ride my bike everywhere

I started riding, but then it got cold and wet for a few days. Then my front brake got bent in so it slows down the front wheel. I really need to get it fixed but I’m also rather broke right now.

I’m getting itchy to ride again! I miss my bike so much. It’s just so wet out these days, and there’s a good chance that it will snow again in the next two months.

I took my bike in for the winter. I got some good riding in, usually at least three miles a day. Not a lot, but it’s better than nothing and better than taking the train. I need to make sure to get my bike tuned up in the spring, it’s seen a lot of abuse living on the street.

This has been really tough lately because it’s been so hot out. I always feel bad when I bike to class and get sweaty; someone has to sit next to smelly, smelly me. I’ve been doing a lot of walking, which is equally good, physically and environmentally. I’d really like to get some more riding in before it gets too cold.

I move back to Chicago in about a week! That means I’ll have places to bike to! Words can’t begin to explain how excited I am for that. I really miss riding.

Since I’ve been home, I’ve really been sucking at this. Access to a car makes me lazy, and living in the suburbs makes it difficult to get places by bike. Drivers around here don’t understand the concept of sharing the road. My parents don’t like the idea of me biking to work, or even the bus stop a few miles from here and doing a two-part commute. I think my good bike needs a tune-up, which will probably cost $60 or so. For a poor college student, that’s a lot of money. I think I’d be able to get my parents to cover that cost, but I really hate asking them for money.

Critical Mass is this Friday. I really want to go, but I’m not sure how it’ll work to get my bike down to the starting point. It’s so hypocritical to drive to the starting point with a bike and then ride.

I haven’t been doing as well on this as I was before. I’ve gotten sort of lazy about riding places. It’s no fun being on the train, but it does get me some places quicker. I’d like to be able to ride a lot this summer, but I’m not sure what I’m going to be doing for work and where I’ll be. Hopefully, there will be a good bike route from my house to wherever I am.

Yesterday was cold out, so I took the train to class. It was so miserable. I haven’t taken the train anywhere in about two weeks. I forgot how smelly and crowded and loud it was. It was mostly underground, and I hated sitting there thinking about how if it was nice, I would be enjoying the sunshine by the lake. On the way back, a 44-year-old man with nose hair tried to pick me up, which was uncomfortable to say the least. Next Monday is supposed to have a high of 80, so hopefully I’ll be back on my bike. I really don’t want to run into my new “friend” again…

Another 11 miles today, downtown and back. Starting to get sunburnt (not so fun). A little wind today, which was really nice since it was so hot. I like driving past everyone stuck on Lake Shore Drive and being glad I’m not stuck in a car like they are.

Rode downtown to class again today. I think the ride is 5-6 miles each way, but I’m not sure. I took a really odd detour today (by mistake), so it was probably 7 miles there. Along with that, it was really foggy in the morning, so I was sweating a little, but I was also wet from all the fog. And then I almost got hit by every car on Michigan Ave. I am never, ever going to bike on that street again. The way back was really nice. Sunny out, not a lot of people, and I knew where I was going more than I did yesterday.

Edit: According to MapMyRun.com, it’s 5.5 miles with the route I take. Not bad to get an 11 mile ride in at least twice a week.