bikelovejones

Last night, I complained to Sweetie how tired I felt, how unmotivated and frustrated at how long the winter was dragging on.
Wise partner of mine reminded me that everyone has these slumps and that the winter this year has been especially draining on just about everyone we know. We turned our attention to the TV screen just as the weatherman announced that there would be -- seriously -- MORE snow in the forecast. I sighed heavily, shrugged, and we went to bed.

I woke up to a grey, cold morning, and decided that I would ride the X to work, no matter what. And I did.

Threading my slow and determined way up Sabin Hill, I noted as I topped the hill at Killingsworth that the light rain-snow mix had turned to big, wet flakes of white that pelted my helmet and made a flat, soggy tapping sound on my head. I pressed on, deciding that I would make the best of it. I arrived at work around 9:30 and felt good about getting there in one piece. I also noted that, ins pite of earlier wobbly experiences with the X, today it seemd to be fine. Of course, I was only carrying two sets of wheels and a couple of light bags, a very easy load for a long cargo bike. (Tonight when I come home I'll be bringing a frameset and another set of wheels in exchange, a future city bike project I'll write more about later.)

Now, at 2 pm, another blast of the big, wet flakes has come and gone, leaving behind a light layer of translucent stuff on cars and fenceposts, but landing wet like rain on the street. Pal Robert stopped by and shrugged at the weather -- he's from Missouri originally -- and called the fat, wet flakes landing on the parked bikes outside "white rain". A good term. Still, I will try to leave by 5 so I can ride home while it's at least a little light outside. This is, after all, part of what you sign up for when you choose to live car-free, and although it does wear me down sometimes, I'd still rather ride my bike home than ever own a car again -- even in the snow.