A "Caiçara" in the Windy City

An article about bicycles and relationships. Or is it the other way around?

People are constantly switching bicycles. They’re always looking for prettier, more advanced ones. They want lighter, sturdy bikes, ones that shift gears quickly—from the easy gear for uphill rides and Sunday strolls to the stronger gear for races and competitions. They want beautiful but not flashy bikes so they don’t outshine others (though some prefer colorful ones to grab attention).

There are bikes with car-like pedigrees, vintage models, hybrids (suitable for various situations), and ultra-specific ones that perform poorly or not at all when taken out of their element. Brakes must work in the most challenging scenarios, stopping at the right moment without causing damage to the rider. Pedals, paired with high-tech cycling shoes, ensure the bike performs at its peak, synchronized with the precise heartbeat tracked by a smartwatch.

Today, the bicycle represents a relationship. A relationship must be light yet durable, beautiful, discreet (or not), adapt to the right pace for each moment, stop before hitting potholes to avoid a crash and redirect itself to follow the pre-planned route. There are expensive and affordable relationships, hybrids, and ultra-specific ones.

But here’s the big catch: people don’t realize they’re not the riders—and someone always thinks they’re pedaling while carrying the other in the back seat. Sorry to break it to you, but you’re not the one wearing the fancy cycling shoes. The one wearing those is called life. People still haven’t realized they’re the tires. Yes, the tires.

And, my friend, if you don’t inflate the tires on your bike—especially when it’s been sitting in the corner for a few days—and fail to give them proper attention, they’ll wear out, get punctured, and leave your trusty bike stranded.

Have you ever ridden a bike with properly inflated tires? The bike soars! It’s such a joy to pedal, brake, and stop. The sun seems brighter, the flowers more colorful, and the birds sing just for you. Are the tires there, supporting the bike like a true partner, and now, are they riding with flat tires? That’s exhausting—everything feels off—only gray skies and pollution. When the tires are flat, the bike doesn’t even move or goes a short distance before you realize they’ve not only gone flat but are now punctured.

So, what do people do? They switch bikes, of course! They keep doing this throughout their journey until they realize that unless they care for and maintain the tires, no bike, no matter how innovative, will last in their hands. No technology can solve this equation. None.

That’s why I urge you: in this world full of information, novelty, availability, supply, demand, and illusion, inflate your bike’s tires. At work, at school, within your family, at home, and especially in love. Believe me, with well-maintained tires, any old clunker can become a sleek, race-worthy Speedy. But remember: those who take proper care of their tires have already realized that life isn’t about rankings. Life only wants two tires in sync, pedaling along a road filled with poetry and fulfillment. And isn’t that enough?