Posted
by chrys anthalbee
October 26, 2005 at 8:30 a.m.
The Ride
Almost every day I move quietly through town. I pass houses quietly and avoid heavily traveled roads. You might see me because as a creature of habit I go down the same roads.Warming up my legs on North Third the train shatters the silence of the morning. I pity the light sleepers in North Lawrence. If I hurry I might jump the tracks ignoring the protest of the railroad crossing. Too slow and I take the alternate route under the passing train. The tunnel has the orange glow of sodium lights and smells of surreptitious pissing.Passing over the Kansas River I get a view that you can only get if you slow down and cross without a car. The birds are always lined up on the wires that somehow help manage the dam. When the river is low there is a little island on the East side of the bridge. After heavy rains the dam is a small obstacle for the gushing river. If you look at a certain point over the span to the East you can see a mile of river. On cold days like today the spirits of the Kaw rise in the form of steam to greet the awakening sun. Today the river smells of nothing. Other days it smells like manure or fish or fertilizer.Crossing sixth street and down the alley by Waxman I smell waxy goodness. Into old West Lawrence I marvel at the enormous houses. Who lives there? Who lived there? When can I? All the old growth trees are home to god knows how many squirrels. My small size relative to the wheeled cages makes them brave. Sometimes they scurry away like the little tweekers they are. Other times they stand defiant and I make some small talk.On campus I slip past unnoticed. I'm youthful enough to appear as just another student to the underclassmen. But then again who doesn't look like they could be a college student? Looking at the faces of another generation I often recall other trips through campus. Late at night with one friend or a few stealing moments for our own in the glow of whatever was bubbling in our minds.On the quarter hours the Campanile breaks the silence of campus. I see the Campanile like I did that first time reflecting off Potter's Lake framed by trees. I might hear the steam whistle on campus announcing the time. On the quiet streets of my neighborhood I hear the screech clearly from 3 miles away.Some days I miss all this. Not because I don't go the same route. On those days that I'm too caught up in going faster all I seem to remember is the time elapsing on my stopwatch. Other days the weather is on my mind and on me. Sometimes it's bad driving and the fear of colliding with much greater mass than me.But when I'm really on top of things I see the beauty in everyday. On those days my mantra is enjoy the ride. Sometimes the ride keeps going after I get off my bike.
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leslie (Leslie vonHolten) says…
Very nice.
What I love the most about riding my bike is that it makes me be in the moment much more than any other activity I do. I can't get distracted with my thoughts; it's too dangerous. There's strategy involved, and planning. For some reason, nothing reconnects me to my kid self like my bike does.
chrysanthalbee (chrys anthalbee) says…
leslie, ditto on the feeling like a kid. when i was a kid my neighborhood was a subdivision of probably no more than a square mile. but there were all kinds of nooks and crannys accessible by bike. now when i bike it's like the entire town is my neighborhood. the feeling is little changed and sometimes, just for a moment, i *am* a kid again.
i'm with you on the "in the moment" sentiment too. it's a sort of forced mindfulness, a meditation, as you scan the street or the trail for obstacles and decide if it's time to hit the big chain ring or just a higher gear on the back derailleur.
Todd (anonymous) says…
With all the biking around the older parts of the city can you figure out where all the bugs are coming from? This year has been nuts. I keep looking for standing water but I really don't see much around OWL from the streets or the alleys.
chrysanthalbee (chrys anthalbee) says…
todd, i don't know about the bugs. in north lawrence the mosquitoes have been really bad all summer even without standing water. of course the river is nearby so..
something else is odd to me in OWL. i cut across tennessee on 7th and there is a high probability that the next few blocks will smell like death. don't know what to make of that. i could understand if it were near wilderness or something but it just seems that maybe things go there to die.(?) maybe it's the bed and breakfast and food they throw out.(?)
Todd (anonymous) says…
What bed-n-breakfast? That house on 7th and Tenn. is a private residence these days. Anyhow, I know what you mean by the smell of death. I saw some small dead mammals on the 700 block of Ohio yesterday I think. Damn rats with PR agents. Either that or some sewer work probably.
Since no one else is posting... in OWL the neighborhood assn. is considering going back to brick for the 600 block of ohio and perhaps even 7th street from Tenn. to Louis. I like the idea but I got all busy and forgot to send the association my input.
rednekbuddha (Kelly Powell) says…
It's rot in the storm drains....Old leaves and trash mouldering into festering piles.......If they are going to brick streets , how about the alleys in owl.....Every year we bitch about these fuckin mud strips, and every year they throw on enough gravel to last maybe two months.
chrysanthalbee (chrys anthalbee) says…
so the carriage house bed and breakfast is gone? another missed opportunity i guess.
buddha the leaves and trash sounds like a distinct possibility. one day as i went further west on 7th i came close to passing out from the stench. i can usually hold my own but somewhere between mississippi and alabama i had a serious lack of oxygen.
i love the brick roads. my son doesn't like them when i pull him in the trailer. as a baby any bouncing set him off into crying. worst street so far: new york between 7th and 8th.
