Something Ben Kweller said...

Been riding on a semi-regular basis for the past month. Even started on a Training Plan. But necessity, also known as my current fitness level has me doing slow and "steady" time-in-the-saddle rides. Necessity.... A bitch of a taskmaster... But it sure don't have to feel like it.

I've been smiling a lot lately. I've been riding on paths not well traveled by me at least for some time, metaphorically and literally. I have rediscovered a lost joy for cycling, no wait... that's wrong.

 I have fallen back in love with RIDING A BIKE! Yeah, that's the right way to describe the feeling.

If you haven't yet seen "The way, way back" then you need to.

Not going to get into the whole coming of age deal this movie is about. Just going to focus on one pivotal moment in the movie, yeah I said movie not film. I go to see movies... I'm pedestrian that way.


Anyway 14 year old Duncan is in a bad way, stuck in a beach town with his mom's new boyfriend whose a bullying douche. Things look pretty bleak and then...


Duncan opens the shed door to find this:

Complete with streamers.


The next scene is Duncan flying through the streets of this summer beach town with the biggest shite eating grin on his face. Over this plays a Ben Kweller song that is bo·da·cious·ly infectious!

and he says;
"Here I go out the door
I don’t need no more
Here I stand, I got your hand
There’s no need to know which way to go"

Well, he sings it really...



Duncan finds his vehicle to freedom. And that bike is a constant through the movie.

It simply made me smile and reminded me what this bike love is all about. The song reverbs around my head everytime I ride and it has led me to ride off of and away from all our normal training routes. I have not smiled this much on and off the bike in quite some time.

Here, take a listen... http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/benkweller/outthedoor.html 

Now go ride your bicycle...

See you on the road,
Eric J