I Like to Ride My Bicycle

So I stole Dan's bike last week and it has become my new best friend. I have discovered the pure joy of the Provo River Parkway in the late evening. If I leave my apartment around 8-ish, I can make it to Utah Lake to get amazing views of the sunset and back home without being stuck out in the dark. I've been learning some great life lessons along the way, and since I firmly believe in the list as a serious literary form, I present the nuggets of wisdom collected throughout the past week.

--Coming to a very abrupt stop on a bike twelve sizes too big for you hurts. A bike made for a Lauren-sized person, where I can actually touch my feet to the ground when seated, tops my birthday wish-list. It really hurts.

--Don't wear a white shirt unless at the end of the trip you want an accurate count of the number of kamikaze gnats that tried to take you down...and failed.

--Little kids on trikes are cool. A little dude wasn't watching and drifting into my lane. I slowed way down and said "Watch out, dude" in my best "you're a cute little dude" voice. He looked up, glared at me like he's too cool for school, and proceeded to make the screeching tire noise "Euuurr!" as he came to a complete stop and continued to stare me down. I want a little dude like him.

--It's probably not socially acceptable to exclaim "Racooooooon!" like a 10 year old upon sighting your very first live raccoon in the yard of an apartment complex where boys live.

--It's completely socially acceptable to analyze superhero movies in your head whilst riding, then wonder why no man finds you ridiculously irresistible yet.

--Old people strolling along listening to the same iPod are cute.

--Somedays I just really really want to be a hobbit. Like the days I'm a nerd and listen to the hobbit song whilst riding.

--Gustav Holst should be sainted for the theme from "Jupiter".

--PLEASE WATCH FOR BIKES WHILST DRIVING!!! That's all I'm going to say about that one.

--Biking makes me happy.