Today's "Roll Model" is a familiar face here at LGRAB, our friend Melissa. This is a very special profile for me to post, not only because we've been friends since 3rd grade, but also because I feel a tiny bit responsible for putting this woman on the road. I gave her a vintage Bridgestone Kabuki ("Smurfette") and talked endlessly about how much I love riding my bike. Then she started riding to work! She lives in the far suburbs (exurbs) of Chicago, so riding a bike around town is no easy feat.
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The most enjoyable and safest way for bikes to travel is separated from auto traffic. I don't want to share the road with one ton vehicles going three times my speed - I have to. A trail or separated path is always my first choice.
Unfortunately, such infrastructure is absent most places. The paths that exist are often trails to nowhere, with a focus on recreation. Other problems include lack of lighting at night and lack of snow plowing in the winter.
This issue is fresh in my mind afte...
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There are some milestones that every cyclist experiences: first time riding to work, first time riding in the rain, first time yelling at a driver, etc. Warm and fuzzy memories. Today, Melissa experienced her first time yelling at a driver: "Thanks for almost hitting me!!!!" He totally deserved it for nearly side-swiping her. This is generally a positive development, I think. It means the cyclist is becoming confident with her skills and space on the road: she knows who's at fault. My first time yelling at a d...
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It's a crazy world out there for beginning bike commuters. I remember how confusing and stressful my first couple of rides were and all I had to do was go over and down on a bike path. After I gave Melissa custody of Smurfette last month, she planned to start bike commuting when she moved to a new apartment closer to work in the Chicago suburb of Aurora. And she did!
Unfortunately, the first try did not go smoothly at all. In fact, it sounded pretty awful and enough to turn off most people from bike commutin...
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Melissa first met Smurfette, my late '70's Bridgestone Kabuki, last month on a rainy thrift store adventure. They got along really well and I decided that it was meant to be. I bought Smurfette on a whim, but had to face the fact that she is too small for me. Melissa bought a Wal-Mart bike last year, but it soon broke down. Now Melissa and Smurfette will be free to explore the roads and paths of suburban Aurora, IL together. Melissa is proving to be a natural city cyclist. We rode five miles to Union Station do...
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Spring is here for real! Time to swap out the Schwalbe Marathon Winter studded tires for the good ol' regular tires and clean up the nasty snow grit. On Saturday I spent a couple of hours with my garage set up as a temporary workshop to accomplish these tasks.
While my husband changed his tires, I installed the Wald basket and Planet Bike rack on Smurfette. Now everything is set up - except the bell. I don't want just any bell and have been trolling eBay for something vintage. I think Smurfette now looks quit...
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The sping-like weather and vibrant blue bike inspired me to dig out my peep-toe blue suede shoes for a ride to brunch. My first real ride with Smurfette (Trisha's brilliant name suggestion!) was very satisfying. She's quick and light with a ride almost as smooth as my Oma, if you can believe it. Twice during the short ride, drivers who came to four-way stop signs first waved me on, perhaps catching some of my happy vibes.
Good thing, too, because the brakes were not in tip-top shape and the rain that started as...
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Today a special creature entered my life: the late 70's Bridgestone Kabuki that iciclebicycle found in the trash.
That I have a new (old) bike is still sinking in, since it happened so fast.
I got home too late to play around with the bike much and haven't gone for a ride yet. Just been admiring the vibrant blue color and shiny handlebars.
After ordering a basket and rack online and a quick trip to Roscoe Village Bikes for lights and a u-lock, I've officially spent as much on accessories as I did on the b...
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