I need a little place in the sun sometimes or I think I will die

Hello friends,
so sorry it has been so long since I last posted. Life has been completely kicking my ass and this little blog has taken a backseat. which sucks, because writing is one of the things that calms me the most.

Lately, I have been thinking about how it was only a little over a year ago that I bought my first bike. Since then I have been through 4 bikes and am more in love with riding my bike than I am with my...well, pretty much anything.

Some of you may have followed the blog that Bike Skirt was spun from, Triathablog. I was re-reading some of my posts from that time and came across this one. It is still true and yet I think of how far I have come since that time. I have been pretty stressed and down yesterday and find that if I don't ride, I feel significantly worse. Just as I said in that post, when I was a new rider, so excited and new to the sport and the life. I had just gotten Mick Jagger and was so in love. (sad)

So...I thought I would share it. Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Mother's Little Helper
I know that lately I haven't really been getting too personal. I have been waxing poetically about my wonderful commute and extolling the wonders of bike websites. Well, tonight I change that.

I have depression and OCD. Take a moment to register your shock or laugh at the obviousness of that statement. Ok, done? I am also coming on the anniversary of a pretty tragic event in my life, and my job is so stressful that I leave with a tension headache every other day. I would expect to be a complete wreck, crying all the time or numbing out completely.

Strangely that has not been the case. At first, I thought I was not dealing, or must be avoiding issues. Then I realized that nothing lately has really thrown me for a loop. It stopped about 2 months ago. Right about the time I started riding pretty seriously. Coincidence? I doubt it. I feel great and so hopeful. My insomnia has all but disappeared and I find myself with more energy than I have ever had. I have never had such a great body image. I simply feel great.

THAT is the best part of cycling for me. It has been a scary thing, throwing myself into a sport and an established (male-dominated) community. A year ago this would have thrown me into paralyzing fear and insecurity. Instead, I am so excited and full of hope. I look forward to my next ride and find myself hoping that I can ride to wherever my destination may be (concert, party, grocery store, church...).

Is this from the support I have found in friends and fellow riders, or the actual riding? I think it is a bit of both. Either way, I am so grateful. Yes, life is hard and some things are hard to accept, but everything feels a little bit easier on my bike.

On another note, Mick Jaggar is so sexy right now. New blue tires and white bar tape. If my bike were a person, I would have a mad crush on it. Picture to come.
end

Looking back is so fun. it also shows me that this is no passing phase...my two wheeled life is here to stay.

@*$&^#%^!

I now present for you: Bike Wreck #2!

After a meeting I decided to run to the Jones Valley Urban Farm after work farm stand to get veggies for a stir fry.  I was riding down First Avenue South and turned right onto 24th St.  Right after the turn I see a BROOM STICK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.  Before my body caught up with my brain I had run over the stick, my bike wobbled out of control, and I slammed into the ground.  The fall was actually very similar to last time, so similar that the hole in my leg has been unceremoniously ripped open and my chin and shoulder have gotten scraped in exactly the same place.  Alas, this time it looks a lot worse.  

(taken by Kevin)

Things to celebrate in the face of adversity:

1. There was not a car right behind me.  Otherwise, I would not be writing this right now.

2. Wes Frazer saw it happen and turned around to save me.  My hero!

3. All the other dudes that were like "Do you need a paramedic?"  "Someone needs to keep you off that bike", etc. etc.

4. Good photos

5. An even more killer scar on my leg

Things to hope for:

1. No fucked up teeth

2. Swelling to go down quickly

3. Lots of sympathy (I've already gotten some Jack from Dani! Thanks hun!)

(Post Shower, taken by Dani)

This is where we live

Ok I obviously suck at blogging - but at least it's here now!  As the last post discussed, Elisa and I went to the Free the Hops meeting at Birmingham Beverage last Wednesday.  That little bike trip provides this week's photo of where we live.  Riding in these areas was a harrowing experience.

Ok gotta run!  Hope everyone is enjoying summer thus far.

Brewfest on a Bike? It's on!

Elisa and I had a meeting with the folks at Free the Hops about doing some Bici bike valet at the Magic City Brewfest, an annual beer festival coming up on June 5th and 6th at Sloss Furnaces.  It took Elisa less than one second to convince them that it was a good idea, and they gave us a primo location (right by the entrance) to set up shop.  Everyone seemed totally stoked on the idea, and we're hoping to get good press as well!  Birmingham, as we constantly harp on, is not exactly known for being "green" so something like bike valet (our may be the first of it's kind in the Magic City) is sadly newsworthy.  Hey, we'll take it, and we'll say thank you very much! 

We're also planning some bike bus meet ups and different locations throughout the city so that people can ride together to Brewfest.  It's going to be great fun!

