Transportation Woes

Life for me has been a real learning experience, especially the last 10 years. I am 56 now. I’m smarter, healthier and have lost more than 100 pounds in the last two years. That’s pretty big. (I was eating too much fatty food.)

I ride my bike every day, 12 to 15 miles a day or more. Some riding is to get to an appointment, to get somewhere and some is just for fun. It's all fun most of the time. But the rain and the cold can make it a bummer.

I just bought a bike for $50 from my friend. A KHS, 21-speed, high handle bars and fat 10-speed tires. It’s awesome. I’ve never had 700-series tires for the street. Much better than the knobby dirt tires. I don’t know why these idiots ride on the street with these fat, mountain tires.

Anyway, last week I noticed a little bump in my tire. I didn’t pay much attention to it until I saw a hole the size of a quarter in it. So eventually, the tube will bubble up and explode, I knew this, I just didn’t know when.

Saturday I was taking a nap. Woke up and I decided to take down $6 to $7 dollars worth of cans and bottles to recycle. About half way there, it blew. It was hot and I was hoping the bike would hold out until Sunday, but no.

Nothing I can’t handle. I’ve had my share of breakdowns. You walk. But I don’t like walking anywhere. It sucks. So Sunday I took the lightrail from Fruitdale to Campbell to the Farmers Market, worked the market, bought a tire and tube and began to truck to AM/PM about six blocks away.

I put the tire and tube in and started to go when BAM, it blew again. I couldn’t figure it out. I had a new tire and tube. So I took the tube out. The hole had ripped in the tube, so it was a bad tube. I was swearing and upset, and now this has to happen. A Hispanic man came by and offered me a ride to the bike store, , because it was hot. So I took it.

They took it and they agreed that the tube was not good and got a new one. The lining in my tube was no good either so the shop put the tube in for me and tightened my spokes. And I was on my way. I was stoked.

You see, when you lose your transportation, you stress because its so important for you to have.

My brakes were not working so I took a look and I fixed them. I figured it out and was proud of myself. Now my bike is in good riding condition. I don’t know how anybody can be happy when their cars or bikes break down.

Cars are much worse. But it’s just life. It’s not a bowl of cherries, things happen. If you don’t have the money that day, you wait until the next day and then take care of it.

My bike is the best thing I own in my life. I love it and gets me around. Life for me has been a series of bikes and this is the best one yet.