Commuting on a bike does wonders for the mind and body. The physical benefits are obvious. The mental? Not so much, but they are real. The WBBC spends an hour in the morning, and an hour in the late afternoon, thinking about all sorts of things…or nothing. You can focus on work issues (not a good idea), personal/family things (also not top on the WBBC’s list), or you can simply take in what’s around you during your daily adventure. The WBBC prefers the latter—on-the-go observation of the world around you. That is what I’ve been writing about in the previous 37 installments of the WBBC!

A few weeks ago I was reflecting on shadows. I’ve written about the visual impact to sunrises and sunsets of a horizon-hugging sun during the winter months before. As we approach the Vernal (Spring) Equinox on March 20 (equal day and equal night), I was reminded of that horizon effect while I was riding home one evening and how that phenomenon is slowly disappearing as the sun climbs higher in the sky. It was a beautifully clear and cold day, and the sun was riding low in the western sky. All of a sudden—as if I’d never seen anything like it before—I was acutely aware of my shadow, stretched out long and dark behind me and to the right. Because of the atmospherics, my outline was crisp and clear as it moved across countless different canvases en route home. My mind wondered, I slowed a bit, and I kept looking behind me (not a real bright idea when on a bike), and once on the GGB my glance was directly to my right. I was reminded of Peter Pan and some issue he has with his shadow. I also felt a bit like Narcissus, but instead of a reflecting pond, the low sun, the pavement and countless other surfaces teased me with my helmeted silhouette, and I couldn’t look away.

Thank goodness that by the time I hit the north tower of the GGB the sun was setting, and as I rode into shade my shadow disappeared. If this game of tag with myself had kept up the entire commute I would have no doubt been sideswiped by a car or I would have plowed into a vehicle on my own accord. It was a fun experience—good down time for the mind. Yes, I can already hear it from some of you… “or good down time for the simple-minded.” Anyway, it got me thinking about bike riding and art. Hmmmm…perhaps one day I’ll swap out my flip video and small hand-held camera with a sketch pad…or not.