Although we only seem to meet while I’m at my client location (Arizona, at the moment), Clarice and I seem to have become fast friends over the past three weeks. Not only does she accompany me to the grocery store, but we do occasionally venture to fancier dining establishments, time permitting.
Our mornings start out with a quiet cup of coffee at the hotel. The infusion of caffeine improves the vibration in her steel frame during our morning commute.
Usually, lunch is had in my cubicle, but on rarer occasions, we sit down for a meal at one of the many healthy-fast-food joints in the neighborhood. Since it is a relaxed and spacious atmosphere, she prefers to be in her mostly unfolded form.
As a business traveler, the evenings do get lonely; therefore, having Clarice around definitely helps ease the awkwardness of eating alone. After a long and stressful day, we sometimes go to the local sushi bar and share an adult beverage.
Since this restaurant is on the fancier side, she gets a little shy takes her fully folded form beneath the bar. We gossip a bit about work and share some laughs (kidding, I don’t talk to my bicycle, I swear). After the drink, she doesn’t feel too fit to be ridden, so I roll her to the hotel, which is conveniently located across the street.
Aside from the fact that she takes me places, I am enjoying just having her around, even as a conversation starter. Does anyone out there else see their bicycle as more than just a bicycle?
I definitely agree with folding bikes being more than just bikes, they are lifestyle tools. I don’t have a brompton( I will some day though!) But my dahon curve d3 has allowed me to do things with a bike that just wouldn’t be possible on a full size, fixed frame bicycle. I take it right on the bus with me every day for work, into stores and restaraunts, as well as store it at the base of the stairs inside my house. And despite the misconception, folding bikes are not just for short multi modal commutes. Every day after work I ride the 8/1/2 miles back to my house! And that’s on my 16 in wheeled 3 speed curve, imagine what one could do on a bigger variant with more gears! Having a folding bike, especially something as well engineered as the brompton, really opens up new possibilities to help one enjoy life that much more.
That’s great! Folding bikes in particular open up many more lifestyle augmenting possibilities. It’s almost like having a pet. A very useful pet!
The best part about owning a folding bike( in my opinion anyway) is not having to lock it up. I’m a very cautious(some would say paranoid lol) person when it comes to the security of my personal belongings and being able to take my bike inside with me instead of leaving it locked up outside exposed to the elements/thieves gives me great peace of mind in having one less thing to worry about throughout the day. I longer have to worry about rushing back to my bike once I’m done with work or school, hoping the time that nothing has happened while I was gone, because its been with me the whole time
Oh yes. My bikes are definitely personable. I don’t give them names but I cherish each and every one for their valuable ability to carry me where I need to go. I keep them clean and get a bit angry if my children inadvertently knock them over in our garage. They don’t seem to understand my love…
Yup, some people just don’t get it… Bikes are special beings
Oh, I definitely anthropomorphize my bicycles. Some co-workers probably think Oma and Betty are names of friends.
The hot pink Brompton is fabulous. I’ve been wanting that exact bike for years.
Nice!
I thought about hot pink as the color for my Brompton, however, two hot pink bikes would seem too redundant… Hence, Claret for my Clarice
You are so … normal!
What a relief!