Hodophobia!!!

In the whole automobile world, the vehicle I could ride with perfection is ‘Bicycle’, to some extent non-gear 2 wheeler like Activa or Scooty. Yes, I admit, I never had courage to drive a geared (manual) bike in traffic. My friends used to ask me or force me to buy a bike, but I will say “let’s see” every time. Till date I don’t have a driving license.  I have tried riding geared bike few times, but i need some big conditions to be fulfilled, 1. There should be less or no traffic in road 2. There should not be any curves or turnings 3. No one should comment my driving.

I am courageous, I am bold, I don’t fear….but I loose these things when one thing strikes my mind… “I am going to travel”… next moment my heart beats up fast, my face will be red, my words will shatter, my eyes will stare… but only for few minutes, once in motion, everything calms down and I will be normal.  Yes,  I fear travel, Hodophobia!!!

Ah, the ‘next moment’ I mentioned is not after occupying the vehicle, the moment when it get strikes my mind that I am about to start my travel.  Say, I am going to office, start from home, walk down to railway station, there it is,  once I see the station – fear starts, when I see the platform – it builds up, when I see train arriving – I am red. Entrain, train starts, 5 mins of travel, I am calming down and back ‘Normal’.

I have traveled in bicycle, tricycle,  bike (of course back seat),  rickshaw, bullock cart, auto rickshaw, car, truck, bus, train, boat and even airplane, but I never overcame the fear of travel. I don’t know when and how the fear started, I never seen a tragedy or accident from my childhood but I have this fear grown inside from school days.

People say, to over come the fear we have to experience the pain which gives fear. I wonder! how long. From my child hood I am travelling, I love to see places,  I have went to high mountains, I have traveled in sea, I have took long distance bike ride with friends, I have flied across continents, I have traveled in high speed underground Metro rail, but still, to this very day, everyday,when I go to office, I fear.

Why I am writing this post? To answer my caring friends, who always asks me to buy a bike, they are right some times, bike is essential at times. I am 27 years old now, I never realized its essential for me. Not even once in my life time.

I am happy commuting in public transport. Though the fear is there, its just for 5 mins until the train starts, but for bike, I am not able to kill the fear. I am very bad in multi-tasking when it comes for bike.

Left hand -hold the clutch,  left -leg – change the gear, right hand – accelerate, right leg – break !! OMG!!! How you do it!!

‘The fear’ stops me to do this multi-task.

But this fear never bothered me, I never felt not knowing riding bike is a ‘Crime’. Everyone are not expert in Everthing my friends. I am not Jack of All trades. I am a human, normal human, ordinary, very ordinary man with few deficiency. I never cared this deficiency, I am happy living with it. Let it be…

Friends, I love you, You care me so much, but please..when it comes to bike…don’t force me…

Some day I will beat the fear and will be ready to drive a bike or car, like you I am also expecting the Day!!!

To all my 2-wheeler drivers  – Thank you friends!!!

Read Full Post »