More on Bikes

There really are just two kinds of people in the world. There are bike people and people who aren’t bike people. If you don’t already know I am among the former. I just can’t figure out how you non-bike people do it. How do you get around? Do you walk? Do you drive everywhere? Tell me how you do it. I really want to know.

Outside of this particular coffee shop there are only three bikes roped up to the hitching post but I can see well over 30 people inside. I suppose everyone could have walked here from their offices; there are dozens within one or two blocks. Everyone could have walked but I doubt if they would have bothered to make the two block detour to go past the inner-city dog park of 3rd and Battery—or the dog zoo as I call it. Today a huge Saint Bernard was horsing around with a Jack Russell Terrier. I never pass up a chance to go look at the dogs.

Driving downtown is all but unthinkable as parking is always a problem. The buses are a good way to get around and they are free in the downtown area of Seattle—inside the free-ride zone as it is called. Walking is a good way to get around but I’m not much of a walker. Walking is a little too slow for me. I can get more exercise on my bike by riding fast. I’m definitely not much of a runner and running as transportation gets you too worked up. I can ride 30 mph and then coast for a block to cool down and barely break a sweat.

I wouldn’t give you $100 for all three bikes leaning against the bike rack outside. Mine is about a ten year old Canondale I bought for $150 a couple years ago. I purposely bought a crappy bike to lower the theft threat. I would never dream of riding my racing bike around town for transportation. That would be like using a thoroughbred to plow a field.

The best thing about bikes is that they are a fucking blast. I never get on my bike without having some fun. I think it is one aspect of childhood play that I have never relinquished as I grew into adulthood. Besides the great fitness benefits of cycling I think that the recreation aspect of riding has kept me youthful in outlook. I rarely get hassled by cops no matter how lawlessly I pedal around Seattle, and the meter maids have no jurisdiction over my life. And did I mention that it’s fun?