number 2, nothing fancy
I mentioned in my last post that I might write about the legality of biking, but I’d rather talk about something that is on my mind right now. Winter biking…
The moisture on my glasses, the cold wind that creeps in my jacket between my glove and my sleeve, visual confirmation that cars are spewing exhaust as I trail close behind them, these are elements that I experience everyday. I pass by men and women huddling at the bus stops that stare, people who pay no attention to me, and gasp when I pass them. There are middle-aged women in large vehicles that mouth obscenities, big guys in pick-ups that roll down their windows and yell obscenities. I know where most of the ice patches are from my house to school, and dips, and holes, and rocks.
A friend, who was putting a presentation for “winter biking”, asked me if I knew any more tips and tricks than he had on his list. I couldn’t say I did, but it was great to know that there was enough of an interest to put a whole presentation on for. Curious enthusiasts all over want to know answers to the same questions: What kind of bike do you ride? Aren’t you cold? Where are you going? Actually, I never get asked where I’m going unless I stop at a light with a guy nearby that’s looking for change.
One time a few years ago, during a frigid cold snap, I was working outside on my bike. The only glimpse of other people were scuttling through the skyways and peeking out through their stocking cap and scarf. It was snowing a little, large soft flakes that piled up high on the sidewalk making more of a cushion on the pavement than anything. I was making a delivery up by the capital in St. Paul, about a one mile incline from my office, usually doing at least five trips a day. On the way up I was pedaling behind a DOT car, and it suddenly made a right turn in front of me without using their signal. I was close enough to push myself away from it (everybody was going slow) and feigned a hit and when down to the ground. It was a little over-dramatized, and I knew I wouldn’t get hurt with all the snow around, but the car didn’t stop anyway. It was more of a show for the other drivers. I was shaking though, I remember, and made the rest of the way up to the top of the hill. On the way back down I was warm and my adrenaline was pumping. I learned to time all the lights on the way back down to my office, and it’s the best memories I have of that job. On the way down about half-way, I saw two guys point at me and run towards me with a camera. They were traveling around the state catching footage for that night’s episode of ABC news with Brian Jennings or something like that. They wanted to know what I was doing, if I was cold *burr*, and if they could tape me for the news that night. It was about zero degrees, but it was colder at negative ten the day before, and they rolled their eyes when I said it wasn’t as bad as yesterday. I answered their questions with a Minnesotan reserve, wishing I had said other things after they left. They asked me again and again if I was a “hardy Minnesotan”, trying to get their sound byte for the day. I honestly didn’t know what to say. Yeah, I guess, never thought of it that way before. I called my friends and family to tell them I was going to be on National News! I watched the whole thing for a glimpse of my part; they covered guys jumping in the ice Up North, and women saying “it’s cold!” in Chicago. At the end of the feature, my minute of fame ended, in a camera shot of my back riding away, with the snowing falling around.