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September 6, 2006
View from a Bike
Changing vehicles changes more than my gas bill
I've been riding my bike more lately. This happened for a number of reasons. The biggie is that my heel still hurts like crazy so I can't run on it. (Insert sighs of sympathy here, please.) Next is that I have my grocery bike -- the big heavy one with the enormous baskets on the back -- back from Thing One who was riding it last year after his brand spanking new bike was stolen. Anyway, I once again have a bike that's practical to ride when doing errands. The temperatures have, for the most part, dipped down into double digits from the triple digits they were hovering in for a good portion of the summer and gas prices have risen along with the number on the scale (see aforementioned "I can't run" item). All in all, it seemed like a good idea to spend more time on my bike.
I've been amazed at how different everything looks when I'm on my bike. The first things I noticed were on the long bike route I've been taking with my exercise buddies. When I'm driving the narrow back road between Davis and Winters in my car, I'm pretty focused on staying on my side of the winding road. I hadn't realized how fascinating the geometric layout of the trees was in the orchards or ever really tracked the progress of the fruit. I hadn't appreciated how the creek winds up to the road and away again or even noticed some of the little houses tucked away in the trees. The whole road has changed for me. There are new landmarks and different views and even a few moments of special bicycle bliss when you wind out of the shadows into the sunshine and the vista with the foothills opens before you.
Even in town, things seem different. I've been driving these streets for a long time now and I felt like I knew this town like the back of my hand. Maybe I did. It is, after all, a pretty small town and regardless of the length of time my ancestors spent wandering around in a very small desert, even I can find my way from the river streets over on the west side of town through the spanish streets and bird streets to the north and the colleges over on the east side. Still, stuff is different on my bike. I now know which streets are shadiest, which bike paths have the annoying roundabouts, where the houses with the particularly pretty gardens are to ride past. I choose my routes through town on my bike for completely different reasons than I choose routes for my car.
What I really want, however, is to apply this changing point of view concept to other parts of my life. There's a street that dead ends at a park that I never drive my car on. Well, I go on it all the time on my bike. Are there streets in my life that I've been avoiding because I'm not in the right "vehicle"? Is there a view that would make my heart sing that I'm just not seeing because I'm going too fast to notice it? Or because I'm so focused on being safe that I can't be bothered to look at it?
I know I'd like to change how I view lots of things about myself. What about you? What would you like to look at differently?
Posted by Eileen at 8:56 AM | Comments (8)
Comments
I had a long think on this.
I don’t want to get political at all, but I must say I would like my world view to be less fraught. I would like to hear more “please” and “thank you” in my day-to day life. When did manners become obsolete? I must not have received that memo.
Your post gave me a lot to contemplate Eileen. There may be a Part Deux to this.
Posted by: Cindi at September 7, 2006 12:12 AM
Cindi,
I don't know where manners went. Or common courtesy.
Thanks for posting! :-)
The LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 7, 2006 9:52 AM
"the narrow back road between Davis and Winters"
My, lord, you live there and you've been bike riding all summer? How have you not keeled over from heat stroke?
I've never been good at bike riding, too easily distracted. ;+) But, pre knee issues, I walked, a lot. The walking/biking path through town here (Sonoma) goes where no cars have ever gone, so it's not seeing things in a new light, but seeing new things.
I used to do 3-5 miles a day, fast, music rocking me on my way, my mind humming. Then I'd sit at the picnic tables by the vineyards, in the shade, and write. I could be in an inspirational lull with the writing, but that walk shook things loose, and I always had a minimum of five pages I had to write down before I could even think about going home. Maybe it was all that oxygen. Or the endorphins. I'm down to a snail's pace these days, and I sure miss it.
Posted by: ZaZa at September 7, 2006 5:12 PM
Ok, I admit it. I don't know how to ride a bike! I know, I know, but my parents never taught me and I fell off too many times when I tried to learn on my own. I taught my own kids how to, but when I tried to learn as an adult, well, it wasn't pretty. So i take long walks instead, or I used to. That was before the constant driving I have to do to keep my teens and pre-teen where they are supposed to be. In fact, I have to run out right now and pick up the oldest from marching band practice...
I miss the long walks I used to take pulling a wagon of giggling girls or pushing a stroller, pointing out the beautiful world to my girls. Maybe when they are women, they'll slow down to walk with Mom again.
Bernadette
Posted by: Berni at September 7, 2006 6:43 PM
Ok, I admit it. I don't know how to ride a bike! I know, I know, but my parents never taught me and I fell off too many times when I tried to learn on my own. I taught my own kids how to, but when I tried to learn as an adult, well, it wasn't pretty. So i take long walks instead, or I used to. That was before the constant driving I have to do to keep my teens and pre-teen where they are supposed to be. In fact, I have to run out right now and pick up the oldest from marching band practice.
I miss walking with my kids, long walks in the fresh air, pointing out things to them. Maybe when they are women they'll slow down to take a walk with Mom.
Bernadette
Posted by: Berni at September 7, 2006 6:47 PM
ZaZa,
We beat the heat by going at six or seven in the morning. I'm not exactly a morning person so that was painful, but it also meant it was cooler, it wasn't as windy and by nine a.m., I'd exercised and showered! Even then though, it was warm on quite a few of the days.
Berni,
What a sweet post. My mother hasn't been able to walk unassisted for well over a decade. A few years ago, however, she, my sister, my niece and I all did the Susan Komen Race for the Cure (we have a strong family history of breast cancer). My sister, niece and I ran the 5K and my mother -- with her little tripod walker -- did the one mile walk. We were able to run our 5K and then circle around and walk with my mother across the finish line. It was fabulous. I get a little misty just thinking about it.
The LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen at September 7, 2006 6:54 PM
Sorry for the double post, I thought the first one didn't go through. I'm a mammographer, so I do the Race for the Cure each year. Last 2 times my oldest daughter walked with me. This year all 3 of my daughters are wanting to go!
I can't wait, it's such an inspirational event and we love cheering on all the survivors. Kudos to your mom, I can't tell you how many young healthy women I know that "can't handle" getting out there. I think it opened my teen's eyes to see groups of women walking in "memory of Mom". You know, it's because I have such a serious, sometimes sad job that i read the books you ladies write. I had 2 patients today that got bad news and it's nice to have an escape from thinking about it. So, thanks to all of you ladies for writing books that make me laugh.
Posted by: Berni at September 8, 2006 2:13 AM
Berni,
Your job is a serious, sometimes sad one, but it is oh so necessary. Someone very close to me was diagnosed with breast cancer recently. Her prognosis is excellent because the mammographer caught the tumor before it even reached one cm in size. If my books make you laugh, I'm so glad. Anything I can do to help you keep doing your serious, sad and very vital job is my pleasure.
The LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen at September 8, 2006 10:05 AM
