a tale of two cities

Portland was recently ranked Bicycling Magazine's 'Best Cycling City'. It is generally ranked among the top in the world for bike riding. It is the only major U.S. city to be designated as Platinum Level by the League of American Cyclists.

Everyone owns a bike here. It is hip. It is cool. You drive around the funky South East section of town. The damn things litter the street ways. The city has erected little stands for people to park and lock up there bikes all over the city. Just look outside of a coffee shop on SE Belmont. Come visit Portland and you will see what I mean. Bikers have their own lanes here. The city gives out maps advising bikers on the quickest and safest roots. Bikers even have their own special 'green box' at intersections that cars are not allowed to enter.

Bike choice is big out here. Vintage road bikes are the thing. They are huge even. You can tell that someone is cool when they are riding a 1970's Schwinn Road bike around. It is definitely not cool to ride around a newer but cheaper bike.

I brought my Giant Mountain Bike out here. It cost me about $200 brand new. It was cheap. But it did the trick. We went through a lot of effort to bring that bike out here. There was zero room for it in my Tacoma. But we somehow found a way. It took us hours of planning and organizing to pack that truck. The bike was one of our big 'maybe' items. And we did it. And we were proud.

My bike was stolen the other day. I was not really upset. I could not be. I stole many a bike when I was younger. Lauren woke me up on a Saturday and asked if I had moved my bike to the cellar. It is not the best way to be woken. But I took it in stride.

Summer is here. Gas is through the roof. I've decided its high time I commute by bike. But I do not currently own one.

I am currently looking for a new bike. I am thinking something hip. A nice road bike. But, my lord, the damned things will set you back a pretty penny. Bikes that would be given away in Pittsfield to need kids sell out here for around $200. I'm talking about the road bikes that you have all seen sitting around in basements or attics all over Pittsfield. They sit there because nobody will take them. You certainly couldn't sell them. That would be a joke. Bikes you couldn't even give away in Pittsfield still sell for $100 plus out here. I'm talking cruisers from the 40's. Bikes caked in rust. Bikes older than my grandparents.

I have my eyes peeled. My limit is $200. I hate to spend the money. We try so hard to save. And make so little. But it is worth it. I believe.

I suppose Wii will just have to wait.