Anyhow, I was about to jump in the car when a picture of Melissa over at HerGreenLife looking so happy on her bike with her son in his little handlebar seat popped into my head.
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| I hope she doesn't mind me inserting this photo, I just love it so very much! |
I looked over at my old Trek, that's been so neglected since I got my roadbike. The helmet was hanging from the handlebars... it was saying "Don't drive, ride me!"
But, I was wearing wide leg jeans, and clogs, so I thought I really should go inside and change... and I haven't ridden it in a few weeks - I really should check the air in the tires, and the weather is supposed to turn in a few hours. Maybe if I'd planned better....
Then I thought. "Why am I making this so complicated? It's only about 3 miles to the bank, all on neighborhood side streets, and I can go nice and slow so the shoes shouldn't really be an issue, and surely I'll be home in less than 3 hours!"
So I tucked my jeans into my socks, grabbed my helmet, gave the tires a quick squeeze to make sure they were reasonably OK, and off I went.
I haven't ridden that route since I got hit by the car a few years back, and it's been sort of haunting me. I did get off and walk the bike across the intersection where the accident occurred, but there were no incidents to report, and it actually feels really, REALLY nice to have that particular monkey off my back.
It was a lovely little ride, and it turned what was otherwise a thankless task into a wonderful afternoon.... which is good thing because they're predicting 8-10 inches of snow tomorrow!
Alas, no iPhone, Instagram or photograph to participate in the #everydayonabike challenge - so you'll just have to take my word for it.
Anyhow, thanks for the inspiration Melissa! :-)
So how about you! Anybody else been riding their bike?
I haven't been riding a bike, but I did take a lovely walk. When I saw the weather this morning, I thought about you. Hope it doesn't turn out to be as bad as predicted. Glad you had a nice bike ride while you could.
ReplyDeleteThe weather has been SOOO nice, I'm glad you got to get out and enjoy it.
DeleteIt was in the low 70's today, and not supposed to get out of the 20's tomorrow - eee gads! Hard to complain though since we really need the moisture. I was just outside covering the spinach and peas with an extra layer of protection, and covering the tulips that have already bloomed. Holy moly! The wind she's a blowin'!
What a nice day! I'm glad you got a ride in before the blast of snow!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lili, I'm glad too because the snow is really coming down!
DeleteI rode a bike a few weeks ago for the first time in years...I hadn't forgotten how, but it was a slightly wobbly experience! (Probably didn't help that the bike needed some oil and general love!) Really should use the bike more, but I tend to walk into town (when I don't take the car) because then I don't even have to worry about parking the bike!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean! I used to ride to the grocery store, but it's only 5 blocks from my house, so at some point I decided it was just easier to walk. I also find it easier to carry stuff when I'm walking than on my bike. But the bike is nice for errands that don't involve hauling stuff, and are a bit further away. One of my goals for the summer is to use it more for that sort of thing.
DeleteYou're welcome -- glad we inspired you, and I'm more than happy to share the photo! Good for you for tackling that route again.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Sir is climbing all over me trying to see your blog, he LOVES the cat photos!
Glad Sir likes the kitty pictures... I kinda do too! :)
DeleteSerious bike riders (like you) always intimidate me a little cuz my bike is a garage-sale, old-lady-with-a-comfy-wide-seat variety. It was good to hear about your clogs/wide pants dilemma because honestly, that's pretty much the way I always go on a bike ride. But it feels soooooooo good to ride (I've only gone once this spring--we aren't having weather conducive to bike riding) so I just laugh at my lack of coolness as I strap on my helmet and go.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally laughing at the idea that anyone could consider me to be a "serious bike rider." I'm just a hack who bought a road bike! It's CatMan who is the serious one... I'm just trying to keep up with him!
DeleteI'm really having fun playing with my old bike though - and being able to approach it totally differently. It feels sorta like being a kid again!
I'm glad you rode too! I'm just starting to ride again after being lazy for a long time and it is great. I also love your cat pictures!
ReplyDeleteGlad you're starting to ride again! It really is fun, isn't it?
DeleteGetting the bike serviced this weekend, just in time for the snow (which is also predicted in Iowa and Minnesota).
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about getting the monkey off your back by traveling the route where you were hit. Last night was the first time I was able to run my regular old route in almost 6 months, and the last time I did it was the night I was hit in the crosswalk along said route. I gave everyone approaching the intersection my best direct voodoo eyes. Incidentally, and because this is a small town, a ran by the house of the lady who hit me. Her car was parked out front and I could still see a small dent on her front hood - presumably where she made contact with my ass. Nice... I suppose it was good to get that out of the way too.
Congratulations on getting back up on that proverbial horse! I don't know what it is with drivers lately... seems like everytime I turn on the news there's another report of a hit & run with a car taking out either a cyclist or a pedestrian. I think people are just too distracted behind the wheel.
DeleteWhen I got hit, the woman saw me, stopped, waved me on, then got distracted by a combination of a screaming baby in the back seat, the cell phone she was talking on, and an oncoming car that almost rat the red light. I guess that was enough for her to forget that I was there because she just started going again and hit me.
