Bikes in Boston
Did I mention that I do my commute on a bike? At least, right now. As long as I can, that's the plan. it's faster and cheaper than the bus (well, maybe not actually that much cheaper, with bike maintenance included). In fact, provided that there's not a huge pile of snow around, everywhere in Boston is faster to get to by bike. Faster than the "T" (Metro). Faster than a car. Ever heard of Boston drivers? Massholes? Ringing any bells? So I'm really psyched about getting a bike.
Today I managed to get a nail embedded fully into my back tire on the ride home. Fortunately, I got the flat next to the one bike shop on the eleven-mile ride home. So I just walked in, and they say "Nice bike. Wanna borrow some tools and buy a tire and fix that flat?" Sweet. I was back on the road in 15 minutes. Which is nice, because the alternative is to wait for the bus, and go home dejected that my biking master plan has failed. Instead I just strolled in 15 minutes "late" with a story.
This bike I'm riding used to have a garage-door opener on it, back when it was at the apex of suburban bike glory.
3 comments:
My mom sent me her bike. Problem is that it's the opposite of my old bike. Extremely shinny with perfectly aligned spokes and shock mounts. It's very much a look at me bike. Thing is she doesn't want me using it as a mode of transportation, only for exercise. How lame is that? I mean I'm not liable to ride around in that thing for fear of getting jacked, but me? Exercise? Anyway, as soon as they leave the country (I have no idea when) I'm repainting that shit to make it look ugly and poor.
so, I'm really stuck on your last sentence. your last phrase, in particular. even, then, in spite of the crux anecdote in this post--about the willingness of on-lookers to assist you, a cyclist originating in suburbia, in your time of bike-related need--you're saying that, by your measures, the apex of suburban bike glory, so to speak has come and gone? have we crested the epitome of the time in which suburbia's bikes were glorious? is that what you're saying, Donald?, because i'm interested in that. are we approaching, would you say, the nadir of suburban bike glory? suburban cyclist shame? A decline of respect for bicycles in non-commerical residential areas? That's an upsetting prospect, for suburban cyclists at least, you included... speak a little more about your feelings on this issue, if you get a chance.
When I mentioned the apex of suburban bike glory, I was referring to the bicycle itself, not the commuter biking scene. The bike has since been downgraded slightly (although I'm in the process of pimping it out for Boston), even if it's only because it now lacks a garage-door opener.
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