To those who can’t German, “Radfahrer” means “cyclist”. So I bought a used bike that costs, like, RM750. I miss life in a developing country. I got a bike because the bus connections at where I live sucks and I hate adhering to schedules not written by me, so yeah. This is a diary and would be published once I could safely say that I am a professional cyclist here.

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DAY 1

It’s the bicycle flea market today here in Aachen, it’s held once a month I think. I went there with my Buddy, who helped me check the bike and helped me save 25Euros (about RM125). I got a 20Euros lock too because bike theft is rampant here apparently.

I am very confused as to which traffic lights I should follow, the one for the cars, or the one for pedestrians, what I did just now was to follow the one that allowed me to cross first without endangering my life. The bike has a weird brake system where all I have to do is to try to pedal backwards, which was scary for me while I was cruising on the roads because I have the strange habit of pedalling backwards (when going down a slope) with a more normal bicycle. Basically what I mean is that I did a few emergency brakes without wanting to do it and nearly fell down.

It was a 20 minute ride and it’s very warm today, 26 degrees and very sunny. And I didn’t expect so much uphill rides. SO. MANY. I AM SO EXHAUSTED. On the bright side, that means I will be working out every day.

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I cycled back at night too and luckily the roads weren’t too busy. I am still not sure where to cycle when there’s no cycling paths. I nearly bumped into someone on a street that I’m not sure if cycling was allowed.

I was speaking to a Dutch girl while we were waiting for the traffic light to turn red though there was no one around,  #iEchteDeutsche . I nearly fell down twice cos I forgot that my brake system is different now and Nice Dutch Girl wanted to stop a few times to make sure that I was okay. I also accidentally rang the bell at a few (possibly drunk) people and they looked up shocked and I apologised immediately and we all laughed. Hahaha.

I was super fine. Just a little exhausted from the uphill cycles…

DAY 2

I’ve been fumbling a little with the lock. It’s kinda annoying.

When I was cycling back just now, my eyes were so dry I couldn’t keep it open so I was essentially blind cycling…sort of. I was so glad to see a red traffic light and forced myself to yawn, that did the trick to moisturise my eyes a little.

It’s almost mid-October but I was sweating from the ride back. Am I too fat or because it’s really warm?? Hmm. We will never know.

DAY 3

I nearly fell asleep at a friend’s place and it’s Monday but I’m absolutely exhausted trololololol. Anyway I made it home safely yay.

DAY 4

My leg muscles hurt a lot. 😦

Initially my plan was to cycle a whopping three times home today and then fear took over and I took the bus instead and cycled home only once and it was faster than the days before. I’m happy.

DAY 7

I didn’t ride the bike home cos I was too exhausted to cycle. It’s parked somewhere in the city centre.

DAY 9

My bike has been parked in the city centre for two nights now and it’s the weekend but I’m lazy. I’m starting to miss the bikey. Mega exhausting day cos we had a party at 8.30am in my room lol.

DAY 11

The weather is getting cold, like super cold and people were in winter jackets and stuff but cycling makes me produce so much body heat that I end up sweating by the time I got home. Also my body seems to be more conditioned towards the terrain so it’s less exhausting now but still exhausting.

DAY 13

Was at a friend’s friend’s place for a Malaysian dinner (first time I had Malaysian food in over a month!!!) and dreaded the ride home because it felt very cold and I thought that I could have fallen asleep there. Nevertheless, through reckless cycling (who cares about the law at night) (the Germans do), and very very very brute force, I made it home.

I have to learn to love these hills.

DAY 26

I haven’t been cycling much last week because autumn was finally here and it was raining and cold, but also because I went to parties and was too lazy to cycle (also because the weather was shitty). And I actually stayed home a lot that’s why I didn’t need the bike.

Today I cycled again and I’m getting more good at this #iRadfahrer thing because I no longer have that awkward pause when I start peddling, like I needed the pedals to be at a certain position; mainly because I have short legs too. I am also able to swiftly transition from being on the wheels to getting down and start walking the bike; usually when the traffic lights turned red, I’d become a pedestrian and continue cycling again after I cross the road. I don’t know if this was legal and I don’t intend to find out.

DAY 41

the weather is getting really cold now and there was a strong wind and i nearly veered off. brrrrrrrrrrrrrr

DAY 58

honestly haven’t been cycling much cos im lazy though i always blame the weather. Anyway i think i can call myself a Radfahrer now because:

• i chose to cycle to class today instead of walking to a bus stop further away when the bus didn’t come and no one knew why (bloody Aachener buses!!!)
• a classmate who’s originally from Aachen, who cycles regularly went like: “WHAT????” when i told her that i cycled to class today cos it was raining and cold; she doesn’t cycle that much anymore too
• i wanted to buy eggs but i decided against it cos i. wanted. to. cycle. home. So i went home with spring onions and paprika and some books tucked into my backpack that made the ride more difficult because of the extra weight. On top of that, it started bloody raining after i started pedalling and i didn’t have my hoodie up and i was wearing gloves and i had to cycle like a drunkie while trying to wear the hoodie with a gloved hand while also using the other hand to try to maintain control on a slippery road.
• i didn’t die from the above incident

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I don’t think I can call myself a professional cyclist yet cos I’m still reluctant to get a helmet and reflecting safety lights but at least now I can safely say that it’s hard to kill me on the Aachener roads now.

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okay bye this is the end of this post that took 58 days to write.