7.5 Biking Observations

After receiving the best-ever Mother’s Day gift of a bicycle, I’ve started biking both to and from work which according to Google Maps is 4.7 miles one-way.

Fortunately I live in Chicago which has proven to me to be very bike-friendly with bike lanes on a lot of the major streets. Now don’t let bike lanes fool you into thinking they are just for bikes because they just aren’t.  You are competing with parking and parked cars, buses pulling over, people walking and talking and generally paying no attention, and the worst of all – people opening their car doors without even a look around. Chicago city-biking requires a sturdy helmet, 100% focus, and bravery. I received the first with the bike, the second is easily obtained out of sheer survival desire, and the third I’ve had to acquire over the years of urban living. And let me tell you, biking my commute is turning out to be addictively sweet.

Here are my recent 7.5 Biking Observations…

Get an old-lady bike. You got nothing to prove and no one will dare you to race.

Random people yelling at you, while curious, is not worth stopping to listen.

Biking down alleys is not advised due to dogs. Big barking dogs.

Choose your clothing wisely. Trust me, no one wants to or needs to see your bright yellow g-string. Or somehow worse, your white grandma-panties.

Biking side streets may sound safer due to less cars whizzing by but they contain many more potholes which encountered on a bike just plain hurt.

5 miles = Sweat. Yes, girl-sweat smells likes spring flowers – at least mine does – but bring another top to change into. And don’t forget the deodorant.

Have your .75 ready to get a Diet Coke from the office vending machine. You deserve it.

This doesn’t have much to do with bicycling, but what is it with doctors standing outside hospitals smoking?