The difference…

Riding my bike to work, I get to think about a lot of stuff.

After all, I don’t have the radio to listen to, my Blackberry to play with or anything like that. Sometimes I’ll sing songs to myself, sometimes I’ll think about work and sometimes I’ll think about weird stuff.

I thought about the differences between the 8 year-old me biking and the 38 year-old me biking.

• When I was 8, helmets were for motorcycles.
  • At 38, helmets are mandatory.
• When I was 8, I would bike everywhere regardless of any severe denivelations along the way.
  • At 38, I study detailled maps of the city in order to avoid any and all inclines on the way to work and back home.
• When I was 8, I would do sliding power breaks à la Big Wheel.
  • At 38, I’m aware of the cost of bike tires.
• When I was 8, I would jump at any opportunity to jump a curb, go down a flight of stairs, zig-zag, do a wheelie.
  • At 38, I aim for the shortest possible route between two points.
• When I was 8, I would sometimes jump off the bike and run inside while the bike kept on going on the lawn.
  • At 38, I baby my bike more than my youngest child.
• When I was 8, shocks were a cool stylish addition to the bike.
  • At 38, shocks are a necessity.

But the main difference? Thirty years.