I get a kick out of something. 

I have fun with it. 

Only when there is nobody around. 

Something ‘The City’ does. 

Something ‘The City’ does to let Cyclists know they are going too fast. 

Something ‘The City’ does to try and slow you down. 

You are going too fast. 

I mean, it is not like ‘The City’ is physically there. 

‘The City’ builds things into the paths and roads to slow you down. 

If no one is around, it is my free for all. 

When I say ‘no one’ I mean ‘no one.’ 

Okay, here are some examples. 

The path has a rail that comes across your path and a rail that comes across the path in the other direction. 

It is meant to slow you down. 

But the real reason is to see how fast you can manoeuvre through it. 

The electronic sign that flashes you are going too fast. 

Where I live, it flashes in red letters ‘TROP VITE.’ 

I make it flash. 

Riding on certain roads, there are electronic signs for cars. 

It tells them their speed. 

If over, it flashes their speed and ‘TROP VITE.’ 

When I see one coming, my ride is not complete if I do not set it off and see my speed. 

‘The City’ also incorporates it into the pavement. 

Indentations. 

Ribs. 

But if you ride that one centimetre edge, it is as smooth as glass. 

SLOW  

LENT 

Painted in huge block letters on two-week-old black pavement. 

Smooth, black, beautiful, glorious pavement. 

A few curves. 

A couple of soft ups and downs. 

The kind of pavement you don’t even pedal, and you go fast. 

Last one, the infamous sharp ‘S’ curve that leads to another sharp ‘S’ curve. 

This one needs no explanation. 

I know all of these are ways to slow you down. 

But I wonder if ‘The City’ really knows what they have created. 

I see them as ‘Cycling Antonyms.’ 

They are meant to do something, but really, they create a fun obstacle course. 

A way to hone your skills. 

Again, only if no one is around. 

So, if no one is around, let the games begin. 

‘Cycling Antonyms’ 

Insert Roller Coaster emoji here. 

‘There is another way to ride.’