he isn't afraid to wear a little pink!
(and I have a little nibble on my car, someone is interested)
Showing posts with label car-lite. Show all posts
Showing posts with label car-lite. Show all posts
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Papa's got a brand new bag!
Check Mick out with his snazzy new crate.
he isn't afraid to wear a little pink!
(and I have a little nibble on my car, someone is interested)
he isn't afraid to wear a little pink!
(and I have a little nibble on my car, someone is interested)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
C'mon baby drive my car...because I don't want to
I. hate. driving.
Ever since I started riding my bike, I have hated driving my car. It feels...wrong somehow. Today I was driving home and wanted to run every red light, punch the butthead behind me who rode my ass and honked, and was nervous that I would be pulled over (more on that later)
I am also a crappy car owner. A few examples of this are as follows: I don't wash my car, I constantly let my tag expire, I wait too long to get an oil change and I hardly ever check my tire pressure. That doesn't even talk about paying my car note on time, carrying my current insurance card and my intense hate of pumping gas. This weekend I got 2 (!) tickets, one for an expired tag, and one for having a suspended license. How do you have a suspended license when you haven't had a ticket in over a year and you paid it? WTF?!
So, why do I have a car? Well, I thought I had to have one. I still think that my life will be more difficult if I don't...rainy days, cold winters, Hwy 280 (if you live in Bham, you know what I mean by that), travel to visit my nephew...the list goes on. Birmingham is a city that is NOT pedestrian friendly. However, I have a friend who did not have a car for a year and did fine. She then got a Vespa for another year (maybe 2) and also survived. It can be done.
What am I saying (what AM I saying...)? I don't want my car anymore. I found it after a car accident, which was not my fault, and I got much too nice of a car for what I need (I am such a typical American). Oh, did I mention that it has a Salvaged title? Yep, an ex-boyfriend convinced me this would be an ok idea. At the time, I assumed I would drive it until it died and the title wouldn't be an issue, and so far it has not. However, I am considering selling it and don't know what the market is for a 2004 Mini Cooper in fine shape, but with a Salvaged title.
In order to sell it, I need to clean it, replace the brakes (another thing I hardly ever do), change the oil, etc. Despite this, I am seriously considering giving it a shot. Maybe throwing a For Sale sign on it and waiting to see what happens. If nothing happens, I will keep it and life will go on. If I sell it, maybe I buy a cheaper car for emergencies or maybe I invest in rain gear and rent a car when I need it. For the money I am paying each month for insurance, car note and gas, I could have one sweet 2 wheeled ride AND afford to pay for a rental every now and again.
So, stay tuned. I haven't made any decisions yet, but the wheels are turning, so to speak
Oh, and if you or anyone you know, want to buy a red Mini Cooper, let me know. Less than 50K miles, leather, sunroof, all the good shit.
Ever since I started riding my bike, I have hated driving my car. It feels...wrong somehow. Today I was driving home and wanted to run every red light, punch the butthead behind me who rode my ass and honked, and was nervous that I would be pulled over (more on that later)
I am also a crappy car owner. A few examples of this are as follows: I don't wash my car, I constantly let my tag expire, I wait too long to get an oil change and I hardly ever check my tire pressure. That doesn't even talk about paying my car note on time, carrying my current insurance card and my intense hate of pumping gas. This weekend I got 2 (!) tickets, one for an expired tag, and one for having a suspended license. How do you have a suspended license when you haven't had a ticket in over a year and you paid it? WTF?!
So, why do I have a car? Well, I thought I had to have one. I still think that my life will be more difficult if I don't...rainy days, cold winters, Hwy 280 (if you live in Bham, you know what I mean by that), travel to visit my nephew...the list goes on. Birmingham is a city that is NOT pedestrian friendly. However, I have a friend who did not have a car for a year and did fine. She then got a Vespa for another year (maybe 2) and also survived. It can be done.
What am I saying (what AM I saying...)? I don't want my car anymore. I found it after a car accident, which was not my fault, and I got much too nice of a car for what I need (I am such a typical American). Oh, did I mention that it has a Salvaged title? Yep, an ex-boyfriend convinced me this would be an ok idea. At the time, I assumed I would drive it until it died and the title wouldn't be an issue, and so far it has not. However, I am considering selling it and don't know what the market is for a 2004 Mini Cooper in fine shape, but with a Salvaged title.
