Finding Momentum

This semester’s been one of changes. Among them is my deci­sion to bring my bike up to school and do some good ol-fashioned ped­al­ing around Berkeley.

I brought the bike I used to ride in the sev­enth grade–complete with the bike rack on the bike I used to strap my clar­inet into. Yeah, it’s that old. The chains are squeaky and the derailleurs are unre­li­able at best and my brakes are on the verge of not work­ing… but trust me when I say my bike’s rid­able

No, I’m not really try­ing to save the air, I’m more try­ing to save on gas and park­ing costs. And it’s always nice get­ting a work­out going wher­ever I need to go.

A cou­ple of obser­va­tions from per­sonal expe­ri­ence ever since mak­ing the jump:

• It’s a hip­ster secret: you really do get cooler when you roll up your right pant leg. Too bad it’s so much trouble.
• Rid­ing a bike in auto traf­fic is a ter­ri­fy­ing expe­ri­ence. On your left is cer­tain death from cars want­ing to run you over. On your right are rows of cars whose drivers-side door threaten to open into your face at any moment. I will never get frus­trated at another slow biker on the road again.
• I love the feel­ing of high momen­tum, newly-poured smooth asphalt and an open road.
• The cam­pus no-bike zones have really, really changed my com­mute patterns.
• I still have to get that bike license from the UCPD.
• Moun­tain bikes are a GOOD deal heav­ier than those spiffy road bikes. I’ve had a ton of grief car­ry­ing my bike up and down the BART stairwells.
• I can make a solid gro­cery store run and carry back every­thing I need so long as I a) strap on a milk crate to my bike rack with LOTS of bungee cords and b) bring my back­pack to carry some excess food.
• In the pre­vi­ous event, the bike will become very rear-heavy. Watch how you throw your weight around on the bike–one bad angle at the wrong speed and you will def­i­nitely have spilt groceries.
• Some peo­ple can look cool on a bike. I just look dorky.