Updates

So! I never updated about my bike. It was lovely. I had transportation, I eventually got a helmet, I was free!

Until I got a flat tire. So I bought another one! And a mere few months later, got it fixed. And then the other one went flat. And hey, it was only another 6 months or so before I got that one fixed!

And then one day, I didn't turn fast enough and couldn't stay up on my bike. Everything was fine, I just felt stupid because my first time losing control on my bike was on campus in front of people, and I seriously bruised my shins on the pedals.

And later that very same day...tragedy struck.

RIP Bike

It was a dark and stormy night. (For once, that is completely true!) I hadn't brought a coat, because it was one of those warm days where the lightning storm heralds the beginning of summer, so I was hurrying home to get out of the rain. Down a steep hill. In the dark. A car turned ahead, momentarily blinded me with its headlights, and when I finished shaking the rain/blindness out of my eyes all I could see was one of those short concrete cylinders designed to keep cars from driving on the sidewalk.

And wouldn't you know it, it was remarkably effective at stopping my bike from going any further too.

I, of course, kept moving forward and landed in a huge puddle. Actually, I'm still not mad at myself for crashing because I'm too busy thanking my lucky stars I barely injured myself - didn't even scrape up my palms. Skinned my elbow a bit and stubbed my toe for a few days, and that was all! I'm pretty grateful.

Also, a great friend was kind enough to lend me his old bike, so I'm riding that around! Except I just moved and can't for the life of me find my bike light...

Though to be fair, it doesn't matter much because I broke my holster for it when I crashed my bike last weekend into another bike. This time it just took some apologies and straightening our handlebars, but really. How disastrous can I get?

I'm not sure I want to know the answer to that.

BUT, on the bright side, I did buy a new kit that comes with a front and back light! Just need to get batteries and install them. 

I'm sure it will happen relatively soon, in the grand scheme of things.

The Downsides to Owning a Bike

I thought about waiting another day to post this, but I feel I learned a lot in just my first day as a bicycle owner - mostly the things that I hadn't really anticipated. Hopefully some of the cons will go away after a while, like...

Being really, really out of shape.

I used to be an in-shape beast, because of marching band and then studying at a musical theatre school where I danced a minimum of 7 or 8 hours a week. Now, however, my most strenuous activity is hustling from the back of the store to the front to be complained at by unhappy customers. After working all day yesterday, my surprise 5hr long adventure, and the bike ride home (see previous posts), I was so tired on my bike today. My legs took a while to stop shaking once I got home tonight. My weariness is multiplied every time I remember I'm marching in two back-to-back parades in about 6 hours, and another one at night.

The seat is not built for comfort.

Who decided that was the optimal shape? I'm sure it's a lot better than others, but how certain are we that we have evolved as high as we're going to go, bicycle seat-wise? My tailbone is so bruised I had to stop riding and adjust the seat, because I didn't listen to myself when I said I should. It helped a little, but I think my bones are a little mushy today. Wow.

Hills.

Do I really need to say more? Whoever coined the term "making a mountain out of a molehill" and found it ridiculous was obviously not a bike rider. Grades that before may have been merely a slight annoyance - if noticed at all - are now daunting ramps to scale on a wheeled vehicle. It brings to mind being a child walking up a slippery slide, tackling a seemingly impossible task.

No. I do not approve.

Downhill.

Initially, this will seem awesome - a fun-filled breeze, taking you where you want to go with little effort, like those airport walking paths. Do not be fooled. Try to stop, or slow down without falling over or having your brakes make unnerving noises of protest. Also, you have to come back the same way. Didn't think of that, now didja.

It is really hard to drink while on a bicycle.

I haven't tried it yet, but I imagine this statement to be ridiculously true. Instead I just went thirsty the entire ride.

These are just the things I ran into today on one trip, but I can see other potential problems as well. My backpack isn't the most comfortable on a bike - I may have to give in and carry a messenger bag like a hipster. What if I decide to go grocery shopping? What if I meet up with people, then I'll have to walk my bike awkwardly and such.

Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy with my purchase, but I can see where some things will have to change. I shall return to this topic in a few months, after I have developed buns of steel and the sexiest legs on earth. For now, food! I love it so.