In order to sell it, I need to clean it, replace the brakes (another thing I hardly ever do), change the oil, etc. Despite this, I am seriously considering giving it a shot. Maybe throwing a For Sale sign on it and waiting to see what happens. If nothing happens, I will keep it and life will go on. If I sell it, maybe I buy a cheaper car for emergencies or maybe I invest in rain gear and rent a car when I need it. For the money I am paying each month for insurance, car note and gas, I could have one sweet 2 wheeled ride AND afford to pay for a rental every now and again.
So, stay tuned. I haven't made any decisions yet, but the wheels are turning, so to speak
Oh, and if you or anyone you know, want to buy a red Mini Cooper, let me know. Less than 50K miles, leather, sunroof, all the good shit.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Bike Saturday and car free weekend!
Lately, it seems like Anna and I have bi-weekly Bike Saturday. Two weeks ago was a lovely Saturday involving bike shops and sunny rides.
Well...this Saturday was equally lovely. Ok, maybe not equally, but pretty close.
Once again, we headed over to Homewood Cycles for a Bike class. This time was level 2, bike tune-ups. Once again, it was awesome! The entire Bici crew came and we learned all sorts of stuff, including how to change a chain...which we practiced on Mick Jagger, as his chain was stretched and needed replacing. :) Nothing like a few hours at the Bike shop to make you excited about riding. I was reminded AGAIN of how much I love my bike shop. Walked out with a new chain and new gloves, not to mention knowledge and warm fuzzies (man, I am so cheesy!).
On to Primavera Coffee for a Bici meeting. With Prom behind us and our Community Interest meeting coming, it is time to get serious. Which we did, over delicious coffee. Starting a Non-Profit is hard work, ya'll. 2.5 hours later, we had accomplished so much and were feeling good. Overwhelmed (maybe that was just me?), but good. Are you coming to the meeting Thursday? Because you should be. go put it on your calendar now. I'll wait...
...Ok, now back to my story:
After the meeting, I decided to bike over to another local coffee shop to pick up something from a friend and indulge in my 4th cup of coffee. It was a nice ride, one that I had never done before. After spending an hour chit chatting and visiting, it was now 4:30 and the sun was waning. Time to try my new route home, the one I was hoping would allow me to get to work without having to drive part of the way. (Again, thanks to Homewood cycles for the route advice). I pulled on my gloves, slapped on my helmet and set off.
20 minutes later I was home, feeling triumphant!! (Then I collapsed and didn't leave the house again for the night...)
Sunday I got up late, really late. Decided to try the new work route round trip, since I had to go into the office for a few hours. I did it! Got over the mountain and all the way to Irondale. Took 45 minutes, which adds quite a bit of time to the morning commute, but well worth it. I. am. awesome. Only had to rest once along the way! Worked and rode home. Mapped it later and it is 18 miles round trip, which is not a bad workout if I do it 3-4 times per week.
I parked my car Friday after work and did not get back into it until 10:30 last night to pick a friend up from the airport. This, despite a busy weekend of dinners, concerts, bike classes, work and coffee shops. It felt like a turning point in my 'car-lite' life. All in all, a great weekend.
Was your weekend lovely, internets?
Well...this Saturday was equally lovely. Ok, maybe not equally, but pretty close.
Once again, we headed over to Homewood Cycles for a Bike class. This time was level 2, bike tune-ups. Once again, it was awesome! The entire Bici crew came and we learned all sorts of stuff, including how to change a chain...which we practiced on Mick Jagger, as his chain was stretched and needed replacing. :) Nothing like a few hours at the Bike shop to make you excited about riding. I was reminded AGAIN of how much I love my bike shop. Walked out with a new chain and new gloves, not to mention knowledge and warm fuzzies (man, I am so cheesy!).
