Odds and ends

Okay, so yesterday was a bit rushed and i have decided to stay in Dar another day. Today is Alhamisi (the day of rest) after all, and it will be more pleasant to cycle-out on a Saturday. So here are a few things i've been thinking of posting for a while.

Vocabulary

'bonking': not what you think. This is cycling terminology for what happens when you exhaust your muscles' glucose supply and you collapse in a jellyfish-like heap. Hasn't happened to me so far, though on the Namanga-Arusha stretch it did occur to me.

'hard shoulder': in theory this refers to the quality of the surface at the side of the road - onto which cyclists are often forced - but which can also refer to what i do on occasion to local cyclists who are a little too full of themselves. It involves waiting for a large steep hill to cycle-up very hard, taking advantage of having a wide gear range, and leaving pompous cyclist in my wake (this is a character flaw on my part i know, but i never said i was perfect).

'saddle sores': contrary to what i once thought, this does nto refer to chafing but rather painful lumps caused by burst blood vessels that result from excess saddle pressure on the spot in question. They can be painful and uncomfortable, for obvious reasons.

'pre-emptive strike': not the same thing as America's dodgy justification for various invasions, this is what happens when as a cyclist you keep messing things up by trying to pre-empt problems (e.g by changing the tyre, tightening brakes, cleaning/replacing the chain, etc.). One then goes on a pre-emptive strike, refusing to do anything until something breaks or malfunctions enough to make cycling difficult or impossible.

'test the mzungu': this takes many forms, but one of the most common and popular is "how much can we get away with charging this mzungu for these bananas/oranges"

'shikamuu'd': a good thing; 'shikamuu' is a respectful term meaning 'i hold your feet' that should be used by children to me (as an elder and better) and is sometimes also used by women of various ages - which i find embarassing and generally manage to politely indicate that it's unwarranted. The correct response is 'marahaba' meaning 'i'm delighted'

'The 'm' and 'f' words': mosquito and flea respectively. Need i say more?

'third-hand loneliness': when you wish you had a cycling partner so that you had a hand to hold: the sleeping bag bag, sleeping mat bag, bike whilst you put the panniers on, etc.

'the 11th commandment': tho shalt not covet thy neighbours bicycle (especially if he needs it to get home); that way you won't want to steal it.

'street cred': what you get from locals for pedalling up a very long steep hill fully loaded with a 1kg stick of sugar can ('muwa') strapped to the rear rack