Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Me and My Bike

So, I'm trying to get back into the habit of riding my bike.

The thing is, I'm not a great bike rider. That old "You never forget how to ride a bike" thing is just not true in my case. I just recently re-learned to ride a bike when Mr. Ashley bought me mine for Mother's day, and I fell once. Or twice. I'm embarrassed to admit that but it is true.

I'm also convinced that all approaching cars WANT to kill me. Not just accidentally might, in my head my seemingly nice neighbors are all just waiting to snap and kill an innocent bike rider. Or I convince myself that I'm going to lose control and crash as they pass, forcing them to run me over. I can't really believe I'm admitting that, as it makes me sound especially crazy, but I'm trying to give full disclosure into the bike riding situation (and we all know I'm an over-sharer).

But then I was on a roll with it. I was going pretty far and really liking it. Then summer came and it was hot and rainy and humid and I was over it.

I just got an mp3 player and want to start bike riding again to escape the house and to listen to my This American Life's podcast in peace. I went on a ride the other day and had a great time, until I realized that I had lost some of my previously gained stamina and was further from home than I would've liked. And had to ride back home into the wind. It sucked. I walked my bike a little of the way, and as neighbors passed, just hoped they would assume it had broken--because what kind of adult walks their bike?? An adult with really shaky legs, that's who.

Anyway, pretty sure I just answered my own question by typing out the above, but I got a baby bike seat at a garage sale...this is a terrible idea, correct? Bike riding will be much more difficult with 35 extra lbs attached, correct? It seemed like a good idea at the time, and I know it would be fun for little kid, but the reality of it is setting in and I'm thinking it's a bad idea.

It is, right?

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

i picture you falling with little kid on the back strapped in. maybe practice more first? i mean, you can do it. you can do anything you decide to do. you are smart and capable. but practice does make perfect. it also makes little kid not get road rash across his arms, ya know? good luck. i believe in you.

Laura said...

My husband and I have the bike seat for our little one who weighs only 24 lbs. I have only attempted once to ride with her on my bike, it is now permantly attached to his. It is tougher than it looks, and the little one really likes to kick you in the butt as you ride, her quiet way of saying Go Faster! My neighbor has the little bike wagon and both her kids ride in it and she swears it is easier than the seat. Good Luck! If anything it makes for a really good and hard work out! :)

Jaka Merriman said...

I only crashed my bike because I thought a car was coming directly at me. I swerved and fell in the gravel (with shorts on, of course). Turns out the car was parked. Win.

Patience said...

No way in hell would I ride a bike with an extra 24 pounds attached. I ride 3-4 times a week and honestly I can barely handle myself. Maybe get a little bike trailer for the back.

Preppy Pink Crocodile said...

Very bad idea. It is so difficult to keep stable with extra weight in the back. If you are nervous now, you'll be a hot mess with little kid sitting back there. I think pulling him in a wagon might be safer for both of y'all.

Stereos and Souffles said...

Um, if you fall by yourself, you will fall with your kid strapped to the back. What the? :-)

A. J. Lewis said...

Goodness, please don't be that person that you see on youtube videos that straps their kid to the back of a bike and then crashes down a mountain or into a really large bush!

Kenny and Chrissy said...

I'll have to be the odd one out here--I ride with my 30 pounder in a baby seat and it's really no big deal. She has a helmet and is pretty protected. I don't ride in really hazardous places. She loves it and it's even better exercise. I say go for it with caution.

Maddness of Me said...

If a girl falls on her bike and nobody sees it, is it still funny?

Unknown said...

I ride w/ my 30lb 3y/o all the time in the baby seat. I'm really out of shape, too, and we have never, ever, ever had a problem. She wears her little helmet & I don't ride anywhere unsafe. Sometimes my husband still puts our 35lb. 5y/o on the back of his bike in a baby seat, but he mostly rides his own bike with us now. I don't see anything at all wrong with it. Try it once and see how you feel! :-) I'm actually more scared for my son to ride his own bike beside us then to be in the baby seat!

Lori said...

Umm, I say sell the baby bike seat at your next garage sale. It sounds like a lot more work. Besides little kid will probably find a way to make you fall. Or try to jump out of the darn thing.

Not to mention that this should be Ashley time.

