xmlns:og>='http://ogp.me/ns#'> Pedals & Pencils: Bike Love, Part 2

May 9, 2011

Bike Love, Part 2

This weekend I was a smidge under the weather.  I spent the bulk of my time moaning on the couch.  In between moaning and writhing in pain, I read about riding.  And drooled over pretty cycling jerseys.  And best of all, I ogled bikes.  Ogling bikes reminded me of a pile of bike photos I've been collecting since February.  I give you Bike Love, Part 2.

I love cycling because...


When I'm on my bike, I feel like a kid again.





On rare occasions, I feel like I can fly.




[caption id="attachment_3969" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Image from ratrodbikes.com"][/caption]


Pedaling for all I'm worth lights a fire in my belly.




[caption id="attachment_3970" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Image from utilitycycling.org"][/caption]


I'm reminded that being stripped down to the bone can be the first step in building something beautiful.




[caption id="attachment_3980" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Image from instructables.com"][/caption]


I find that my load isn't as heavy as it seems.




I ride in the company of some of the greatest people on the planet.




[caption id="attachment_3972" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Image from hypebeast.com"][/caption]


My trusty steed is always ready for adventure.






Image from inhabit.com


I've fallen down, but it's the getting back up that I remember most.




When I feel hollowed out, riding fills me back up.




My bike gives me a place to grieve without shame.



At the end of each ride, I get to come home to the one I love.




[caption id="attachment_3976" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Image from junemeadow.com"][/caption]


When I lay my head on my pillow at night, I fall asleep content with the mark I've left on the day.


17 comments:

  1. How perfect to click to your latest post, Alicia. I'm reading a chapter from Because Digital Writing Matters and here I find myself with a wonderful multimodal piece. I hope you share your piece with us somewhere at the IA in this discussion. I'd say you are amazingly productive for a day on the couch.

    Bonnie

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  2. Helmet looks like the poor kid has been pelted with ball bearing hail or mini meteors!

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  3. This was just what I needed today - excellent post! I needed a pick-me-up! The end of the school year is definitely near, and high school sophomores become even more immature and ridiculous. Hard to believe it's actually worse than the beginning of the semester was (I have had enough of student teaching, can you tell? :)) I'm also glad to see that somebody else is madly in love with Twin Six jerseys, and I have been debating on that hot pink Masher one for months. I'm not really a girly-girl, except when it comes to cycling clothes. I have more cycling clothes than I really need, but that doesn't stop me from buying more!

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  4. Thanks, Bonnie. I hadn't thought of sharing it over at the IA, only because I haven't read the book. Yet. This week is a bit crazy with year end assessments, Open House, and our few final stage practices before my first graders wow their loved ones with our big musical. I'll squeeze in some time to pop over to the IA and join in the fun. :)

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  5. Some days on the bike are like that!

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  6. Heidi, the countdown is on for sure! Kindergarten and high school teachers deserve a special place in Heaven. :) I've had my eyes on that Masher jersey for some time now, too. My last name starts with an M so the M on the front is perfect. Plus, did you notice it's on sale? How can you resist such a gorgeous jersey? Summer is coming, Heidi. Hang in there!

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  7. Long-lost twin again?! The "did you notice it's on sale?" and "how can you resist?" just cracked me up - you sound just like me! Perhaps I can't resist this time... now I have to go see just how good the sale is! :)
    Thanks for the pep-talk!

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  8. So this is what I think, if we both buy the jersey, then we should go for a ride "together" one day wearing our matchy-matchy jerseys and then each write about our ride and link to each other. How 'Long Lost Twin' is that?

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  9. Okay, the Masher is on its way to my door. I can't wait until it gets here! It's so sassy!

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  10. Oh, yes. Good use of your moaning, writhing agonied day. I like it very much. Hope you're soon mended!
    Lynn

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  11. Ooooh, I think that's the perfect reason to buy it! The corresponding posts and links would be awesome, not to mention potentially hilarious.

    Okay, now it's on its way to my door, too :) The sassiness is why I love it! I'm not really much of a masher, except at the end of the season when my legs are strong enough to power the hills without shifting.

    I'm looking forward to our matchy-matchy ride "together"! :)

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  12. YES!!!! Okay so be thinking of a day we can ride "together". Sometime after school gets out, please. This is going to be so much fun, Heidi!

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  13. Yes, definitely after school gets out. Only 20 days left... not that I'm counting or anything! Our ride "together" will be a great way to celebrate being done with a successful school year. It will be awesome, Alicia!

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  14. [...] lives in California, and I live in Wisconsin, and neither of us is planning a big trip. In a recent blog post, Alicia wrote about looking at pretty bike jerseys, so I of course had to go see which ones she was [...]

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  15. I got my Masher in the mail today! You're right, it's even better in real life... now the weather just needs to get warm!

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  16. Yessssss!!! Heidi, it is so on! Be thinking of a ride date and get your camera ready to capture yourself in all the Masher's sassy splendor!

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