Car to Bike Transition

 Lately,  what with Global Warming and shit, I've been thinking about getting out of my car and onto a bike. 

Typically for my western encultured mind i looked to consume my way ahead.  I was entranced by the Cargo Bike Cult coming out off California.  Those long flowing frames and massive racks capable of carrying four children and mow recently on their FB marketing feed, behives. I know Google listens to users' conversations and markets to suit, but have Yuba bikes discovered personal marketing? But the feel good marketing BS wrote thin when,  after weeks of saving I accepted that $7k for a Spicy Curry was not going to fly. 

One thing that irked me about the Cargo Bike was the length and how you hide it on a train.  Then i looked at Touring bikes. More hardy on gravel,  able to carry a decent load,  go on a train more easily and cheaper ... but still to expensive. 

But the detour through Touring Bike literature took me further on a looping path back to the Foldable Bike. Still with my culture blinkers on, i was looking at high budget models like the Brompton ... "handmade in London by craftsmen trained in [the dark art of]  braising, ridden and loved the world over". I felt like i was back on the fasting sites -  it was a brief dalliance - but it was really only more brand relationship building BS. 

I then took a route that I'm often want to take, Kindle.  I love to read long narratives about people's experiences with a certain product that i want to  buy. Touring on Foldable Bikes revealed yarnsthat i could relate to.  Buying a cheap bikebikes doing micro-adventures in China,  packing your gear and pedaling across America smiling,  laughing and joking all the way,  apparently. Then the possibility of using the bike I've got took a hold on me!

Once again I got carried away wanting to but puncture proof tubes, pannìers, lights and the list just seemed to lengthen stupidly.  Then,  whilereading my Kindle yarn about "unraveling", getting all the bike racing baggage putt of your mind and just having fun on your bike.  "Like you did Wyden you were a kid". so i rolled over,  setmy alarm for 5.45.

Up early,  load the bike, pump, helmet and backpack my 

new senior discount train pass in my pocket and into my son to be second rate truck.  Brrrr, brrrr, click. No that's not the sound off my fingers freezing, it's the sound of a flat battery.  I tossed up the option of pumping the bike tyres and heading off and dealing with the hill up to the farm tonite.  But no ,  it was raining anyway and i hang really prepared that well.  So my firstfour-day into carbon free- lite commutinghad been scorched.  But fear not, i will spend the day preparingsaid bike and fitting various accessories that I've inherited or bought over the years and kind of guaranteeing that when next the opportunity arises,  the transition will be smoother.