Just Ride.....again

So, Kev and I lit out this morning for our semi-regular Saturday social ride.  As we made our way around to Perimeter we saw another cyclist in the distance.  My first thought usually would have been to try to chase him down.  I let it go as we were having a nice leisurely ride.  Then we started gaining ground.  Uh oh.

Now, catching him isn't the story......because we did.  It was what we saw.  It was an older fellow.  Cycling shorts?  Yes.  Jersey?  Yes.  Helmet?  Of course.  Magna?  YES.  Magna.  That staple of the mega marts.  It was a girls bike.  It was way too small.  I said my "good morning" as we rode past.   It was obvious he was having just as much fun as we were.

And I say good for him.

Ride on!

Comments

  1. Eighties_PikeAugust 11, 2012 at 8:16 AM

    Better to ride with what you have than not at all. Good for him.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousAugust 12, 2012 at 4:45 PM

    My dad has a Magna. Before my mom died last year we were looking for a new bike for him. I need to start looking again. He deserves better and would probably ride more with a better bike.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why are bikes so expensive?

It's a question that we get all the time.  My annual eye exam was today, and was making small talk with the .....what would you call her.... Occular assistant?  Anyway, when the topic of my chosen line of work comes up she says "why are bikes so expensive?" My response to her was "They're not". I've gone to this eye doc for years, and I'm sure that there are many in town that are less expensive.  I go to this one because of the service, and quality of care. Your money buys more bike now than it ever has.   So why do people think bikes are expensive?  The price of everything around them goes up in price, yet bike prices should stay the same?  Not logical. I think the real issue is the way people view bikes.  They're considered toys.  Go and try to find one in one of the big box stores.  Know where they are?  Right next to the Barbies. A well made bicycle is a joy to ride, will work as (or better than) you expect it to and last a very lon
Read more

Let's give thanks

Time for a little reflection.  We talk a lot about cycling, and the rights of cyclists to have safe places to ride. It's easy to get impatient. Things don't move quickly enough. We aren't as progressive as (fill in the blank) city. I prefer to think about how far we've come.  I think about Richard Vonnegut, who has been beating the drum for bicycle advocacy as long as I can remember. He's someone that, as far as I'm concerned, doesn't get the recognition he deserves. I think about Diana Virgil, who has been plowing through the mountains of red tape surrounding the B&O Rail Corridor project-seemingly forever. Whatever progress we've seen recently has come from people like them working for years in darkness. I get a feeling of great hope when I see a group like IndyCog spring up, and accomplish so much. There are others, to be sure. Bicycle Indiana , and CIBA  just to name two.  People who love to ride bikes should feel a great sense
Read more

National Bike Summit 2013

Image
This originally appeared in the INDYCOG newsletter.  Get involved with bike advocacy, join INDYCOG! I wasn't there when it was born. I didn't see its first step or hear it first speak. But this week, I think I saw bike advocacy grow up. I attended my first National Bike Summit last year. It was contentious. We were fighting to keep the dedicated funding that others had worked so hard to attain. We were greeted with polite nods, and a sometimes dismissive attitude. One representative refused to see us. This year, we not only met with staff, but with members themselves. They were interested, engaged and (do I dare to say?) supportive. What a difference a year makes. Now, it could be that we weren't asking for funding like we were last year. I'm sure that's part of it. But I heard the word "tipping point" several times. Legislators are seeing the success cities like Indianapolis are having. Good politicians are nothing if not
Read more