Todd (anonymous) says…
I don't even want to start to think how trash gets into the storm drains. Maybe I can pretend that raccoons knocked over some trash can then a flash storm came and that's how it happened. (It's not like you even put out your trash close to a storm drain in OWL.)
I wish it would just hard freeze already so those bastard bugs would die out for the season already. Can't we ban the annoying bugs? (everything else seems open for a ban in Larry)
Dazie (Aileen Dingus) says…
I'm with you Todd. Mosquitos AND flies. Ugh. My house is seriously lacking in window screens, so we've just had a hellova time this summer/fall.
I think we're through it now though... hopefully.
I like riding my bike because it gives me the opportunity to stop and admire. I'm currently excited about all the different shades of red and orange in the trees. *swoon*
cvillehawk (anonymous) says…
Actually, the time will come when you transition from looking like a student to looking like a professor. When I grew in my beard and the chin-patch was mostly white, I realized I am in that camp.
rpk (Robert Kerley) says…
Each day that I'm able to ride should be beautiful for that fact alone, but autumn rides are especially pleasant. Yesterday I had to avoid two garbage trucks, one blind backer-outer, and one stopped auto that suddenly decided to go in reverse as I was approaching. No matter, I know I'm invisble, I know these things are a part of being on two wheels, so I really did enjoy the ride.
chrysanthalbee (chrys anthalbee) says…
trees in their fall wardrobe are another amazing thing to see on your ride (thanks dazie and rpk). i caught my neighbor's tree in it's fall best bright red yesterday. i've been waiting for that one time all year it's like a bright red capped mushroom. stop to blink and you might miss it.
you don't have to ride a bike to enjoy the ride. i don't want to imply that's the only way to see these things. it does, however, take a change in mindset. step back from your computer screen, take a deep breath on the car ride home, look out your window and for a moment just see things as they are.
Dazie (Aileen Dingus) says…
Chad- if I did that in my car I'd crash. *lol* Much easier to pull over on a bike...
If you get a chance, check out the tree at 21st and Mass, next to that awesome Arts & Crafts house. Breathtaking.
Carmenilla (anonymous) says…
I just got a new job with ungodly hours (shift starts at 4am). Being a one-car family made it hard to work out so I got my bike up and running again. Riding at night under a full moon was one of the most amazing things ever. Also the stars are really dense and wonderful in the dead of night. There's no cars at all. I wish it were not so cold though now. My hot breath fogs up my glasses as I pedal along. I forgot how much I missed riding my bike....
cfdxprt (anonymous) says…
Carmenilla - the trick is to exhale through your nose, with a decent amount of force, that keeps the air away from your glasses. It takes about a week to get used to doing aerobic exercise where you inhale through your mouth and exhale through your nose, then it's second nature. In the mean time, it's something to concentrate on, other than the beauty you get from riding a bike. Another thing is that it's helpful to wear a hoodie with a couple of tissues tucked into it, since the nose also tends to run in the cold. Also, with the coming months ahead, make sure you have good pairs of long johns (top and bottom, pretty tight fitting) and windproof gloves. I ride until the temp hits 10 or the wind chill hits 0, past that your glasses fogging up are the least of your worries, not feeling your fingers until noon or later becomes much more important...
chrysanthalbee (chrys anthalbee) says…
cfdxprt i've committed myself to riding all year long which means winter riding. i've never gone out in the snow on my bike so it'll be interesting. i agree that proper attire is essential. as the temps have been dropping i've been getting reminders as to which extremities need more coverage.
Carmenilla (anonymous) says…
Wow! So much information.....can't quite process it all, cfdxprt ;-)
I have silkies for long johns. I'm a chick that needs comfy warm underthings. But the tissue idea is great. I would love to think I could tough it out into harsher weather but my warm car will look mighty appealing at that early hour.
My husband's co-worker rides practically all year round. She is still tough on that bike despite taking a few spills over the years.
Thanks for the help and advice though. After I went to Amsterdam (back in September) I had an epiphany as I rode thru the streets carefree, with the proverbial wind blowing thru my hair. It is possible to bike anywhere. Granted, A'dam is a city for cyclists. Its a beautiful thing to behold. I have a great picture that I took of a woman on a bike. She had an umbrella to keep off the rain AND a giant red balloon tethered to the umbrella. Its really part of the culture to ride bikes there.
assex666ofevil (anonymous) says…
Riding rules!
More freedom than a car, often sexier than a car, cheaper and better for your health!
The only downer: cars and the oblivious idiots behind the wheel.
Do you HAVE to come within inches of my exposed body when passing me? get off your phones!!! i've learned to avoid riding in traffic as often as possible.
I'll obey traffic laws when they start making paper mache cars or make it virtually impossible for idiots to drive!
Until then you may hear "watch your left!" When I ride on the sidewalks.
I'll risk the fist fights, not the possibility of becoming a hood ornament for a 16 year old meth-head or equivelent.
Oh yeah, ride my ass in your car and I will punch you in the nose when I catch up to you at the traffic light or i'll intentionally slam my brakes, get hit and sue you into bankruptcy! - Peace.