me, my bike and I

   The self-reliance, the human powered transportation, the pedaling motion, the air flying around the body and stroking the face, the exercise, the sightseeing at touring speed – it’s all there in riding a bicycle (bike). This trip south has shown me that I am not alone in this, especially in the senior citizen community. We biked quite a bit in 3 different places and saw so many oldsters on the wheels. They came in packs with reflective vests, in recumbent bikes of every form imaginable, with beach bikes, fancy multi-speed bikes of every size and shape. If 85 is the new 65, this has got to be why!  

   Three places I biked were the Pinellas Bike Trail and Sanibel Island in Florida and Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Links are here, but more about these at the end of the post.  

   I have been riding a bike since I was very young. My first 2 wheeler had one gear and foot brakes and was assembled by my Dad from parts he got from a friend. It wasn’t just a 26 incher that was popular at the time, but it was much bigger with fatter tires and an aggressive frame – it was a beautiful blue. I was the bike queen of the neighborhood, winning all the races and turning heads wherever I rode. That was when I first discovered the independence my bike provided -  being able to visit my friends, go to my piano lesson or shop without needing a ride from my parents or walking (tediously long). My independent streak and biking were becoming fused day by day. Even the instances of serious injury did not diminish my love for my vehicle. They did teach me that I needed to be a little more careful and pay more attention to my surroundings and strategic attacks toward inclines with a one gear monster.  

   I started to realize as I grew into the teenage phase that it was pretty ‘uncool’ to ride a bike – “that was for kids”! It was hard for me to adjust because I was already a geek and out of the mainstream. So regrettably, I abandoned my beautiful blue ‘friend’ and took to walking. I still wanted to travel under my own steam as much as possible, but needed to keep up appearances of at least trying to fit in.  

   As luck would have it, when I went away to college in Boston in the late 60s/early 70s, rebellion from the status quo in dress, hair, politics, and societal and cultural rules reigned. As a budding young adult, it was as if this rebellion was designed just for me. I could wear what I wanted, grow my wild hair down to my waist, protest inequities and unfairness openly and, yes, use a bike for transportation or recreation. One of the first things I did when I arrived on campus was to look for a used bike to buy. I was on a scholarship and was not allowed to have a car but I couldn’t afford a car anyway. The bike I found thrilled me because it was a lovely English bike and had 3 WHOLE GEARS and a hand brake!!! I had to learn how to shift gears and use my hands to brake, but now I had my transportation needs met, a way to explore the area and a recreational activity to be pursued anytime I wanted to. The college years are those of self-discovery, the chance to develop the skills and knowledge to become a successful adult and, of course, have fun. The solo rides I took on my bike gave me the opportunity to get away from campus to think about all of these things. 

   Once I graduated – still did not have enough money to buy a car and lived in many cheap apartments in the Boston area. I had to take a bus to work, to the store, to the beach. I didn’t have my bike during this time and I just knew something was missing. Eventually I got a car and another bike and bought a house north of Boston and the pent up need for the bike kicked right in and I established a riding route for every day after work and rode it on weekends to run errands and get exercise. When I got pregnant I didn’t stop riding my route and everyone in town knew me – “hey, aren’t you that girl we see riding your bike every night (and pregnant too)?” “Yes, it was me!!!!” Once my son was born, I did not quit. I put him in a front baby carrier, then in a back carrier and finally in a baby seat bolted to the back of the bike. I wasn’t always sure he enjoyed it, but I guess I wanted him to love bikes as much as I did. My dilemma came when he got too big to fit in the seat anymore and could not ride his own bike yet. So, I went back to doing my route solo but it made me sad to have to leave him behind (at least for now). As the years passed, I had another child and they both grew old enough to ride their own bikes (and I always made sure they had one). Sometimes we rode together and at other times they were learning the same things I learned about having a bike and independence. It was a shared family value. 

   Fast forward to the present – Before I retired I had been riding my bike to work quite a bit and taking recreational and exercise runs many days in the nice weather. Many vacations over the years involved some bike riding – a bike carrier on the car was always a necessity. On my vacation now – have bike will travel on the back of the car on the new fancy bike carrier and continuing the joy of riding on the trails mentioned above.  

   The magic is still there:  every time I board my bike and start to ride, I feel like that young girl I was so long ago on my beautiful blue special!!  

   The Pinellas Trail in Florida runs from New Port Richey to St. Petersburg a distance of about 35 miles. This trail is so well planned and executed. There are marked lanes for each bike riding direction and a pedestrian lane clearly marked and signs everywhere. The roads that have to be crossed can be quite daunting, so they have installed push buttons at every one of them to allow a time for bikes to cross. Most riders and drivers respect the lanes and crossing protocols. Great for recreation and transportation.  

   Sanibel Island near Fort Myers, Florida has many bike trails all over the island. I was able to tour the Nature Preserve there on the bike instead of using the car. It was cheaper and much easier to park when an interesting bird or alligator was sighted. I was also able to bike to Bowman Beach on a bike trail. Bike racks available in every location. I only spent the better part of one day there, but I think it would be possible to abandon your car and use your bike for transportation to go just about everywhere.  

   Hilton Head Island in South Carolina has beautifully paved bike trails all over the island. It was wonderful to see so many people taking advantage of them. There are trails to get to all kinds of stores, restaurants, the tennis club or the beach and trails winding under the live oaks of the low country just to ride and enjoy. My favorite place to bike is on the beach. The sand there is very hard packed and at low tide, beach lovers can spend their time next to the waves on their bikes.