Yes, bike ‘n’ bitch was embedded in a previous post, but as I make my way back into the world of cycling, I feel the need to give an update on my progress. You know, for me. So I know. So I know I’m doing this and taking it seriously, in spite of my years away, in spite of my age, in spite of of of of.
When I do yoga, I am full of fierce power and strength and flexibility and balance and inner peace and spiritual connection to the void and the expanse, with nothing to prove to anyone; but with biking, it is obvious that a very aggressive part of me is looking for expression. I’m not a biking slut. I am not a biking whore. I am a biking bitch. I know that sounds silly. I hate blogs by women who call themselves bitches. I hate the overuse of the word biatch. This is all part of the reason, not yet fully understood by me, for my need to be a bitch around the issue of bicycling. At least for this moment.
Today’s ride:
yes yes yes
today’s potholes and frequent lack of shoulder reminded me of the Julian Cope song No Hard Shoulder to Cry On, an excellent pun and particularly apropos considering that I spent much of last Saturday’s ride bitching and crying; also coming home to a house sans Hubby
today I was much more comfortable in the incredible wind coming off of the Hadley fields. I felt stronger and less afraid when it pushed me sideways along with it. Yes, fuck you, wind, you didn’t knock me over last week and you won’t today, ha ha!
what else? I am gaining confidence at intersections and on banking my turns without slowing myself down.
next challenge: to keep my shoulders relaxed enough that my mid-traps aren’t burning like the fires of hell mid-way through a short ride. Fuckin’ A!
Until further notice, I have also decided that I will feature someone giving the finger in each bike ‘n’ bitch post. This is probably the most famous one around and coincides quite nicely with the recent Johnny Cash fest in my car
P.S. I will not tell you a. whether I was tempted to flip someone off today while riding or b. whether I actually did flip someone off. Some things a gal needs to keep private until she is able to overcome the tendency to make manifest her inner bitch.
Yours truly, the bike ‘n’ bitch, twinklysparkles
twinklysparkles 
be careful out there, twink. best not to piss off people in cars when you’re on a bike. ride on!
ptd
I know, pt. I have been thinking about this from many angles. Part of the reason I get so pissed off is that I am concerned for my safety. There have been several bike/auto and pedestrian/auto collisions in Amherst in the last few years. Which is not to say it’s always a driver’s fault, because a lot of cyclists and pedestrians behave really badly here.
I get scared every time I see someone on a cell phone when they drive near me. I am very cautious with my bike and body, although perhaps not with my temper.
One option for me may be to try to ride only at hours of less traffic; but it is not always practical. I need to get a commuter bike, my racing bike is too lightweight and not safe for town trips.
I’m thinking on it all and I will stay safe.
Amherst gives a lot of lip-service to being PC and pro-enviro, but when push comes to shove, even the bastards who invest in a Prius will cut you off in the bike lane if they feel entitled, as happened to me yesterday. This guy looked right at me, but turned right into MY LANE anyway. I pulled up next to him, he rolled his window down and I explained that he cut me off. It’s the best I can do right now. Keep myself on high-alert and educate when possible. I do obey traffic rules as much as possible, but was forced onto the sidewalk yesterday because the bike lane downtown was filled with cars. I kid you not. Then, the peace activists yelled at me for being on the sidewalk, so I stopped and explained to them that I was pushed out of traffic where I belong. I am truly baffled.
Do you ride where you are?
yep–i commute to campus by bike. 3-4 miles one way. we’re a one-car family now, but i did it even when we had two. biking at rush hour sucks, but i teach night classes all the time and riding home at 9:30 pm is great, very little traffic.
ptd
good that you ride. I don’t think I remember ever seeing you on a bike. Why would I have? I have a hard time picturing it.
It is still light at 9:30 out there? All year? You don’t have to answer. just curious
nah, it’s dark. lights, twink, bike lights–twinkly, sparkly bike lights.
ptd
wordpress rejected you again? I had to approve this comment. wtf?
yes, bike lights, good idea. perhaps those will be in my future….
K