On to Primavera Coffee for a Bici meeting. With Prom behind us and our Community Interest meeting coming, it is time to get serious. Which we did, over delicious coffee. Starting a Non-Profit is hard work, ya'll. 2.5 hours later, we had accomplished so much and were feeling good. Overwhelmed (maybe that was just me?), but good. Are you coming to the meeting Thursday? Because you should be. go put it on your calendar now. I'll wait...
...Ok, now back to my story:
After the meeting, I decided to bike over to another local coffee shop to pick up something from a friend and indulge in my 4th cup of coffee. It was a nice ride, one that I had never done before. After spending an hour chit chatting and visiting, it was now 4:30 and the sun was waning. Time to try my new route home, the one I was hoping would allow me to get to work without having to drive part of the way. (Again, thanks to Homewood cycles for the route advice). I pulled on my gloves, slapped on my helmet and set off.
20 minutes later I was home, feeling triumphant!! (Then I collapsed and didn't leave the house again for the night...)
Sunday I got up late, really late. Decided to try the new work route round trip, since I had to go into the office for a few hours. I did it! Got over the mountain and all the way to Irondale. Took 45 minutes, which adds quite a bit of time to the morning commute, but well worth it. I. am. awesome. Only had to rest once along the way! Worked and rode home. Mapped it later and it is 18 miles round trip, which is not a bad workout if I do it 3-4 times per week.
I parked my car Friday after work and did not get back into it until 10:30 last night to pick a friend up from the airport. This, despite a busy weekend of dinners, concerts, bike classes, work and coffee shops. It felt like a turning point in my 'car-lite' life. All in all, a great weekend.
Was your weekend lovely, internets?
Monday, January 19, 2009
Day One
UPDATE: It is now snowing outside. If it continues for the next 45 min, I will have my first ride in snow. With no proper rain/snow gear...and in a skirt!
ok-back to our regularly scheduled post:
Today was day one of the Pact to ride at least 3 days this week. Luckily for me, the roads were pretty empty, with most of the world having today off. Not I. It was a lovely ride, albeit a bit on the warm side (45 degrees). I spent a lot of time this weekend on Mick Jagger (my bike, who I plan to introduce you to later this week), and my legs were more tired than I expected. The ride was lovely despite all of this.
Last night I was getting ready to head to church and I had an internal struggle about how to get there. It is literally 7-10 blocks away and I normally ride, rain or shine. Yesterday, however, I was exhausted and feeling pretty crappy. I stood in my apartment, debating about what to do. Standing there I realized that I am never going to make strides in becoming car free if I continue to freely give myself the choice to drive. So, I grabbed my gloves and hauled Mick down the stairs.
Once I arrived I was so glad that I had ridden. The switch from a driver to a car-lite rider is not going to be easy, but I am determined. And last night was one tiny victory in the battle I wage with myself.
On a side note, my outfit for today is: pink tights, black knee socks, black boots, black skirt. Pink thermal shirt, grey sweater. I wore gloves, helmet (yuck) and a scarf. Was toasty the whole way.
Will report in tomorrow. Enjoy your ride.
ok-back to our regularly scheduled post:
Today was day one of the Pact to ride at least 3 days this week. Luckily for me, the roads were pretty empty, with most of the world having today off. Not I. It was a lovely ride, albeit a bit on the warm side (45 degrees). I spent a lot of time this weekend on Mick Jagger (my bike, who I plan to introduce you to later this week), and my legs were more tired than I expected. The ride was lovely despite all of this.
Last night I was getting ready to head to church and I had an internal struggle about how to get there. It is literally 7-10 blocks away and I normally ride, rain or shine. Yesterday, however, I was exhausted and feeling pretty crappy. I stood in my apartment, debating about what to do. Standing there I realized that I am never going to make strides in becoming car free if I continue to freely give myself the choice to drive. So, I grabbed my gloves and hauled Mick down the stairs.
Once I arrived I was so glad that I had ridden. The switch from a driver to a car-lite rider is not going to be easy, but I am determined. And last night was one tiny victory in the battle I wage with myself.
On a side note, my outfit for today is: pink tights, black knee socks, black boots, black skirt. Pink thermal shirt, grey sweater. I wore gloves, helmet (yuck) and a scarf. Was toasty the whole way.
Will report in tomorrow. Enjoy your ride.
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