, people will look at you and say "That's so cool, ya!"

My foot, it is. All the time I'm riding, I think of all the appropriate nick-names I could have:

1. Drool Inductor (It has "drool" in it!! Eww!)

2. The Pink Pulsar (My pulsar's black, but I take the liberty to wear bright PINK salwar kameezes while riding it)

3. Lady, all geared (Gives a wrong meaning, doesn't it? Hmm.)

More useless imaginary nick-names later. But you know what I have an abundance of? T-shirt quotes! The experiences that I get each day... Makes me think of new T-shirt quotes. One day, when I have the cash, I'll get them customized! (Till then, use this blog post to be nice to me and buy some for my birthday)

1. Wouldn't it be easier if you had rear-view mirrors instead? (For those mirror-less people who risk their lives on the road just to turn around and look at me)

2. What for are you racing, dude? Aren't you ashamed of competing with a girl??

3. I don't need your eyes. I have two of my own.

4. My bike has no ball bearings.

5. You can't impress us by speeding in lower gears, anymore!

6. Never seen a bike? Or never seen girls?

7. Wait till I tell your girlfriend!

8. Yes, yes, I know it's not the back brake!

So yeah, there's no getting used to people staring at you all the time, because it's different each time! That gives me PLENTY of stuff to write about! I'm going to sit and chronicle them... Mine is a different world and I invite you to take a look. Maybe that way, at least, you won't make the mistakes that I made (that means, you, silly girl, who thinks it's awesome to ride a bike and pestering your dad to buy you one using me as a front!). I realized- I can't be neutral about this anymore! You can't move forward if you're stuck in neutral, remember?