Post by Lisa-Marie on Jul 14, 2005 13:14:55 GMT
[glow=red,2,300]This made me giggle as it reminds me of myself biking to work..... ;D[/glow]
Lift your bike down from over the window, cursing at the way the wheels keep turning and getting caught on the hooks. Lean it against the rail on your back porch and hunt around for a water bottle. Fill it and put it in the clip. Lock the door. Carry the bike down the stairs. Get whacked in the shin by a pedal.
Go down to Sidney, gradually working your way up through the gears until you get to 16. Make a left, and ride down to Harby while setting the timer on your cell phone for half an hour.
Take a left onto Harby. Squint; this is the dustiest street in Houston, and the wind this time of day is blowing all of it in your direction. Pass Eastwood. The wind is getting worse. If you were just sitting there, not pedaling, you’d probably be going backward. Lean down almost horizontal over the handlebars and try just to make it to the end of the street.
At Ernestine, make a U-turn. The wind is at your back now, so it’s much, much easier. Remember reading somewhere or hearing in gym or something that this sort of run-walk pattern is good for you. Wonder if that’s true.
Make a right onto Sidney, then onto Coyle. Coyle is the best named street in your neighborhood. The wind isn’t as bad here (it’s always worst on Harby, because of the way the buildings are arranged), but it’s still definitely harder to pedal this way.
U-turn again at Ernestine. Grab your water bottle from the clip and unscrew the cap with one hand. Wonder if you’re ever going to remember to buy one with a pop-top so you don’t have to do this. Repeat for three streets (say hello to Laura, who doesn’t recognize you at first since you’re mobile and not drinking) until you get to Leeland again.
Take a left onto Leeland. Pedal fast. There is traffic on this street, and it does not like you taking up a lane. Check your timer: 19 minutes left. Goood.
Right on Cullen, in the bike lane (still pedal fast; you’re the only one on the road who knows it’s a bike lane), then right again back into the residential, non-traffic areas you ride in because you don’t have a helmet or health insurance.
These three streets are three block stretches, Cullen to Sidney to Eastwood to Fashion. Move up a gear. Take a left on Fashion, then Clay, straight through to Cullen, then Polk to Fashion again, then Clay, Sidney (you don’t want to make a left onto and then off Cullen), and so on back to Leeland. Think briefly about bringing your camera over here, but mostly think: pedal.
At Leeland, check the time again and cross to do your Sidney-Ernestine doublebacks in reverse order, but fast.
Get chased by a dog. As you come to the stopsign at nearly top speed and it’s pulling away, find out your brakes could use a little tightening. Be thankful no one ever drives down Sidney.
At Harby, check the time: 2 minutes. Slow down several gears. Take Sidney across Leeland again to Clay. Turn right down Clay. Drink more water.
Think about your neighborhood. Plan out some shots for when you bring your camera down this street. Think about where you’re going to ride your bike when you move. Will you live in a neighborhood like this? You can’t imagine that in New York, certainly. Will you have to ride your bike to somewhere you can ride your bike? Maybe you’ll just ride your bike places, like to work. You’ll need a helmet, if that’s the case, and health insurance, but you’ll probably get the latter with whatever job you get. Think about Lisa’s bionic elbow. Consider buying a helmet.
Finish your water and turn right onto Leeland. Wonder where the people at the bus stop are going. Stay on the sidewalk, since you’re going so slow. Think about what you’re going to write about this. Wonder if you should include a map like in Family Circus. Reject the idea. Turn right into your parking lot.
Lift your bike down from over the window, cursing at the way the wheels keep turning and getting caught on the hooks. Lean it against the rail on your back porch and hunt around for a water bottle. Fill it and put it in the clip. Lock the door. Carry the bike down the stairs. Get whacked in the shin by a pedal.
Go down to Sidney, gradually working your way up through the gears until you get to 16. Make a left, and ride down to Harby while setting the timer on your cell phone for half an hour.
Take a left onto Harby. Squint; this is the dustiest street in Houston, and the wind this time of day is blowing all of it in your direction. Pass Eastwood. The wind is getting worse. If you were just sitting there, not pedaling, you’d probably be going backward. Lean down almost horizontal over the handlebars and try just to make it to the end of the street.
At Ernestine, make a U-turn. The wind is at your back now, so it’s much, much easier. Remember reading somewhere or hearing in gym or something that this sort of run-walk pattern is good for you. Wonder if that’s true.
Make a right onto Sidney, then onto Coyle. Coyle is the best named street in your neighborhood. The wind isn’t as bad here (it’s always worst on Harby, because of the way the buildings are arranged), but it’s still definitely harder to pedal this way.
U-turn again at Ernestine. Grab your water bottle from the clip and unscrew the cap with one hand. Wonder if you’re ever going to remember to buy one with a pop-top so you don’t have to do this. Repeat for three streets (say hello to Laura, who doesn’t recognize you at first since you’re mobile and not drinking) until you get to Leeland again.
Take a left onto Leeland. Pedal fast. There is traffic on this street, and it does not like you taking up a lane. Check your timer: 19 minutes left. Goood.
Right on Cullen, in the bike lane (still pedal fast; you’re the only one on the road who knows it’s a bike lane), then right again back into the residential, non-traffic areas you ride in because you don’t have a helmet or health insurance.
These three streets are three block stretches, Cullen to Sidney to Eastwood to Fashion. Move up a gear. Take a left on Fashion, then Clay, straight through to Cullen, then Polk to Fashion again, then Clay, Sidney (you don’t want to make a left onto and then off Cullen), and so on back to Leeland. Think briefly about bringing your camera over here, but mostly think: pedal.
At Leeland, check the time again and cross to do your Sidney-Ernestine doublebacks in reverse order, but fast.
Get chased by a dog. As you come to the stopsign at nearly top speed and it’s pulling away, find out your brakes could use a little tightening. Be thankful no one ever drives down Sidney.
At Harby, check the time: 2 minutes. Slow down several gears. Take Sidney across Leeland again to Clay. Turn right down Clay. Drink more water.
Think about your neighborhood. Plan out some shots for when you bring your camera down this street. Think about where you’re going to ride your bike when you move. Will you live in a neighborhood like this? You can’t imagine that in New York, certainly. Will you have to ride your bike to somewhere you can ride your bike? Maybe you’ll just ride your bike places, like to work. You’ll need a helmet, if that’s the case, and health insurance, but you’ll probably get the latter with whatever job you get. Think about Lisa’s bionic elbow. Consider buying a helmet.
Finish your water and turn right onto Leeland. Wonder where the people at the bus stop are going. Stay on the sidewalk, since you’re going so slow. Think about what you’re going to write about this. Wonder if you should include a map like in Family Circus. Reject the idea. Turn right into your parking lot.