I used to love my bike. It was one of the first things I bought to treat myself when I was freshly divorced and my money was my own again. Ottawa is a great city for bike paths, and when we lived in the Glebe and Old Ottawa South I would love to spend a Saturday afternoon riding around, maybe up to Mooney’s Bay or just up to the store and back.
Then I got pregnant with Tristan, and never could decide whether I thought a trailer or a seat was safer – and then I was pregnant with Simon and the bike sat neglected and cobwebby in the garage for a couple of years. Since Tristan started riding his bike last year, I have been idly looking for a seat or trailer for Simon, and I finally found a second-hand trailer earlier this summer for a stellar $25 – and another $30 to get my bike back into ridable shape again.
There’s an old expression that intimates you never forget how to ride a bicycle. Well, let me tell you, after five years, your ass sure forgets what a bike seat feels like, and spends a lot of time complaining after the first time you ride a bike in five years. I’m just sayin’.
And riding around negotiating traffic downtown is a hell of a lot easier than riding through my suburban neighbourhood at preschooler speed. Have you ever tried to ride your bike for an hour slowly – at say, half of walking speed? It’s like spinning class from hell – speed up, slow down, speed up, dead lurching stop to avoid a preschooler who stopped to pick a dandilion and make a wish. Especially fun with 40 lbs of Simon inertia rolling along behind me!
For you, I will now share pictures of my ass with the Internet. (If that doesn’t class up the quality of google traffic around here, I don’t know what will.)
And, because you were so sweet with your wishes and comments this week, a gratuituous birthday cake picture, because it was on the memory card, too.
Hilarious post, Dani. Hey, that’s a great picture of your ass! And the birthday picture’s a keeper as well. Beautiful!
Hilarious post, Dani. Hey, that’s a great picture of your ass! And the birthday picture’s a keeper as well. Beautiful!
Oh, man… do I know the feeling of getting on a bike again after some time away. I hear it feels similar to “cowboy butt” when one first starts riding a horse. I know I kind of walk like a cowboy the first week…
Oh, man… do I know the feeling of getting on a bike again after some time away. I hear it feels similar to “cowboy butt” when one first starts riding a horse. I know I kind of walk like a cowboy the first week…
I hear ya with the bikebum. We don’t have a trailer, but I would love one.
I took up rollerblading again this summer (up until last weekend). Hubby has been running and I have been blading while pushing 80lbs of kid and stroller. I never thought going slow would kill me as much as it did, stopping to give treats, juice, get a book, fix a blanket… Happy trails Dani, can you fit both boys in the trailer? I would do it, just to go fast and feel the wind in my face 🙂
I hear ya with the bikebum. We don’t have a trailer, but I would love one.
I took up rollerblading again this summer (up until last weekend). Hubby has been running and I have been blading while pushing 80lbs of kid and stroller. I never thought going slow would kill me as much as it did, stopping to give treats, juice, get a book, fix a blanket… Happy trails Dani, can you fit both boys in the trailer? I would do it, just to go fast and feel the wind in my face 🙂
What a cool trailer, I’ve only seen the chariot style in the past. That one looks like the cadillac version!
BTW, those are two beautiful birthday presents you are holding…
What a cool trailer, I’ve only seen the chariot style in the past. That one looks like the cadillac version!
BTW, those are two beautiful birthday presents you are holding…
Have you checked out the Busker festival. We were there yesterday was quite the good show
Have you checked out the Busker festival. We were there yesterday was quite the good show
A birthday shot and an ass shot in the same post! WOW, my day has been made. ;^)
A birthday shot and an ass shot in the same post! WOW, my day has been made. ;^)