Hey fellow Quarantinees! How’s everyone doing?
We’re hanging in there at my house but as the days pass I’m finding it harder to sit still. I see lots people starting hobbies so I’ve been thinking about trying something new. I hadn’t yet decided where this idea would take me when suddenly an opportunity presented itself…
Last week my mom called me as she was clearing out her basement and asked if I wanted a bike.
Me: “A bike? Like a bike bike? One you ride on?”
Mom: “Yes. Do you want it? You could go on bike rides with the kids.”
Me: “Mom, I haven’t ridden a bike in 18 years!”
Mom: “What? Really? That a very specific time period. Are you sure?
Me: “Oh, I’m sure! I remember the exact day it was because it’s such a ridiculous story.”
Mom: “Why, what happened?”
Picture it! Danbury, New Hampshire 2002:
I was at my friend’s college graduation party and I had been imbibing throughout the day. An absolutely adorable little boy lived next door to her and he was at the party. I’ve always been a kid person so I was playing games and chatting with him all afternoon. A few hours into the party he asked if I wanted to go on a bike ride. At this point I hadn’t ridden a bike in probably at least 10 years but you know what they say about riding a bike…
I think it goes without saying that I didn’t have a bike on me but my friend said she had one I could use. She’s like 5’8 and I’m like 5’1ish when I stand up real tall.
So there I was: slightly drunk, riding a bike that was far too tall for me and heading down a dirt and gravel hill in the backwoods of NH. What could possibly go wrong?
Cut to 5 minutes later and I’m laying on the side of the road in a pile of bike and my own blood. The kid ran back to the house to get help and as I’m sitting there, alone and bleeding, two guys in a random pick up truck pull up and ask if I’d like help. Ignoring the fact that this is the actual opening scene of every horror movie I’ve ever watched I allow them to scoop me up and give me some McDonald’s napkins from their glove box to help with the bleeding. It’s definitely one of the weirder situations I’ve ever been in.
I had to go on antibiotics because the gravel was so deeply embedded into the cuts that we couldn’t get it all out. I have a scar on my elbow to this day.
So, needless to say, I was a little skeptical about the idea of taking up bike riding. But my youngest son just got a new bike and the kids have been begging to go on a family bike ride.
I guess quarantine is making us all a little wacky because I eventually agreed to take the bike and give it a try. My husband tried to fix it up for me the best he could.
Husband: “How involved you you want me to get in fixing up your bike? The tires are full and I lowered the seat but the gears aren’t right.”
Me: “I don’t know what that means.”
Husband: “Ya know how when you ride a bike the gears switch to make it easier or harder?”
Me: “No.”
Husband: “Ok then you’re good to go!”
Well, I guess we’re doing this then. Here goes nothing! Cheers to trying new things!
(P.S. if you’re driving anywhere in the next few weeks maybe keep an extra eye out for me on the side of the road. Have your glove box napkins ready!)