I have never been an athlete, or a competitive person, but I cycle for fun and function.
I started in university, as it was the best way to get my groceries home. The act of biking around a sleepy, quiet town invoked feelings of nostalgia, using the same bike my father used to take me and my siblings around our neighbourhood.
When I moved back to Saint John almost a decade ago, I was intimidated. By the traffic, the hills, and the lack of bike infrastructure. So away went the bike for a time.
About five years ago, I was reintroduced to the joys of cycling. With proper equipment (lights, helmet) and proper practice (signalling, route planning), it’s very much an enjoyable way to commute, explore the city, make friends, and be outside.
Last year I cycled over 250kms, which to a serious cyclist would seem very minor, but that achievement amazes me. These drawings trace each route I cycled in Saint John in the Spring-Summer-Fall of 2021. Layering the drawing accumulates the effort, drawing attention to preferred trips and outliers. Each displays a mix of practical information (weather, distance, elevation) and more nebulous observations and memories of each outing. Flipping through, I hope to give the viewer a brief insight into the rides.

round-triptych, 2022, mixed media drawing, (3) 36 X 28 inches