I have some good friends. 

None of them ride. 

I mean, they have bikes and all, but they don’t ride, ride. 

They love one specific thing I do. 

I do too. 

It makes them laugh, and it makes me laugh. 

I don’t know how it happened. 

I have a different name when I am on my bike. 

I go by my initials. 

TJ.

I keep and use this name exclusively when I am on my bike. 

TJ arrives the second Timothy John touches the handlebars. 

It is not forced, it just happens. 

TJ is the opposite of Timothy John. 

Timothy John is ‘out there.’ 

TJ is ‘in there.’ 

Timothy John likes to talk, and is in fact hard to shut up. 

TJ is a man of very few, if any words. 

Timothy John says hi to anyone and everyone. 

TJ may give a nod, but it is unlikely. 

Timothy John will stop and talk. 

TJ does not have time. 

Timothy John likes to be social. 

TJ strives to be alone. 

I talk about TJ in the third person. 

Friends ask about him as if he is another person. 

‘How was TJ’s ride today?’ 

‘Oh, he had a nice ride today, thank you.’ 

OMG, it is so much fun. 

But there is one dilemma. 

What to do when someone yells, ‘Hey TJ, how are you?’ and Timothy John is out walking? 

‘Breaking Character.’ 

Insert Oscar emoji here. 

‘There is another way to ride.’