Tuesday, December 4, 2007

A Man on a Bike That Blasts ads

This is a testament to a guy that can't be missed in Bauru, but many might wish would disappear.

My leg muscles get stronger every day. I ride a bike for 8 -12 hours a day around my city, and I get a little more deaf every day.

My life is this: when I get up, I head to a garage, where there is a bike-like machine, hooked up with a big speaker on the front, and a pyramid shaped front, which has revolving, or rotating ads. I sit on the bike, and spread the sound of funk, pagode, store ads, America pop, and other stuff like that. I do this every day, six days a week.

Mainly, I stay around downtown, or Centro, here in Brazil. It is more economically effective, or efficient. Whichever means that it makes more money for the stores that advertise with my company. And when I say my company, I don’t mean that I own this company. Far from it. I ride for my company, and I get some serious exercise for them.

On a given day, I probably pedal about 20-25 km, or about 12-15 miles. And that is only because I have to go slow. Obviously, it would be difficult for my audience (everybody in earshot) to make out the ads if I was cruising along at top speed. Besides, the speaker is pretty damn heavy. I’m strong, but let’s be serious. I’m in no rush.

On top of it all, Bauru, my city, is pretty warm these days. I hear about global warming, and I can tell something is changing…for the hotter. Today, riding uphill with a huge speaker in tow, I truly felt the meaning of global warming. Bauru has always been hot, but things are getting ridiculous.

I can’t complain. Some of my captive audience does, but most just smile, or grin, and bear my cacophony of sounds. I don’t even really pay attention to the music anymore. It’s not even that loud, or not like it used to be. But, neither is anything anymore. I’m working, and a lot aren’t. And, like I said, it’s great exercise. My legs get stronger every day.

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