The evolution of my bicycle riding

I have been so so happy since my new bicycle arrived and I've been riding it all over town. Taking my time, riding to and from to places, sometimes just riding no where for fun, etc. I am extremely giddy and feeling good about bicycles again - and its reminding me of when I first started riding two years ago. Before I got caught up in all the fixed gear fun that has somewhat eaten up a lot of young people in cities...

I started thinking about it, and wanted to share some photos of the bicycles I've had over the past two years! I had been riding my mother's hot pink cruiser around in 2006 for a little while since I couldn't afford a bicycle, but then the Bianchi bike in the above photo was gifted to me by friends for my birthday. I was ECSTATIC! They kept it for me downtown and thus began my adventures of cycling in the city.

Clockwise: 1. Mom's hot pink cruiser I was "borrowing", 2. Birthday Bianchi,
3. Vintage Fuji Road bicycle (first bike I purchased myself!), 4. Surley Steamroller Fixed Gear

Photo by ckdake.com

 

In case you are wondering how I ended up going from casual, goofy up right bicycles, to a fixed gear... Let me explain. I chalk it up to two things - Peer pressure (haha its true! Everyone kept telling me how wonderful they are!) and the Red Fuji putting me in many near death situations. I don't know a whole lot about maintaining bikes, and the brakes kept crapping out on that little cutie. Finally enough was enough - I had gotten my first job out of college, saved up money and decided to buy my first brand new bicycle - and went with a simple fixed gear. I really did enjoy it at first - I went so fast!! - but slowly I missed coasting and feeling comfortable while I rode. I eventually started riding my bicycle a little less every month, because it was no longer fun anymore.

 

After our trip to Amsterdam and Paris this summer (beauuuutiful bicycles - what a dream!), and doing a lot of thinking about the lack of bicycles in my life anymore, it sort of dawned on me. Why was I forcing myself to ride in the manner of sport! When clearly, I enjoyed more just riding in normal clothes, taking my time, and doing my own thing. I did some research on new upright bicycles with baskets, and ended up going with my little Simple City.

Well worth my money, and I'm finally riding again with a smile like the above photo!
Hooray for bicycles, and finding out what works best for you.

I'm going to make a post later on this week about little tips and tricks I've discovered to making commuting rides more comfortable girls in normal clothes, so check it out! Ride your bicycle, and have an awesome day! :)