Note to self...

Adjust bike seat before riding next time. Your tailbone is seriously bruised.

I Don't Think Things Through

I had my evening planned out so simply. My movie night got postponed, which was just fine since it meant I got to eat the chip dip I'd brought to work with me for it. So I got off work around 7 with a list of things to do:

1) Stop by the store for things like contact solution and shaving cream, maybe stamps and envelopes like an adult

2) Catch bus to shoe store

3) Buy white shoes needed for marching band/parades the day after tomorrow

4) Go home, drop off things, pick up things

5) Go over to my brother's to give him things from my visit home, fix his pants, and enjoy a movie

Step one, check. Even though it did take me 15 minutes to find the contact solution.

Step two...

Step two?

Hello?

No. It never happened. I waited for 40 minutes before giving up because I realized I got off work two hours later than usual and things close at 9. I shall give you an approximation of my night.

8:15pm. Begin walking north to shoe store. Realize soon after I left my bus token on the bench.

9:00pm. Realize the building I am headed to is not a shoe store, but an adult store.

9:01pm. Decide not to go into the novelty shop.

9:02pm. Find coupon for $5 off on ground for said novelty shop. Reconsider.

9:03pm. Decide not to go into the novelty shop. But keep coupon, just in case.

9:05pm. Change list and decide to head to Brother's and try to hitch a ride to Walmart. Head to bus stop for home.

9:15pm. Realize busses do not run after nine. Change list and postpone Brother until tomorrow.

9:20pm. Get directions to Walmart and start walking.

10:23pm. Spot Walmart sign in distance, behind the street sign for Hope Ave. Become more grateful than any human should for Walmart's existence and immediate proximity.

10:32pm. Get sidetracked by office supplies. Pick out a notebook that is rather unnecessary in the immediate future and hold onto it for the rest of the night.

10:44pm. Have shoe choice narrowed down to two options. Become indecisive and unable to remember what proper arch support is supposed to feel like.

11:06pm. Decide on a pair of white shoes. Dread the walk home.

11:07pm. Cast about fervently for an idea that will mean no walk home.

11:17pm. Wheel away my newly picked out bike.

11:28pm. Stand in line with responsible purchases like a heavy duty bike lock, bike light, and even batteries for it. Irresponsibly forego the helmet until payday.

11:50pm. Finish paying for my purchases. Arrange all the purchases from the day in my backpack and ride new bike home!

12:37pm. Arrive home, weary but accomplished, in a roundabout way. Sit on the couch and don't move for a bit.

1:02am. Eat the last of the chip dip, and a few mini chocolate cupcakes. Begin writing, but mostly checking facebook and other entertaining sites.

2:11am. Reach this point in the post where I decide to stop this schedule...

Seriously though, I bought a bike! This was quite out of character for me. I spent half an hour looking at cheap shoes and ten minutes looking at expensive bikes. I saw one for an alright price and went, "Well this one's nice. Maybe these over here? ...Nah, I'm cool with this one." And that was it. I've been planning on buying a bike, but I probably would have looked a smidge cheaper than that and waited weeks and weeks and had all sorts of things come up. Somehow, I feel like I'll be totally fine with this bike.

Of course, I kind of flipped out the entire ride home. My internal monologue, which honestly was fairly audible tonight, went a little something like this...

"...I just bought a bike. I just bought a bike? ...No big deal. I'm just riding a bike. Cool. Riding a bike. Oh! Wow, corners are still a little shaky - cause, you know, the whole bike thing. No big deal. Holy snap I bought a bike! Sprinklers? Not a problem tonight because I'm riding a bike."

Seriously. The entire. Way. Home.

At some point, trying to transition out of singing Yellow Submarine (yeah, I don't know either) I ended up with this quiet, rhythmic, singsongy chant of "I bought a bike, I bought a bike, I bought a bike, I bought a bike" over a beat in my head until I realized a couple sitting in the grass turned to look at the lunatic making all the noise. Who was me.

But I made it home alright, I have new shoes to break in that so far are quite comfortable considering I've been on my feet the entire day, and now I have a shiny new bike to take me places. I didn't get half the things done I meant to...

But hey, look! A bike.

This picture is PG17 cause it's flashing you.