One Mo' Time

Bicycle Trials

I woke up this morning with a plan: trade in the bad-luck bike for a spiffy new retro rocket with a killer paint job and fenders. I was going to get the Madwagon Lovejoy!

See, I used to love riding my bike. Ever since I was a wee nipper with training wheels, I liked the feeling of freedom I felt. It was my earth-bound way of flying.

With work and living and getting on to other things, I gradually gave up my regular rides. When health issues began to crop up and exercise seemed the only way to go, I thought I'd go back to what I used to love so much. So I bought a bicycle online and had it shipped to my home. All I had to do was take the package to a shop and have them complete the assembly. This is the day I decided that this bike was my bad luck.

I was my birthday, and as I prepared for a long weekend out of town with my new bike in tow, I rushed about taking care of things like getting the car serviced, etc. Last stop was to be the bike shop. Trouble is, I was in such a hurry (and both arms were full of a 40 pound bicycle and tires) that I failed to notice the curb I was stepping off of was in reality a loading dock. I went down sideways, then backwards onto the pavement with the bike landing right on top of my legs.

I had broken my ankle in two places, as it turned out. There would be no bicycle trip for me.

Ever since that day 3 years ago, I've been downright skittish about riding, always feeling off-balance and uncomfortable. Only took the bike out once or twice since so I decided that I may as well get rid of it. Find something that was step-through (girl's bike) that was sized more appropriately for me. Then, I'd ride again. Today was to be that day.

I was in for a shock as I tried bike after bike (fat tire ladies bike, recumbent, tandem). Good Lord, the shop owner was patient with me. Nothing was right. All this time what I thought of as simply a bad bicycle choice had become an over-arching fear of being on ANY bike. He even held the bikes for me as I tried to find my balance and shed the fear of taking both feet off the ground. I could not trust the pedals. I did not trust myself.

So, with sweat pouring and hands shaking, I left the shop, my bad-luck bike and my dream of a new Madwagon beginning. At least for today.

I can't let fear win for long. I'll be back!

posted by La Cabeza Grande @ 4:32 PM