I'm Glad I Got a Flat Tire

Patrick Perugini — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:38:00 -0500

Normally, I ride to/from work with a backpack filled with snacks, spare clothes, work papers, and of course a spare tube and tools. Well this week, I decided to leave clothes in the office and switch to a smaller waist pack. The ride into work was nice having a smaller, lighter pack. One slight problem. I forgot to pack my spare tube and tools. So, as Murphy's Law would have it, last night I got a flat on my way home. Without a spare, I had to call home to have someone come pick me up. But as I sat waiting to be picked up, I realized that I didn't feel anxious or impatient. I surely would have a year or two ago before I started riding to work regularly. Which got me thinking. When commuting by bike, you can't feel rushed. You can't be impatient. You're not going to keep up with traffic, nor do you necessarily want to. You need (and want) to slow down, not just to enjoy the ride and workout, but to keep your world in perspective. In a car, you can never get where you are going fast enough. The cars ahead of you are never moving fast enough, and your time in the car never seems productive enough. When commuting by bike, you are separated from this frantic pace, if only for a few minutes a day. No phone, no headline news, no coffee, no traffic. For me, this brief daily respite from the daily rush has helped me keep my perspective. I relish my time on my bike. I can block out everything that in a car would normally drive me crazy, and relax. In hindsight, I'm really glad I got that flat tire...now I remember why I ride (although I WILL remember my spare tube next time).

bike commuting flat tire chainless bicycle

Green Media Tour on My Chainless Bike

Patrick Perugini — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:16:45 -0500

Last week I went on a 'media tour' to New York City. In other words, I went around NYC meeting with various magazine editors and writers showing off our bikes and talking about what is important to us - the environment, health, and of course why chainless bikes are so great. Most of the people I met with were all based in midtown Manhattan. So rather than driving from meeting to meeting, I biked. I spent two days riding up, down and across Manhattan. I passed through Times Square 4 times, Rockefeller Center 3 times and Central Park once. It was a bit chilly (they were still ice skating at Rockefeller Center), but warm enough to ride. I never felt unsafe on the streets of NY, but I did ride slowly since I was riding in a suit with a briefcase under one arm. I saw a lot of other riders out - messengers, commuters and delivery people. Riding around the city is such a different experience than by car. You get more time to absorb the sights, sounds and smells that you don't when you are stuck inside a taxi cab. I also met some great people - like the writers ar BusinessWeek, National Georgraphic Adventurer and Martha Stewart Living. But my meeting highlight was my last meeting with Fran Carpentier at Parade Magazine. It turns out we both had grandmother's who loved to make meatballs, loved big families and covered all their furniture in plastic. We had some good laughs. Thanks to all I met for a memorable trip to NYC.

green media tour chainless bicycle tour new york city by bike

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I'm Glad I Got a Flat Tire

Green Media Tour on My Chainless Bike