Submitted by Ariana Fernandez
Cycling started as something I did to work out or have fun. My dad would take me mountain biking, and eventually we began road riding together — something I quickly fell in love with. During COVID, riding became more than exercise. It became my outlet.
That year of virtual high school was one of the hardest I’ve faced, and early-morning rides helped keep me grounded. Heading out at 6 a.m., watching the sun rise, and rolling through quiet streets gave me space to breathe. What started as a way to get out of the house slowly turned into a way to explore my neighborhood and the community around me.
Ernest Hemingway once wrote, “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best…” That quote perfectly captures how cycling feels to me. On a bike, you notice things you’d otherwise miss — a soft sunrise, a turtle crossing the road, a quiet street waking up. Small moments like those could shape my entire day.
An influencer I’ve followed for years, UnJaded Jade, calls moments like these “casual magic.” I love that phrase. Every day, I look for that magic, and my bike always brings me closer to finding it.
Now, as a university student, riding continues to ground me. School keeps me busy and future-focused, but cycling pulls me back into the present. It centers me when everything else feels like it’s moving too fast.
In 2023, I spent a year studying abroad in Incheon and Seoul, South Korea. The country’s investment in public transportation opened my eyes to how enjoyable daily movement can be. I relied on Kakao e-bikes, buses, and the metro, and loved having options — bike part of the way, train the rest. For the first time, I didn’t feel chained to a car.
Living that way changed how I think about mobility. Getting around became something to enjoy, not just a task to complete.
When I returned home, I brought that mindset with me. I ride my bike to class, for workouts, and simply to explore. I still drive when I have to, but I try not to when I don’t need to. Riding continues to reveal moments of casual magic, even in places I thought I already knew.
Despite loving my time abroad, I missed my own bike deeply. I often joked that if I’d had my gravel bike in Incheon, I would’ve been unstoppable. The bike paths were everywhere, just waiting to be explored.
One of my favorite memories was riding an e-bike through Songdo with a close friend for the first time. Seeing the city that way helped me fall in love with it all over again. I learned the contours of a temporary home — and found plenty of casual magic along the way.
Next time, I’m bringing my bike.
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