I'm Self Conscious About My Rack

[smurfalicious]

From my blog:

Really, I am. It's nerdy. So much so that I take it off when it's not in use. It seems so pedestrian. It's ironic that it bothers me since I ride the greatest rolling turd of a bike in all of Boulder County. The saddle is probably worth more than the whole bike.

Even still, I sucked it up, strapped on my panniers and rode to work. 15 miles at 7 am was never appealing, even on race days. That aside the "everyone else is doing it" guilt is powerful. I was raised Catholic, after all.

My plan was to ride the first half and snag a bus the rest of the way. However, something happened when I got to the bus stop. My legs felt amazing, like they weren't even mine. I was pushing speeds that had me considering returning my obviously "defective" Cat Eye computer. Then there was the 15 minute wait until the next bus came. My desire to stand along the highway dressed in spandex during rush hour was minimal.

Back on my bike I cruised the last few miles to work. After assessing my stink factor I decided just to change clothes before settling in.

As the day wore on I debated riding home or snagging a bus. It would be nice to get 30 miles in without trying, for sure. That decided I committed my safe exit strategy directions to memory and headed out the door. Everything went fine until my sense of direction failed me. I trucked down Airport Road feeling pretty confident until I hit an intersection. That section of road was familiar from the Tour de Cure, a charity ride that went north, away from Boulder.

I guess right then I could have been angry, frustrated, or any of a number of words implying great displeasure. For some reason I just waited for a car to come to the intersection and give me directions. The first driver refused to roll down her windows and sneered at me. Big menacing girl on a pink bike that I am, she was looking out for her children, certainly. The next agreed that I was totally in the wrong direction, but nothing two lefts wouldn't cure.

Not wanting to turn back for fear of boredom I hung a left and inhaled a soothing nose full of farm air. The smell of horses was thick as I pedaled down 17th street. I had been here before, and as long as I got home before dark things would be fine. There were other cyclists out in droves and I cheerily waved as I began my long journey home.

At the intersection of 17th and 75th I cautiously approached an accident. I prayed no one was injured, but especially no cyclists. That would have destroyed my mood. A grumpy woman directing traffic saw me coasting and yelled at me to pedal. Clearly she didn't understand that if I was in a hurry, I would have been on the bus. As I passed the evil troll I confirmed with her that the highway was to the left. The troll snickered, "Yeah, a long ways." I merely smiled. What she didn't understand is what great news this was. I had an excuse to roll aimlessly about the back roads. No longer was riding something I had to "fit in." It was happening, and I was lost with no choice but to pedal my way out.

Epiphanies are powerful things, and it took a troll of a woman, a field of corn inviting my eyes towards the mountains, and the inability to follow directions to realize just how good it can feel to ride. Were I driving a wrong turn would have annoyed me to no end. Since I had no choice but to ride, I wasn't riding instead of something, I was free to literally "roll with it."

The rest of my ride turned into another series of wrong turns that subconsciously might have been deliberate. Mostly the roads were ones I recognized, and I hoped they would get me where I needed to go sooner or later. All told, I didn't really care. I waved and smiled at every cyclist I saw like a overzealous cycling "spokes" woman. I was saddened to have my jersey zipped the whole way up when possibly the sexiest guy to ever get on a bike rode by in the other direction.

39.26 miles into my day later I arrived home. "Who needs a beer? This girl does, that's who!" I told an audience consisting of my dogs. Thank goodness for Oskar Blues beer in a can, and naps.

See it in it's original form here:

http://crappyoldbike.blogspot.com/20...t-my-rack.html

[lph]

"I guess right then I could have been angry, frustrated, or any of a number of words implying great displeasure."

Thanks, smurf, this was great reading and got me smiling this morning.

[tattiefritter]

Hee hee, I have recently bought panniers for my "utility bike" (I've just renamed it that) and have been doing lots of errands on it and exploring all the roads around here in a way I have never done in a car and I never get irate by taking a wrong turn or a slightly longer way to get where I'm going, its all bike time.

I've only had them a couple of weeks and already I think they are one of the best bike things I've ever bought - no need to battle it out in the car park anymore, just ride straight to the front of the store and park bike there.

Just saw the route map on your blog: are those roads really that straight ?!!!!

[SouthernBelle]

This goes along with my riding theory this year.

"Hey, let's go see what's on that road!"

[JaneE]

I must confess that the first thought that popped into my (admittedly evil) mind when I read "I'm Self Conscious About My Rack" was maybe a professional bra fitting would help?

[lovelylibrarian]

I must confess that the first thought that popped into my (admittedly evil) mind when I read "I'm Self Conscious About My Rack" was maybe a professional bra fitting would help?

I was thinking the same thing! The title really gave me a smile.

[emily_in_nc]

I was thinking the same thing! The title really gave me a smile.

Me too!

[snapdragen]

Me three

[smurfalicious]

Glad I could make yall smile. Actually I'm a lot less self conscious about most of my body because it's back much closer to where I like it to be. Thank you bicycle.

And yes, those roads really are that straight save for the highway which is called "The Diagonal" for good reason.

I think I'm going to write a book called, "How to Improve Your Training and Add Miles Without Even Trying - A Bad Sense of Direction Guide Book."

Peas!
-HillBill

[NoNo]

After much thought and consideration, I finally bought a rack for my Dolce last week and let the bike shop figure out how to install it. I bought an awesome bag, the Toocan by Detours, and today I finally got to try the combo out. I love it! My back feels so much better and I barely noticed the extra weight. I am definitely motivated to do more shopping and errand running now. I think Sunday I may check out the farmer's market the next town over. And just maybe I'll take an extended route to get there

[Crankin]

Since putting a rack on my road bike is not possible, I had to buy a whole bike for the rack and bag .
I find that I enjoy my little errands and rides on this bike much more nowadays. No pressure, no training, just fun, purpose, and not using my car.

[wackyjacky1]

I love my big, beautiful, sturdy rack.

Gotta get me some panniers, though...

[malkin]

Cheers to you!

[madscot13]

I love my bike rack. Some of the people I bike with were trying to talk me into taking it off. I told them it is where I strap my rocket pack to jet past them on the hills. That made them stop, because it is true! Another time I told them that I don't own a car and I buy my groceries and pretty much do everything on my bike. that also go the joyriders to pause.

[beccaB]

Glad I could make yall smile. Actually I'm a lot less self conscious about most of my body because it's back much closer to where I like it to be. Thank you bicycle.

And yes, those roads really are that straight save for the highway which is called "The Diagonal" for good reason.

I think I'm going to write a book called, "How to Improve Your Training and Add Miles Without Even Trying - A Bad Sense of Direction Guide Book."

Peas!
-HillBill

Bad sense of direction-isn't that called being a "GEOTARD" ??? That would be me.