What to do when you forget to bring lunch to work and you are commuting by bike?
Just roll up a pant leg and make your way to the nearest grub house. This always brings lots of looks from all types. At first I felt strange, but now I make a game of it. Today I rode about a mile and a half to Baja Fresh. Grabbed a quick burrito and poked around Tower for a few minutes.
I keep my bike in my office on the fourth floor so I take it down the elevator each time I ride. Most of the other fourth floor residents have gotten used to my "quirky" habit of riding to work, but the rest of the company is still discovering the crazy one holding a bike in the elevator in business-casual attire.
I actually carry my bike anytime I am in the building as I don't want to give any one a reason not to let me keep my bike in my office. I can only imagine if I tracked in dirt or mud what might happen. All kinds of fatwa's would be issued regarding personal fitness devices, etc...
Anyway, you should see the looks and comments I get. People say all kinds of things like..."oh, gas prices are just insane aren't they"...or, "guess you are doing your part." How about...I just like to bike!
My favorite are the people who like to play it cool. They get on the elevator...their eyes get wide...but then they get stone faced. They don't want to let you know that they think it is unusual that you are in the elevator holding a bike. Not exactly sure why, but they seem really uncomfortable. Like I'm some kind of monster they stumbled upon in a dark alley or something.
Now it is true that my car broke down over the winter and I have yet to replace it, but I was actually planning on riding to work anyway. Now, I am definitely considering holding off on a new car indefinitely. But you know people are just horrified to find out that I don't have a car. They say things like "when you get your new car you won't have to bike any more." I say, "No. If I get a new car, I'll still bike as much as possible. Besides, I'm not so sure I need a car any more." After that statement I get the old roll of the eyes.
When I am out at lunch I ride through congested office parks and strip malls. Cars just don't know what to make of me. It's quite an experience. I feel like I am in a giant fish bowl with co-workers in cars passing me staring out the windows wondering what kind of mid-life crisis I must be going through. I just say fuck it and move on my merry way.
Wasn't in the mood to find any new music at Tower so i picked up a few cycling magazines from Britain. Tower is good for that sort of thing.
Meanwhile, I am hooked on Editors. Best album of the year so far. At first listen they will remind you of Interpol, but they are definitely different. No doubt they stem from the Joy Division retro band kind, but they have their own defining sound. More Kitchens of Distinction than Interpol. Munich, Fall, Camera, Fingers in the Factories, and Distance are my favorites. Every song is listenable.
