05/02/2008
01:27
Revision 001 05/05
You ever have something stolen? How frustrated were you and
how long
did it take to get it back? Reply in the Guest
book
por favor. Have you ever had a bike stolen? If so what was the steps
you took afterworlds?
When I think back to after my bike was stolen, I realize how
long it
was between the time the bike was stolen and by the time I got the new
bike, my current commuter, 2007 Giant Rincon 21", it had been nearly
three months I had gone without a bike. On the old leather sole
express, although today it is more rubber sole, I was out pounding the
pavement. What a joy that was, I will admit, I kept to my green
promise, and used the alternate transport that is a bus though as
active as I am it would of been more likely that any place that was
within walking distance, just about everything in suburbia of course,
so I really did not use the bus all that much. In that sense I also
kept to my commitment, to get places by my own power considering that
even a bus pollutes more then walking without the benefit of exercise.
In that three months I had allot of time to think, about how I
could
improve the circumstance so this next bike would not be the next one
stolen, it was frustrating sometimes knowing that most of the places I
was pounding the pavement to get to, used to be much faster on my blue
rincon and a lot easier on the back. Without the benefit of a bike
handling most of the weight, I was left with a back pack where my back
and shoulders had to hold the weight and space was far more limited. It
is not to say I carried excessive baggage on my trekking experiences
but just to say that it was often easier for grocery shopping to, God
forbid, have someone drive me. Instead I just figured, what I bought
on each grocery trip, getting the necessities and saving the heavy
weight stuff, such as milk, five gallon bottles of water and the like
for another trekking expedition whereby I may find myself on a bus even
for part of it.
We each adapt certainly to the circumstance, even a stout
cyclist such
as myself had to make that choice, even if it was a difficult one. You
need to survive right? By any means necessary wouldn't you agree? The
story continues, I found myself reverting back to times past, pre
bicycle, can you believe there was a time before cycle commuting?
:) For those of you who made that quality decision, if the
situation changed and you were back to pounding the pavement would you
suffer from withdrawal symptoms? :) I certainly did until I realized I
was still doing my part in improving the environment and my health by
not subscribing to the gas run economy. Driving the big car, because
for some reason that makes you feel bigger, unless of course you are
making up for a shortage somewhere else. ;) The point being, although
it was initially difficult it was merely a matter of changing my
perspective, you know the glass half full or half empty. I chose the
latter, made a decision to make the best of the current moment in time,
and grow through it. When I look back I am glad I did, it certainly
gave me a different perspective on life, don't you think?
Trekking
with a glass half full, is easy, as a matter of fact it was
downright enjoyable, still doing my part even if it was not on two
wheels. Trekking for three months, looking forward to the next day
realizing that I was one day closer to getting my bike. It took some
time. certainly, due to the fact that a cycle commuter often has a much
slimmer budget, which is not necessarily a bad thing, instead empowers
you to keep on budget. At the time I was working at a restaurant,
busting backside for minimum wage and tips, dealing with management,
seeing as it was a small "family" owned establishment, far more then
perhaps most of you are so unfortunate to deal with. The wife
of
the owner was there nearly everyday, and she had a affinity to
cleaning, to a point where you could of called her a perfectionist, to
a point where we the employees were cleaning silverware that had
already been cleaned many times that day particularly when it was not
busy, which sorry to say was far more often then I liked. Here I was, a
person who would ride everyday, all the time, wherever there was a job
I rode my bike there. I was die hard, it was to bad I was not so
security minded as would of been beneficial in purchasing a better
lock, considering we are talking about a brand new, clean, blue and
black 21" Giant Rincon, customized to my preference, modified for
functionality, by the LBS,
Bear Bikes, where I have found the best
service and fair prices on the products you need to convert and MTB to a CCT, or an UAV.
Whatever you choose to call it, ride it, enjoy it, you made the quality decision
so make the best
of
it. To be a step ahead of where I was at the time, get the whole
package when you buy a new bike, solid security,
customize ability, and
the right size to make the ride the most comfortable. I ended up
picking up a On guard Lock, pictured to the right. Thus far it has
worked quite well for me and that is always good news. Had I thought
about that ahead of time, to get a lock with insurance, that is solid,
has been rated well and tested seems to be really a prerequisite to
purchasing a new bike. Even if, you don't think you will use it for a
commuter, Security, is very important no matter what you ride, so
consider that when you purchase that new bike. Or upgrade your current
lock, to insure that your bike will be there when you get back out.
A bicycle is a vehicle, with any vehicle of course you want
to secure
it. Even if a bike cannot be secured with an alarm a good solid lock,
can do wonders for the security of your bike, insuring that it will be
there when you go back out and want to ride on home, or to the next
location. Whether you don't believe someone will steal the bike isn't
it better to be secure then to be worried? We all have enough stress in
life, why add to the pile?
In conclusion, in preparing now for the unforeseeable future,
you can
prevent your steed from being lost, and can count on it, as the best
way home. Ride On My Friends, enjoy life by bike, its a wonderful way
to be don't you think?
Other Links to More Information in Regard to this article:
The Journey By Bike is always a unique one,
the story never really changes it only improves. To ride a bike is a
choice we each should make, the big question is what choice will you
make to grow or to remain where you are until the day you pass away?
I
would hope not but can never tell what a person will do, that my friend
is between you and the person and the person in the mirror
reaching a consensus.
So take the time out of life and out of
living and start making the effort for progress. Start Reading up on
some inspirational stuff and become stronger because of it.
References:
The Focus Forward Project @ focus-fwd.blogspot.com
The Journey by Bike @ bike-journeys.blogspot.com
|
Two
Bikes Stolen
and
3 months later
I
became Secure!
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