I rode a bike!

[Katsplaying]

First time in many years. Stopped by the local non-profit shop. They accept donations, rebuild, repair, teach, sell, and host community events. The place was crammed with so many bikes I couldn't actually see them all.

Nice guy working on a bike on a stand asks me if he can help. Yes, please, I'm looking to improve my fitness with an eye towards commuting. He directs me to "try on" that one. It's too small for me so he points out Miranda.

Miranda. (Can you see River's dreamy face as she whispers this? Right before she kicks the crap out of everyone in the bar?)

He shows me how the shifters work and says "There's a bike trail out back, take it for a ride." And off I go. SO MUCH FUCKING FUN! A couple wobbles and I'll wheeling down the trail. Find a hill to try gears. Easy peasy! Head the other way for awhile, still playing with gears to see what works, and decide it's time to head back. Crap, I went a lot farther than I thought! It was so easy to cover ground and the bike felt tight and totally in my control.

I breeze back into the shop, first guy was with another customer so he sent me to talk to the guy who built the bike. I am exhilarated and pumped from the ride and wow, this guy is pretty yummy. We talk about how they build their bikes, I'm silently admiring his ink spread over awesome arms & shoulders, realize I'm far too distracted to make a decision and thank him for his time, saying I'll be back. He offers his name and warmly shakes my hand as I give him mine.

It is a fact of human nature that strong emotions bleed over and attach themselves to non-related people/places/things and I laugh to myself as I drive away about my amusing reaction. I wonder how often those guys get hit on after people have ecstatic test rides? But asking would appear to be...hitting on them.

So even though I shouldn't spend money while I'm in a credit card + car loan debt emergency, even MMM says buying a bike is ok. I have been rolling the idea around for weeks, months, and doing some looking on line. Reading many comments about buying on-line and having to take the new bikes to have them adjusted/tuned anyway pushes me pretty solidly towards buying local, and recycling a bike seems very Mustachian. I have to go back to discuss warranty, support, etc but I'm most likely gonna come home with as new ride this weekend.

And I NEVER would have contemplated getting a bike if I hadn't gotten into MMM and these forums.

Thank you!

Does gently expressing interest in a bike shop employee constitute shitting where you eat in that I will want to take it back for tune-ups & repair in the future?

Also, long-time bf laughed his ass off over my transferred excitement when I related this story and while he isn't too concerned with another man in my life, he is rabidly paranoid about my safety whilst biking. How to alleviate his worries about bike safety? He is pretty logical about most stuff but this a place where stats and science don't appear to be enough to assuage his fears.

[Sibley]

First, congrats on rediscovering the joy of riding a bike! And yes, its good to be a little calmer when you actually make a decision to buy a particular bike.

Regarding bike safety. First, spend time just riding around the neighborhood. Stay off busy roads, etc. Get your skills back in low risk situations before you venture to busier areas.

Consider getting a helmet. Personally, I hate helmets. I wear one anyway when riding in downtown Chicago and it makes me sad.

Since it's been so long since you've ridden a lot, there is some reason for concern. Your skills are rusty! Explain your plan to get your skills up to par. Then follow through on it. Once he realizes that you are being sensible and careful, he should relax. (If not, tell him he needs to, because he's insulting you by being unreasonably paranoid.)

Why couldn't you go to the bike shop? You were friendly is all. Its ok to be friends with people! In fact, it's a good idea to have a good relationship with these people - they'll know how you ride and therefore what you need.

[Scotch & CPA]

Congrats!! It's such a great feeling to get back on a bike. It's a wonderful feeling of freedom as you cover a lot more distance than walking. It's addicting, in a good way.  I vote buy local, especially if it's your first bike. Having a warranty, bike support, and most importantly a proper fitting, will help you be more comfortable from the beginning. There is nothing worse than starting to bike again, on a bike that doesn't shift correctly and doesn't fit correctly.

Biking will definitely cut down on the amount of time you spend in the car, so I tentatively vote yes for getting it.

Also, to alleviate your BF's fears, maybe get him to start biking? I would say your skills are probably rusty, and Sibley has some good suggestions.

[2ndTimer]

No question about it Mustachianism leads a person down many new paths, all of them interesting.  We have been having much more fun since I embraced it.  As for admiring the bike guy's ink.  He would presumably put it somewhere you couldn't see it if he didn't want it admired.  A crush on a bike guy is a great way to encourage personal fitness.

[darkadams00]

Congrats! +1 on regaining your skill/confidence over time. I definitely made rider errors in the first few months. Granted I went from zero to riding almost daily in a short period, but over time I became more confident navigating around cars (whom I don't want to hit me) and pedestrians/dogs (whom I don't want to hit). Honestly, I've had more close calls with runners, strollers, kid bikers, dogs, and wagons than cars since I use both roads and greenways daily.

I've ridden without a helmet with few close calls (although my non-biking coworkers were quick to call me out), and I've ridden with a helmet with few close calls. Actually, in over three years of riding, I've only had 4-5 close calls with a vehicle, and those were at parking lot speeds. So to each his own.

Good luck with your bike and let us know when you make progress--first ride to work, first grocery store trip, etc. Utility biking is a really great community even if much of it is in the virtual world.

[HoosierGirl]

Woo hoo-congrats! I started riding mountain bike trails almost a year ago and can't believe I wasted so many years not riding. I just started making about 3 miles of my commute with my bike. If you are going to ride on the roads please make sure you know the local laws. For example, we're required to have a front and rear light and a bell.

My co-workers think I'm about weird for cycling it instead of taking the free bus that 3 miles but I sit all day so it's something I look forward to when I get up and when I leave. Plus I feel like a kid again when I get on my bike and that is priceless! I went from 0 miles to 24 miles last week and it feels great.
Cycle on!!  🚵🏻

[Mr Dumpster Stache]

I will point out that unless you actually sell your car(s), biking is not going to save you much money. Saving on gas is great, but the insurance and registration is where you actually make your money back.

On the other hand, the health and happiness benefits are great. :)

[Susurrus]

Wow, congrats on broadening your horizons and considering something new! I don't really have anything productive to add (other than woo-hoo, you should definitely get the bike!), but I wanted to thank you for your lovely reference. It's always great to meet another browncoat!

[nottoolatetostart]

Thanks to MMM and these forums, I also recently started owning a bike again. I work from home so I don't have a commute but am going to start taking my kids by bike trailer to daycare (just waiting for it to come in). Just doing that alone with also get me total ~40 min of exercise per day for the 2 roundtrips that are <1.5 miles. I've started biking for groceries.

Over the last couple months, I've started to become repulsed by driving and all the cars, cars, cars and lack of safe places for bikers. I hate driving.

One of the best times in my life was when I lived in Chicago, no car, really no belongings, studio apt, everything was walking distance or I used my transit pass. I had 3 bills: cell, rent, and transit pass (but this came out of my paycheck through my employer)...so really 2 bills. Bliss!

[frompa]

To the list of things you can do to assuage your long term BF's safety concerns, as well as your own confidence on the bike, add taking a bike safety class.  Your local non-profit probably has some sort of road riding skills class.  These can be REALLY terrific, for teaching the basic skills of looking over your left shoulder for traffic coming up behind while maintaining a straight riding line (essential in many urban riding settings), maneuvering turns, safest road positioning, etc. etc.  And CONGRATS on getting back on a bike; isn't it fun?