briskattivo

So, I’ve just gotten really serious about this. It’s been a couple years since I’ve had my bicycle now, but I am so serious about it. The main thing initially was getting a road bike instead of a mountain bike, although either is fine. I must say the road bike I got a deal on craigslist on is waaay faster.

Last year I rode my bicycle all through the summer and fall until I really couldn’t seem to be bothered getting a raincoat and wool for the winter. That was a mistake.

Now, this fall I’ve realized that there are so many ways I can get serious about bicycling, and how much I want to set a good example by doing so. I’ve just bought a bicycle rack with two attachable folding baskets for groceries and other items. It’s pretty exciting, and now I can ride to the grocery store or farmers market and get food or ride home.

I’ve also been riding unsurrenderingly to work every day for the past few weeks. It’s great because we actually have an indoor area where we can hook our bikes up on a wall rack.

I’m planning on commuting to work every day through the winter this time. I’ll consider this day one.

This is my third time quitting, and I think I have a good excuse to quit for good this time. This time I want to quit for myself, and not others. What I have really decided is that smoking was distorting my own image of myself as well as for others. It was also harming my body and my brain.

The brain is the big thing for me. I think there was a certain point when I just realized that every time I lit up a cigarette it was to escape something, and that perhaps escaping all the time isn’t a good idea. Sometimes you really just have to face things.

Quitting smoking makes me feel like an addict, which I guess I am. Sometimes I just want one, just to go through the motions. There’s a clarity of mind during those first few puffs you need, and then it just fades away from you at the end, like some other person’s thoughts. It’s the most neglected effect of all, and you might not even notice it at first, until one day you realize something is missing.

Anyway, I think as I get healthier, and life improves, it’ll be easier. It’s been about a month or two since I’ve quit. I still want to really often when work gets stressful or after I’ve had a drink, but I don’t indulge it. They’ve also made it illegal in the bars here and that is a GOOD idea.

For those of you who think there’s something romantic about smoking, or perhaps something magical, yes perhaps there is. But as soon as it leaves, you’ll just be left with the same void that I had and a harmed body.

Last summer I rode my bike like a monk all over the place. I even took a vacation with my girlfriend by train up to Vancouver, BC where we got around strictly by bike and public transportation. It rocked for that very reason.

When winter hit, I became less optimistic for my new bike-only life. I told myself after winter ended I would be back on it, but it turns out that I’ve just not felt up to task at all in this department and have ended up driving everywhere again. It really makes me loath myself.

Part of the reason is that I need to get my bicycle repaired. The pedal has become unthreaded. This seems like an easy fix, and my employer will even pay for it! I just need to stop over there and plunk down some money, or ideally, fix it myself.

Truly ideally, however, there would be a smooth dirt or gravel path that led all the way from my house to my office, but that’s sort of unrealistic I guess. And also, I wouldn’t have to work in an office.

I could, however, imagine walking to work again possibly. I have done it before and it took me around 2 hours, which is admittedly long, but not impossible, and the scenery is noteable mostly.

I vote that we cobble the roads, mulch the freeways, gravel the sidewalks, and replace our thoroughfares with gondola boat filled canals.

This is why I’m sometimes hopeless, but I’m working on a backup plan in case the revolution doesn’t show up in time. Updates to come.