Still Going Strong

My white bicycle is 15 years old this year, which I guess is pretty old for a bike. I remember when I got her, it was spring of 2004, probably this month. I rode a lot that summer, and got a lot of compliments on my bike. Before I bought this bike, I got a lot of guffaws and comments to the tune of, “how and why are you riding that?!” In reference to my heavy mountain bike. I assumed this is just how nice bikes got treated, but after a few years, the compliments stopped. I guess she got old. The resale value on my bike is about 5% what I bought her for. One would think it’s time I get a new bike. But my white bicycle is perfect. I gave her a bath yesterday, and she still glimmers and shines when cared for. Sure, she has dents and dings and scratches galore, but she still rides light and nimble and smooth. I still feel better on this bike than I do anywhere else. I project her taking me where I want to go for at least another 5 years without a hitch.

Ode to My White Bicycle

A random search down Spotify lane connected me with this amazing song. I accepted the color of my bike. Sure, I'd had a lot of unintentional white forms of transportation in my life. My first car was white. My second car was white. My boyfriend's car is white. My vanerhome is white. It coordinates perfectly with the white bike rack and white car, but white is so, bland and....vanilla. Then I found this song. I don't think I'll ever be able to have a bike any other color from here on out. So here is an ode to my white bicycle for a feel good Friday. 

The lyrics can speak to the Seattle experience:

“The rain comes down, but I don’t care
Wind is blowing in my hair
Seagulls flying in the air
My white bicyle
My white bicycle”

— Tomorrow, "My White Bicycle"

Minor mod and it's still Seattle Riding:

“Ridin’ all around the streets
Four o’clock and they’re all asleep*
I’m not tired and it’s so late
Movin’ fast everything looks great
My white bicycle

*replace with “traffic’s knee deep” to better capture the Seattle experience”

— Tomorrow, "My White Bicycle"