jimmy.thewhatwhat.com » bike

More things I learned from riding a bike

Jimmy — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:59:40 +0000

There are an alarming number of cars with missing windshield wipers. You never notice rogue wiper blades until you run over them with 2-inch wide tires.
Everyone is concerned about me catching a cold or pneumonia if I bike in cold rain. Or in the cold. Or in the rain. I didn’t know people still believed that old wife’s tale. Especially since I work at a company that grows viruses.
Some people, particularly suburbanites, would rather honk at me than slide over to the empty lane on their left.

Bike vs. iPod

Jimmy — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:55:40 +0000

Another advantage of riding a bicycle: you can zoom right by the homeless people and they don’t even try bothering you. Far more effective than listening to my iPod. With an iPod, you have to be all “Oh, I’m sorry, I can’t hear you. I’m listening to my expensive iPod.” But when on a bike you zip right by before their forty-marinated brains have time to realize what’s going on.

Biking

Jimmy — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:18:28 +0000

I’ve learned a lot since I started using a bicycle as my primary transportation, particularly when it’s a folding bike:

People talk to you. A lot. Most questions are either about the specifics of a folding bike: how much I paid for it, where I purchased it, etc. Some people even ask me random bike questions, like where the closest bike shop is.
People stare. It can be awkward.
The further into the suburbs I am the more oblivious drivers seem to be to my sharing a road with them. Suburbanites are angered and confused by the concept of their Tahoes and Escalades having to share the road with a 24 pound vehicle.
Biking burns a lot of calories. Even in temperatures well below freezing I keep plenty warm with just a jacket and gloves. Pants and shoes were not mentioned because they are assumed.
Everyone thinks I should install an electric motor.

My new ride

Jimmy — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:44:21 +0000

After living successfully for over six months without owning a car, I decided that I finally need to purchase a bike so I can get around town quickly. Because my bus only allows a folding bike, and because only folding bikes are allowed on the bus and metro during rush hour, that’s the route I went. Â Because of the wheel size and because of how low to the ground everything is, it is certainly not a good bike for distance, but so far it has proven to be useful for getting around.I am proud to report that my helmet does not mess up my hair as badly as I thought it would. Â Looks like I won’t be needing aÂ hairmetÂ after all!