I got a bike:
Life seems to be inherently busy, and despite much general effort, it continues to pass on by. For me, my brain dreams up neat projects to start on, hobbies to explore, in-depth articles to write.
Too often I’m left only dreaming, but not without having things worth doing or sharing about. I don’t want these bits of life to skirt by without my getting the chance to write about them, to crystalize a bit of how I’m feeling and thinking right now. And so, I recently got a bike. A folding bike.
I’ve been meaning to own one since sometime during high school - ever since I saw the old Minimally Minimal blog’s post (RIP) about the MINI folding bike. I did truthfully forget about it for a few years, but the idea of owning one bubbled back up more often after having moved to Providence last year. I wanted to be able to get around even when Anné is using our car for her work commute. I was curious about reaching new areas of the city I’d not yet trekked to on foot. Also, bicycles can’t help but sort of ooze a century-proven, utilitarian cool. Little neat folding bikes? Come on - they’re even cooler!
So here’s mine. It’s an Origami Crane 8 originally made by Origami Bicycle Company in Virginia sometime around 2016 or 2017. The older-style “Origami” decal is what gives away its vintage, and I quite like the font they chose. I purchased it used from someone off Facebook marketplace a little outside Boston, and for what I thought would be a good deal ($100). I didn’t really know much about bikes a month ago, and I don’t know much more about bikes now, but I do know now that I didn’t know enough then to know a good bike deal from a bad one. Whoops.
Several flat tubes, worn-out tires now replaced, some new bits and bobs attached to the handlebars — I have to hope it’s now in complete enough shape where I won’t need to spend any more on it this season. I definitely could’ve ordered a certified-refurbished Zizzo bike for the same total I’ve amassed on this one (Zizzo’s bikes seem quite nice, but having a full URL plastered across their side does seem a crying shame). Oh well - deal or no deal, the Origami is mine.
Since getting back on the bike, I’ve taken quite a few early morning rides to get in exercise before work, walked it through the grocery store for fresh produce at least as many times, and even used it once or twice for my photography and meeting up with friends from church. These are all things I’d looked forward to doing before starting to cycle again, and it does feel good to have already pedaled my way to many of them.
Some favorite photos taken whilst bike:
A fun surprise is that I actually really like the feeling of simply biking along. I’m not on some new age e-bike, I’m not setting Strava PRs up and down the city. Just the simple things — pedaling along, steering around dips and juts in the pavement, feeling the wind rush by and hearing the click of the freewheel — all are simple joys I’ve been savoring. I’m enjoying getting better at really mashing the pedals down when there’s an incline, and I’m slowly starting to allow myself to descend Providence’s bigger hills; the bike’s loved but still-hanging-in-there brakes squealing all the way down.
About the only thing I haven’t done much of yet is explore new areas of the city via bike. This is, in part, because I’ve not been getting out to take photographs all that much lately (unfortunate, but honest). It’s also because riding along new, busy throughways in areas of the city where I don’t know a quiet side-street to duck down for reprieve is scary. Despite wanting a bike for close to a decade, I very nearly didn’t get one at all for fear of having to tackle cycling on city streets.
Now that I’ve been doing so? It’s not been nearly as bad as anticipated. Finds like Ken Kifer’s bike pages were a big help. An old-school, extensively-written recounting of one’s many years learning safe cycling habits on the road. What a resource that’s mercifully left up on the web. I first rode with mixed traffic about a month ago now, and while I’m still not braving the busiest streets (I have the luxury of taking the slower and quieter side-roads much of the time), I’m feeling much less anxious. Heading to wholly-new areas on the bike is only a matter of time now.
So that’s something from my life lately. It’s been fun (and scary, and expensive, and ultimately fulfilling) to experience. I’m glad I can share about it here.
Oh, and I also got a cycling cap. I had no idea these existed, but I like how they fit on my head. :)
Cheers, ~ Mike