Biking in DC

Wow, is all I can say. After two weeks of biking around a lot, i have a lot more money on my smarttrip card than at the end of any other month, and i'm getting a lot better at the biking thing. More confident rolling next to cars even when there isn't a bike lane marked.

My $50 bike is still treating me well. My parents bought it at a garage sale quite a few years ago and then gave it to me when they got new bikes. It's dark blue with bright orange wires. A Huffy. I like it. I got a black u shaped lock for it that i'm getting awfully quick at applying and removing. Today I did it twice in the rain, in fact.

Yes, my first experience riding in the rain was this afternoon. Up the hill from the mall to NW, even. I stopped twice under cover when it was really pouring, but did continue on. Splashed through a few puddles.

So far it has been nothing if not interesting seeing all of the other bikers. Most of them are very friendly to their compatriots. Some people are wild, running through intersections when there isn't traffic for an instant, while I stand there waiting for the light. Some people are fast & serious with their bike shorts and review mirrors. A few people are like me and more laid back, having fun. Really, I don't want to do things that I don't have fun at. So bicycling should be the same way, I feel. At one point today I was not having fun, in the rain, with the traffic, but then I stopped. And then convinced myself to start again.

Hopefully I can judge better and not ride in rain anymore. I just want to have a pleasant happy life. It is a nice way to get around. Very self-sufficient.