Now I know the ultimate is to take the cross country trip on a motored bike, One that you build yourself but the truth is I like to ride any chance I get. At the moment it is dead of winter. Even with global warming it cuts the ride times down pretty low. Then to I am still breaking in the bike, and don't have full confidence in it yet.
So it's ride around the neighborhood so that I can push it home or pedal it back if I have to. I'm sure you all can relate. Today it is supposed to snow but it hit my minimum temperature level before the snow began so off I went.
I probably rode five miles or less but in a new area. One I hadn't even driven a car into. I found out a few things. One there are still loose dogs in this city (not a good thing). And there are a lot of kids on real bikes who stare wide eyed and open mouthed at the sissy schwinn. It is small enough that they can probably see themselves on it.
Cars are interesting. They either don't see me or disregard me as a pedal biker who will stop for them, no matter who has the right of way. They are right, I will stop for anyone in a car. It just isn't as easy as they seem to think. I once rode motorcycles as well. That was in my misspent youth by the way. And yes cars did exactly the same things to me then.
When I started to ride powered bikes, it was electric. I bought a pair of knit gloves so that I could feel the control switch. I don't need that much feel now and they let the cold air stream in. I am going to have to get a canvas or leather outer shell for my hands. I had to come home because my thumbs began to ache from he cold.
Still I went out, rode the bike, and got home without being killed. I would call that a successful ride. Oh yeah and I don't have to fix anything on the bike either.
So it's ride around the neighborhood so that I can push it home or pedal it back if I have to. I'm sure you all can relate. Today it is supposed to snow but it hit my minimum temperature level before the snow began so off I went.
I probably rode five miles or less but in a new area. One I hadn't even driven a car into. I found out a few things. One there are still loose dogs in this city (not a good thing). And there are a lot of kids on real bikes who stare wide eyed and open mouthed at the sissy schwinn. It is small enough that they can probably see themselves on it.
Cars are interesting. They either don't see me or disregard me as a pedal biker who will stop for them, no matter who has the right of way. They are right, I will stop for anyone in a car. It just isn't as easy as they seem to think. I once rode motorcycles as well. That was in my misspent youth by the way. And yes cars did exactly the same things to me then.
When I started to ride powered bikes, it was electric. I bought a pair of knit gloves so that I could feel the control switch. I don't need that much feel now and they let the cold air stream in. I am going to have to get a canvas or leather outer shell for my hands. I had to come home because my thumbs began to ache from he cold.
Still I went out, rode the bike, and got home without being killed. I would call that a successful ride. Oh yeah and I don't have to fix anything on the bike either.