When Bad Bikes Attack

UCSB is definitely a bike community. Trails run all over the place. Isla Vista has largely been abandoned by cars because it is overrun with bikes. And the fact that it is always acceptable bike weather (mild temps, not alot of rain) adds to the appeal.

Originally, I had planned on buying a bike when I got here, but SuperK already had a bike that he didn't use much. But it turned on me. Bad Bike and I had a couple of run-ins before, but I was willing to dismiss them as me being out of practice, and the bike being a boy-bike (thus a bit out of size for me). However, these were mini-skids or loss of balance. Not the full-on attack of Friday.

Friday, I jumped on the bike to head over to Santa Ynez offices to research (transl: raise hell) about San Clemente housing. En route, the bike decided to take out its aggressions on me. In a quick instant, I felt like I couldn't steer. Next moment - I am sprawled most inelegantly across the parking lot. This would also be the one day I wore a skirt. And there was one person, (boy of course) to witness my wipeout and whatever color undies I wore that day. Now I am covered in bruises in weird places where either I landed or the bike landed on me, and a bunch of charming scrapes. After I picked myself up, I saw that one brake seized, and the chain came of all 21 gears. I was able to make it operable again. But it finally made up my mind to break down and buy my own bike. Ideally one that liked me.

Now, I am the proud owner of a matte periwinkle beach cruiser, complete with basket and comfy seat. The tires have a matching periwinkle rims under their fenders. Leather grips. I'm still trying to adapt to this totally different bike. It doesn't have gears or handbrakes. The handlebar is curved and wide. And these coaster brakes are totally weird to me. But it's so cute, and I'm so cute pedaling it.