6.2 Miles

First bicycle commute.

From my apartment, to the farmer's market, to a friend's apartment, and then on back up to mine.

My knees are not wrecked, though I did have a bit of wobbly legs when I got off at the farmers market, and my right knee was aching some throughout the ride. And though it was 96 out when I left, no clouds or shades to spare me. My thigh and chest seems a bit darker. Next time, sunglasses a must. Was a great idea to bring a tupperware for the peaches- but no complaints now, except peaches are still a bit bruised and I ran out of crackers for my goat cheese..

Got Me A Bike ... Finally

I don't know why the instant I got my first college refund I didn't go out and buy myself a bike. I really don't.

Because the first year I still had my car and was using that as a supplement to my bus riding, and to help my escapes on the weekends.

The second year I parked my car and went through my metamorphic walking stage, and learned the ways of Amtrak. During that year I did buy a bike, less than the bike lock cost me. And that cost me my knees.  The brakes never worked, but it was a start.

But it was stolen during my third year. More like, I left it unlocked when I went abroad and set it free in the world. If it was stolen - fine, if it was still here - maybe I could learn to love it. At my new place, I was within "walking distance" of everything essential - school, work, groceries, Big Lots, and the ABC store. Even the Amtrak station was walkable if I was feeling spunky. Or for the bigger adventures, I could spend 1.5hrs using the bus system to make it across town.

My fourth year I began feeling stuck and thus brought my childhood bike down here. Still original everything I'm sure. Definitely too small for me. My knees are still recovering, maybe its permanent. I would be out of breath and dogged tired within a minute of leaving home (the steepest hill on my route is the one to leave my neighborhood). But it got me where I needed to go - and nobody got in my because the rusty chain made me sound like a flock of bats shrieking out of hell. Eventually the rust got so bad that people were literally walking to class faster than I was riding - that was when I knew I had to get a new bike.

And so here we are at my fifth year in this town. The journey has been a long, arduous trial. I even still have a car out in the parking lot, broken down since it rolled me into town last year (and the tow truck had to tag-team the last 5 miles..) - unsure what to do with it, just certain that I don't want to drive it. And so I have gotten my replacement vehicle finally. No longer feeling stuck. Quite the opposite - that my possibilities are endless. As long as I can stop and take a breather every now and then.