I picked up one of my old dirty habit’s a couple of weeks ago: biking.
Being a body on a bike feels so free. You can hear conversations, smell the first burn of a strangers cigarette, see minor details in things you’ve driven past a million times, and then take side roads and walkways at a moments notice that show you a new part of our wonderful little city. Free to me means being connected to the details, raw and unedited. The action of pedaling connects me to the street which directly involves me in that immediate surrounding. I like that feeling.
Biking has so many nuisances. Like downshifting as you approach a planned stop, using reflective street signs at night that sparkle with approaching headlights from behind, and the morning after sore butt. The past weeks of biking have lead me to realize that there is a fine art to the whole deal.
Being on a bike is also scary. For the first time on a bike, I was being very cautious. Cautious with something that I was so familiar with, something I truly loved. I was disheartened. I guess its kinda like dragging out an old pair of high heels. You love them and they have served you well. But putting them on again and prancing around just doesn’t feel the same. Stairs are harder to climb and any uneven surface could send you tumbling to the ground. I takes some time to get reacquainted. The same goes with biking.
To ease some of my fears, I went to the local bike shop, Queen City Cycles. Once in the shop, I felt like I had been teleported to New York City for some reason. Everyone in there was covered in tattoos, the lingo was foreign, and the way they dress is a mix of mod-meets-street: I had been submerged into a Springfield subculture. They are super knowledgeable about bike laws and trends, as well as super nice. They helped me price how much to get my bike street safe (lights, reflectors, helmet) and customized (basket for carrying stuff) which topped off around $200.
My next step is to find a bike club, but not a serious spandex wearing one. More along the lines of people who love crusing around, exploring, and just getting together via bikes! If you're interested, lets brainstorm...
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