CatMan always says that when you're out there you have to assume that every car is actively trying to kill you, and act accordingly. I used to think that was nuts, but now... ummm... not so much.
My personal opinion is that there are just too many people on this planet, but that's a rant for a different day.
Hope you get your bike back from the shop soon and get to go enjoy some spring weather... I'm sure it will come back soon!
Make that "ran the read light" not "rat the red light" - although somehow the word "rat" sounds vaguely appropriate in that situation! :-)
DeleteI think CatMan's advice is actually pretty good. I've got enough blinking reflectors and reflective clothes now to glow for miles. But, there will always be nimrods behind the wheels of cars. I try to adjust my route where I can, and I try to stay on paths/sidewalks. But a person still needs to cross.
DeleteI complained to the police chief after my accident and did get a response. I am doubtful whether anything will be done.
Still, I don't know how a car doesn't yield at a cross walk, strikes a pedestrian, and then the driver doesn't get ticketed. That burned me.
That would piss me off too! At least the woman who hit me got a ticket.
DeleteActually, the craziest part of the whole thing was that the intersection where I got hit is right on the dividing line between Denver and the next suburb over, so both police departments responded - seriously, there were like 6 police cars! And then this crazy game ensued where they tried to figure out exactly where I was in the intersection and whose jurisdiction it was!
And... to make it even crazier... in Denver it's illegal for a cyclist to be in a crosswalk, but in the next suburb over, it's mandatory! So what was I supposed to do? Was I supposed to be in the crosswalk until I got to the half way point, at which point I was supposed to quickly exit the cross-walk and slip into the traffic lane?!?
Fortunately, I had chosen to ride just inside the cross-walk, so both departments decided I was OK and ticketed the driver... but they could have ticketed me too if they'd felt like being jerks.
I have been slack with riding my bike lately (and still haven't changed those grips!). After three years living here I'm still put off by the hills!
ReplyDeleteI did walk to the shops and back today to do some errands, which took just over an hour round-trip and was very nice :)
I'm glad you were able to revisit the intersection where you had your accident - I haven't been brave enough to go back to the intersection where someone ran into the back of my car yet.
I know what you mean about the hills. All I can say is that it gets easier the more you do it. The route I rode to the bank has a few really steep ones that I used to have to get off and push the bike up. But now I can make it up fine.
DeleteThere's sort of a zen to it... if I try to power my way up the hill I end up frying both my legs and my lungs really quickly. But if I just get into a low gear, and keep going nice and slow, I do much better.
Anyhow, good luck facing that intersection. It sure felt good for me to do it!
Nope, but I will be soon - I'm going to quit my job, take a huge risk and get off this hamster wheel I've called a life for the last few years. I can't wait to have my freedom back!
ReplyDeleteWoo Hoo!!!! Congratulations! That's a huge step! I'm sure it feels a bit like walking off the edge of a cliff right about now. I'm so happy for you.
DeleteRiding my bike? You bet!
ReplyDeleteBut, then, I'm a bicycle guy anyway.
It's nice to see that you and some of the commenters who are not serious bike people are starting to think of it as a good option to the auto. Keep it up. You won't regret it.
I don't mind owning a car and I sorta like mine. It's the right tool for some jobs. But it's not healthy physically and mentally, to be driving everyday.
All you need to do is to equip yourself to be water-proof when needed. It's not all that hard. Then you can be in the position of driving, perhaps, once every three weeks for ten or twenty miles at the most. I often follow that average. Though I drive noticeably more from about Christmas to about the first week of February.
It's very, very good for both body and soul.
I totally agree! I tend to feel put upon if the world conspires to get me in a car more than about once a week. :-)
DeleteI wish kittehs were tax deductible, but the HAPPY act didn't get passed. At least my foster cats expenses are tax deductible! I think when I am an old lady I will just foster cats, so all their expenses will be tax deductible. I wasted money having my taxes done at H&R block and although I really like the lady who worked with me, she didn't know about this new deduction at all. But YES, thanks to a foster mom that I think sued for this, we now are clear: If you are fostering for a 501c3, your foster dog/cat/bird/bunny's expenses are tax deductible (food, litter and whatnot).
ReplyDeleteWow! That's great to know. I'm not sure I've got the emotional fortitude to be a foster kitty mom. I get soooo attached. I can't imagine having to let them go, even if it was to send them to their "forever home."
DeleteI'm glad you got your bike ride in, and you faced that spot of your accident without injury. I have to tell you I am reading this late at night and so your very first sentence through me for a few minutes. I'm reading and thinking 'what in the world is she involved with the IRA (as in Ireland)? After reading the entire sentence a couple of times I finally realize what you meant and had a good laugh. Yep, my brain is worthless some nights.
ReplyDeleteWell you know... taxes, retirement accounts, terrorist organizations... it's all pretty much the same. :-)
DeleteAnd to prove my point, I can't spell either. I meant 'threw' :-)
ReplyDeleteHa! Well now I'm laughing because I had to read your comment 4 times to find this "error" even after you pointed it out. I'm such an aural person that if two words sound the same they pretty much ARE the same as far as my brain is concerned!
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