Cosmos said...

It's not safe to ride a bike and wear headphones at the same time. It's illegal in my state.

Do you have bike paths? I prefer them to riding on the streets when possible.

I made a deal with myself to only listen to a few favorite podcasts while walking, and it's really effective. I'm only 4 months behind on the podcasts!

Anonymous said...

The bike seats are pretty tough to get used to, but the trailer can feel like a lot of weight too. I live on the side of the hill, so I had to push the bike and trailer half way up the one time I've used it. I hate pushing a bike, even though I see other people doing it all the time here. Either way, it sounds potentially dangerous with the way lk behaves sometimes.

said...

Yeah, I was gonna say, it's really dangerous to ride with headphone/earbuds on. It makes it hard/impossible to hear oncoming traffic. Just wanted to toss that little safety tip out there. Sorry to pee in your Cheerios. :(

cayce said...

i rode to meet a friend for lunch today with my 23lb 2yo on the back and my damn chain kept falling off. i couldn't have felt more helpless and retarded sitting on the side of the road trying to attach a metal chain to a metal spoked-thing(?)... so we stopped by the drive thru beer store on the way home and that's when i felt more retarded: driving thru a beer-store line with my toddler in her helmet on the back of my bike... grease stains on my clothes. i know all passers-by were thinking i was a(n) (ex) drunk driver.

Bored Mum said...

Do you really think Little Kid will sit nicely straight and still while you pedal around?

Or would he delight in trying to lean to the right and left either trying to see around you or just trying to see what would happen to your balance if he were to lean and wiggle and squiggle?

SuddenlySouthernCyndi said...

I'd definitley suggest a bike trailer over those bike seats--honestly I rarely see those anymore (but I remember when I rode in one as a kid eons ago!) We have a Burley trailer hooked up to Hubby's bike and it's great! Our little guy loves it and has even fell alseep in it. Oh, and ditch the ipod for safety--it really is a hazzard. Good luck to you!

Melanie said...

I am so with you on this one. Hubby got me a bike for Mother's Day this year and I have ridden it a few blocks, but cannot manage to take a real bike ride because I fear being splattered all over the road. Either it's raining or too much traffic or (now) the pedal is broken, so I always have an excuse. I need to just suck it up and do it because riding a bike makes you feel like a kid again, and everybody needs that feeling now and again.

Unknown said...

I'm thinking little kid can just stay home. The idea has really lost it's appeal. Bike seat can go on Craigslist for some other sucker.

However, I'm going to risk it and keep the ipod. Since I only listen to talk radio-type stuff, I can still easily hear approaching cars (thus the anxiety of them becoming murderers). I was going to try music, but I could see how that would make listening for cars more difficult.

I live in a nice community with no through roads and I go up and down residential courts and lanes and cul-de-sacs, so I don't see too many cars. There are sidewalks for some of my ride, but I don't like them because some people park at the end of their driveways which blocks the path.

I agree with the majority though, the bike seat was a bad idea. I'll skip it.

Melanie said...

Ooh! Trivia!
Did you know that the plural for cul-de-sac is culs-de-sac?
I thought of that while reading your response. I can't take credit for this amazing knowledge, though. I learned it from the Gilmore Girls. I knew watching that show every day for five years would eventually pay off. I am complete.

Renee said...

I can't believe you typed out this whole post and did not mention my trike. I feel vindicated!! It's not so easy riding a bike again after many years of not riding, NOW IS IT?! I can't believe I had to endure all that ridicule about my trike and now you are also having bike issues. I guess the difference is that you are going to practice and master your bike, while I just admitted defeat and went the Granny Trike route.

-The Renee

Unknown said...

Hey now, I never said riding a bike was easy, I just said that riding an adult trike was one of the queerest things I could possibly imagine and I stand by that statement.

We need a date, btw. Facebook keeps reminding me that you're a fan of the Indigo Girls and for some reason that makes me laugh often.

Lori said...

You know, the whole time I was reading this post yesterday all I could think of was The Renee's trike!

Renee said...

How about an IN PERSON DATE?! We will be in your town from November 8-11!!!!

-The Renee

Unknown said...

Awesome!! I thought it was closer to Thanksgiving! I can't wait to see you guys!