When the bike says, "No."

[indigoiis]

Last night, I missed the usual bus, and had to take an express that put me and the bike fifteen miles from the house. While I normally would have no problem going fifteen miles on my bike, this was fifteen miles on a busy rural highway with no shoulder, on an old steel bike, and I was hauling a load of crap in my courier bag. I wanted to be home at a reasonable hour and really cranked it. The day before, I had done a 25 miler on my road bike and my knees were tired. My commuting bike is not really made for distances over ten miles and needless to say, by hill number six I was hurting.

Anyhow, this morning I got up and I went downstairs in my usual fury, gathering my thoughts on how today's commute will go (it involves buses, and choices of stops, and preparation depending on what I am doing after work - today I have to go to the DMV to renew my license so it was going to involve a car, a bus, and my bike - D'OH!) and stopped to gaze out at my bike on the sunporch. Looking at the old girl, I had a terrible feeling. It was like, the kind of feeling one might get when one is pissed off at a loved one but loves that person and doesn't want to feel pissed off at them. I felt a mixture of resentment, exhaustion, and guilt. It is a sunny day. I don't have my daughter. I should ride. I should drive me and the bike up to the DMV, park there, ride from there up to the city where I work, take the bus back maybe... it was all so complicated and maybe I got up on the wrong side of the bed or something but suddenly, the bike said, "No." I know bikes can't talk, but I swear to god I thought I heard the bike say "No." It was very likely one of the cats or a bird or whatever, but it sounded distinctly negative and almost human. Kind of whiney. I went out and did my barn chores and came back and on my way in touched my bike briefly and heard it again. "No." I went back in and got the truck key and went out and started the truck. The bike seemed to sigh in relief.

Needless to say, I decided to leave her at home today. I got in and told my co-worker and she said, "maybe she just need a break from you, you know?"

[Kalidurga]

I'm gonna remember this the next time I have one of those rides when it seems like the cranks just don't wanna turn. It's not a lack of power in my legs. It really is the bike telling me it doesn't want to go!

[lph]

Great story

Today my bike was saying "whee! looky me go! I may be old and heavy and beat up but I'm the only one you can ride in winter and just looky me whomp that snow!"

[coyote]

LOL I guess maybe a bike might need a break from an owner.

My bike is currently making me late to work Its saying "Ride faster, ride farther". The sun is out and the mornings are warm....we both have spring fever. All I want to do is ride!

[madscot13]

Now that I tightened my brakes, my bike seems to be saying " ride me now just so you can brake me."

and zen I spelled it right. imagine if I had done otherwise.

[Geonz]

And who knows... I tell myself that maybe I am having a psychic moment and that something awful might have happened... or more realistically, that I'm tired enough to crash... I listen to those feelings.

[madscot13]

I believe in that: so tired you might crash. if you aren't alert enough, maybe it is time to stay home.