pedal power!

Some nights on the rickshaw are full of customers so they’re full of money. They go by quick and it’s lots of laughing.

But other nights drag in every way.

So here’s my idea.

All the rickshaw drivers who usually just sit around waiting for customers or try to hook customers by calling out (in Danish): “cycle taxi!” or “cozy taxi!” or “eco-friendly taxi!” would instead be cowboys. Someone could stand in the square with a bullhorn annoncing the rickshaw rodeo event (brainstormed below … please feel free to pose suggestions for other evens in the form of comments!) A crowd would naturally form, and, I believe, people would readily and happily pay for rides with this kind of energy in the crowd.

Such as…

[Each event begins with riders negotiating the price of the ride with the driver … both parties will be interested in this going very quickly, which may mean that customers offer high fares in the interest of “yeah, whatever, let’s gooooo!”]

1. Drivers must go to the next plaza (2-3 blocks away) where riders must convince someone from another country, not a Dane to come back to the starting line in the rickshaw. First one back with a foreigner is the winner.

2. Drivers must travel across the plaza while their rider balances an egg on a spoon from the back of the rickshaw. First one across the finish line / the one who makes it farthest before the egg falls wins.

3. Something of a scavenger hunt (simple, though, so it only takes 5 minutes) where riders must return with a Sweedish bank note, a pair of girl’s panties, and a street musician.

4. Driver must first successfully throw a lassoe arond his passenger; then the passenger gets in and they go to the closest 7-11. First one to return with a Yankee bar wins. (Good because there are lots of 7-11’s to choose from and some have long lines …)

5. (For classic-style rickshaws only, pushcart-style couldn’t participate): Driver sits with his legs up on the handle bars; his only job is to steer; passenger sits on the rickshaw’s footstool and pedlas from behind (awkward and funny) to win a race.

6. ???

7. ?

Somehow I landed a gig driving a rickshaw. My income is now pedal-powered. Good for my legs and for my wallet.

I’m off to change the course of this adventure. I was spontaneously offered a position as a rickshaw driver in Copenhagen, and I spontaneously accepted.

The fact that it starts on April Fools Day is of particular delight to me.

Apparently there’s quite a lot of money to be made. I don’t like money, but I prefer to have it than to need it. Four months without paid work means I’m currently squarely in the second category. But I’m tickled that I’ll be acquiring it through pedal power.

And my thighs are smiling at the thought of getting paid to get in shape ….

I’ve lent out my bike. Wow – I used to be so protective of it, I’m glad to have a different attitude toward a possession! But it’s not practical for me to have it now, and it made sense for this person to borrow it. It’s nice to trust and to help someone out. So I’m on foot for a while.

So I live in a hilly place … time to learn to bike the hills!
go, go, go, go, go!!!

I got my bike out of the box and figured out how to put all the parts together. I didn’t actually know I could do it until I did it. I turned a big ugly box into a beautiful inviting bicycle.

I got a helmet today that is less ugly than most helmets. I figure I’ll use it more often if I don’t entirely detest it.

Discovered near the Mule stables at the Grand Canyon Village.

I haven’t been on the bike very much at all for several months. There is always some excuse. And I won’t have much time for biking between now and my move, but once I’m established in my new place I’ll have significantly less distractions around me (and significantly less access to a car!) so I look forward to being a biking fool once again.

Monday I’ve got a bike polishing date with Viejo.