Meet ... well, I haven't named her yet. However, we are definitely building an affinity as she is becoming my mainline transportation in Asheville. Something that is very American about me is my constant need for independent transportation, thus the car goes with me everywhere. However, when it's within a couple of miles, I feel silly. All the same, the idea of getting a bus is just outrageous on this side of the Atlantic. I looked at tinier cars than my MiniCooper; I looked at scooters. I looked at motorbikes. While that did result in my adding a 3-Wheel Morgan and a motorbike (brand yet TBD) to my list of future toys, the idea of getting them didn't replace my feelings of silliness to drive two miles to a shop. Scooters never held a strong value in my mind, which left bicycles.
Bicycles are very romantic ways of living in my mind. Yes, I grew up watching the old mid-century English films where everybody rode the bicycle in their normal clothes, and even today in Europe, bicycles are an extremely common form of normal transportation.
Here though, in the USA.......have you noticed everybody's either a professional or a tourist on a bike? Neither of these roles suit my purposes or desired stereotype, as I have no time to slip in and out of spandex to go get my groceries, and I'll be damned before I wear a t-shirt and shorts with a fanny pack. What I wanted was a large basket on my bike to go get groceries and small things. What I wanted was to strap my guitar to my back to go to my lesson. What I wanted was to not worry about transportation in general on the weekend nights downtown.
Then I read the Wall Street Journal article about the surge of Americans riding bikes for common errands. No spandex and no fanny packs! I don't know why I needed the affirmation as typically I need zero affirmation. Perhaps it was just knowing that I wasn't 60 years behind in the wrong country.
Off Eric and I went to our local bike shop, operational as a bike shop since 1896. They hooked me up with my still unnamed bicycle. She was a bit beat up and sad, but they restored her functionality, giving her a new life to carry on another decade, already 30 years old or so.
Biking home that day, and then biking out for dinner has taught me a few things.
- First, even the smallest hill grade makes a rather large difference, and I'm sorting out very interesting routes in our mountain town.
- Second, despite being a relatively strong person who works out with a fitness trainer regularly, biking is an entirely different kettle of fish.
- Third, closest in mileage does not mean most convenient, as my main grocery store one valley over (Fresh Market) has managed to change over night to the local co-op and locally branded Whole Foods downtown where I can stay on the ridgeline :)
So, cheers to healthier living, less motor vehicle congestion, and being very sore for a few weeks!!!
