In my adult life, I’ve owned two bikes: a red bike and a blue bike. The red bike was the one that my parents bought for me when I turned 15, a Specialized hybrid from Erik’s bike shop in Eagan. It still fits me. I like to think of red bike as Frankenbike, because I’ve changed it in various ways over the years to suit my needs. My parents and I disassembled it once in their garage, cleaned it, spray painted it, and put it back together with a different seat and cruiser handlebars. It was red bike that I used all this past winter for winter riding. It was red bike’s basket in which my dog rode when she was a brand-new tiny puppy. I love red bike, but this isn’t about red bike. This post is about blue bike.
Blue bike is the first and only bike I’ve ever bought myself, and it took me way too long to buy it. Eventually, while riding red bike, enough people said to me “you biked this far, on that bike?” that I decided to get an actual road bike. At the Hub on Minnehaha Avenue, one fine spring day in 2012, I purchased blue bike. I tried many new bikes, but this scrappy little used Fuji caught my eye. This bike became my companion on many rides, adventures, and explorations.
I didn’t think that buying a road bike would make a difference, especially because both of my bikes are about the same weight. But the different riding position and slimmer tires really did make a difference. I’ve done so many things with blue bike, and over the years it’s been one of my favorite photographic subjects, as you’ll see below.
I figured out how to transport my dog via bike. I bought a bike trailer from Craigslist, pulled out the baby seats, and affixed some plywood to the bottom. Now I can pull her around for miles, I think the longest we’ve done in one day is 16 miles. The trailer is about 30lbs and my dog is 37lbs, so it also helps my legs get extra muscly.
One of the best things I’ve purchased for my bike is a messenger bag that is also a pannier. Back in 2012 when I was looking for this, I could only find the one by Timbuk2 which I bought. Now, Etsy has tons of them. I like not having a sweat outline in the shape of my bag, and I don’t like anything touching me while biking.
I’ve commuted to the University of Minnesota both when I was a student (undergrad and graduate), and later, when I was employed on campus. I’ve ridden across the Washington Avenue bridge so many times. A few days ago I was over on campus for Grease Rag and crossed over this bridge with a wave of nostalgia.
I’ve biked for exercise, I’ve biked for transportation, I’ve biked to social events, costume parties, and dates. I’ve biked in pants and I’ve biked in skirts.
I now ride my bike to work along the Midtown Greenway and Cedar Lake trails, and when I get there I get to hang it on the wall just opposite my desk.
Other notable things blue bike and I have done together include: biking 60 miles as part of the Red Ribbon Ride Friendraiser, racing my first alley cat, Babes in Bikeland, riding during three consecutive Northern Sparks festivals, exploring the bike mystery at Ruination, participating in my first group ride (and many since), and many, many rides with friends.
Buying a road bike was something that propelled me from being a very casual rider to someone who bikes as much as possible, including through the winter. I love this bike and the the things we’ve done together, and I’m looking forward to a summer full of new firsts and new memories.