Also, we need volunteers to help with the bike valet so if  you're interested you can email me at anna@bicicoop.org

BEER! Oh, and in case you were wondering what this Free the Hops thing is all about - Alabama has a stupid law that limits beer sold to be 6% alcohol by volume or below, which prevents us from getting delicious "craft" or "gourmet" beers.  Free the Hops has been lobbying to change the law for a number of years.  We're on pins and needles right now because the bill has passed the senate, but we're waiting on the Governors signature for the law to be changed.  He has until Monday night I think so fingers crossed!

Warning: Girl-centric post ahead

****UPDATE: I have decided to give it a shot. Hoping my local health food/crunchy granola store carries it. Will let you know my progress...eventually. Oh, and if you see me around, PLEASE don't ask how it is going...posting this is embarrassing enough! :) ******

I have always said that this blog would be about what it is like riding as a girl in a cycling unfriendly and unhealthy (esp for women) city. So, it was inevitable to write about womenly things. That day has come...

Ok, ladies this one is for you. Has anyone ever tried The Diva Cup? I am curious about it and want to know what you think. Any cyclists out there tried it? Riding during that week is worrisome and uncomfortable so I would love anything that could help.

Let's just put it out there: you can't really wear a pad when on a ride. And tampons are fine, if you are ok with bleached cotton and chemicals and possible leaks (which, honestly, I have been up to this point). So, this seems to be a good alternative. unless it doesn't work, or the position cycling puts you in screws it up.

So, I ask you...anyone tried it?

if you are uncomfortable saying so here, email me at elisa@bicicoop.org

Thanks! And to our male readers...sorry and thanks for your understanding

This is where we live

David and I went to a meeting tonight put on by the Regional Planning Commission to hear a proposal for changing some one-way streets to two-way streets. I was very excited to hear that they were planning space for bike lanes (which the city will have to decided whether to stripe or not) and also the number of comments from attenders aimed at making the bike lanes a reality. 

This is a photo of one of the streets that would be changed.

And heeeeeeeeere's puggles!  After betraying me a few weeks ago I had to put ol' puggles in time out, but I have finally forgiven and we rode tonight to the meeting.  All went well.

Spring riding weekend: FAIL

This weekend was a wet one. A very, very wet one. Today the sun is shining, the weather is cooler and I am stuck inside sick. I blame this weekend's rainy weather (I always seem to get sinus infections after a particularly wet weekend).

Saturday started out nice, although a bit cloudy. Carrie and I decided to go to Pepper Place market together early in the day. She on her Vespa and I on my new bike (details to come), riding the downtown streets looking...well, just adorable. Did some shopping and ignored the drizzle. Until that drizzle turned into a full on thunderstorm. The kind that you know will not subside and it is useless to try to wait out. So we parted ways and ran to our 2 wheeled steeds.

That ride was hell. Pouring rain, temperatures dropping and streets quickly flooding. I rode through many spots where the water was up to my knees. I can say one thing: it is a good way to break in a new bike! I got home cold, soaked and exhausted.

The rest of the day turned out lovely and we enjoyed Do Dah Day at the shop, amid the puppies and babies and heat and humidity. I got home just in time to miss the night thunderstorm.

Sunday was our planned Chief Ladiga ride: Part deux. We had already been bailed on by 1/2 the group, but we remaining 3 were determined. I cooked food the night before, got the bike ready to go and we set out at 8 am, knowing that we were probably going to get wet, but deciding to take a faster pace and hopefully be done before the storms rolled in.

After getting lost (my bad), we get to the trail...and it is raining already. Not pouring, but not sprinkling either. We laughed about it, questioned our sanity and took off. The temperature was slowly but steadily dropping and the rain was getting harder. After about 6 miles, my seat starting shifting (I can fix things but have trouble tightening them enough!), causing us to stop and thereby cooling our body temperature. Damn. Another 2.5 miles in water in my eye caused a stop, when we decided to just turn around. The rain was now a steady pour, with howling wind and cold temps plaguing us. 3 miles back, there was a slight bump...and my handlebars fell (seriously, not going anywhere until someone retightens things for me anymore!). That was scary. Rainy, slippery and suddenly unable to reach my brakes! eek

Made it back to the van, got in and decided to eat the yummy food I had brought...to discover that I did not bring enough, had we gone the whole way. We ate all of it and could have eaten more. After only 17 miles. oops.

What. A. Mess.

Rode back shivering and soaked, heat turned full blast, but able to laugh about it. The day wasn't a success per say, but it was definitely an adventure. Thanks Heath and Shaun...even though I led you astray and didn't feed you enough AND made us stop way too many times, you guys were awesome!

Hoping to try it again soon. But not too soon...I have spent today on the couch with a killer sinus infection and cold.

How was your weekend?