I didn't realize that's what I was doing everyday, at least according to the Field Guide in the NYT. I thought I was commuting around town in a no-emission vehicle. Although I did have an inkling that I am something of a type. Maybe not just something of a type, either, it pretty much describes me to a T, which I find slightly disheartening.
My bike, a red Schwinn Breeze, is essentially like the one pictured, only I have a giant delivery boy basket on the front to hold my shopping bags. I also have a love-hate relationship with the bike. My old bike was a beautiful blue Dunelt.
I accidentally left it outside one night, and poof, it was gone (not surprising in the city, but I suspect the bad neighbor). The Schwinn was a quickie replacement from Via. I think maybe it doesn't fit me quite right, it's a little short so I have the seat at the very top of a too-long stem. The basket makes it fall over whenever I try to park it, which not only drives me insane but often leaves me with nasty bruises (no those weren't from Rex, he abuses me by withholding home-cooked meals).
Even though this guy is an ass, I have a hankering for a fixed gear, or rather, something that approximates a fixed gear. I want a bike I can lift, but I also want a handbrake and a fender and a tiny basket. It would be my going-out bike, my evening bike, the sparkly little clutch purse to my giant Schwinn carry-all. But this also means it would have to be a girl bike. So okay! It wouldn't be a real fixed gear and I would be sneered at, but I just want a bike I can lock up in a crowded place. The damn Schwinn is not easy to lock up.
My desire for the pseudo fixed-gear is not unlike my hankering for a SmartCar.
It's part of my dream stable of cars and bikes. In my non-existent giant garage I'll have my Schwinn (more likely its replacement, your days are numbered damn Schwinn), and my fake fixed gear and even a bicycle-built-for-two for taking the Older Child out. Maybe I'll also have something that works well with a baby seat for the Younger Child. I'll have my SmartCar for going out at night when it's too far or too cold to bike. I'll have some sort of everyday car that fits kids and groceries, although really at this point I need something with a jump seat to haul extra kids around in and that kind of vehicle is just too big for the city. But wait! This is my imaginary garage, I can have anything I want in it, right? So I will also have one of these:
Even though I am philosophically anti-luxury car-maker, the tiny 2002 can't possibly qualify as a a luxury car.
I will also magically transform our navy blue 1988 Volvo station wagon into one that is a little older and not a dark color. Additionally, it will have magically working air conditioning and an mp3 hook-up.
I cannot explain my deep love for the Jeep Wagoneer. I don't like the great outdoors. I don't like leaving the city. And this is definitely not a city vehicle. But I love them so. I think it will fit perfectly in that back corner of my imaginary garage. Perhaps I will drive it to my imaginary beach house.
In the mean time, I'll be lollipopping on the disappointing Schwinn and making fun of these people.
