Biking Is A Blast!

To start off this post, here is a picture of my blue beauty. I'm taking suggestions for a name.

I knew I enjoyed biking, I've done it before.

I think it's this city. The people of Portland have designed the roads for bikes. For some people I'm sure this isn't new, but I've never experienced roads that are marked specifically as a "bike route." Not only are these roads everywhere here, but Google always gives me directions for the most gorgeous rides. My ride to work is so quiet and peaceful. I'm rarely passed by a car, and have less than ten stop signs or traffic lights. It's a workout, but it's a workout that involves so many sights and smells that make me feel alive. I have no desire to drive anywhere now.

It helps that the sun was out for four days this past week, but even when it was raining I felt so invigorated by the time I got to work. It's the perfect way to start my day.

Last Saturday I road to the PSU Farmers Market, and by the time I got home I had biked about 13 miles. I never would have guessed I would enjoy that, but I can't wait to do it again this weekend! This is the route I chose to get there. I had to write it down on a small piece of paper to keep in my hand because there was no way I could remember all of that.

There were so many opportunities for photographs, but I just soaked it all in. People are serious about their yards/lawns here. They are covered with flowers and filled with trees, and a house on every block has some kind of vegetable garden or small greenhouse. Maybe it has something to do with overcompensating for all the gray days. When the sun comes out all the flowers open up and the colors seem brighter than I've ever seen. Tulips are very common, I'll have to take a picture of a yard close to our apartment that I pass every day. It makes me so happy.

On the way back from the Market I screwed up the directions and ended up down on the waterfront. Not a bad mistake. I tried to take pictures without looking, just held up my phone and "clicked." You can tell.

Last weekend was a lovely one. My bike and I are new best friends. And I have a feeling this is going to be one of the most beautiful summers I will ever experience.

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Most of this post was written earlier in the week. To update, I still love my bike, haha. But I had no idea how much goes into biking here! People take it so seriously. I guess I need to take my kickstand and fenders (after the rain stops) off to make the bike lighter, I need a dry bag and waterproof pants, and I need to learn the bike routes. The whole city is bike friendly but within the city their are bike routes that are like highways for bikes. I'm sure I'll get it down this summer.

Oh, and my brakes don't work in the rain. A man at a shop I went to mentioned the wheels being chrome just make it hard for the brake pads to grip when they're wet. Really though? I'm taking it back in soon to see if there is anything I can do to fix it, if not I'll have to buy new wheels :( Stupid rain.

If you can't tell this is pretty fun and exciting for me, and definitely new.