The Orange Soda Drive-By
Back when I was living in Louisiana I decided I wanted to get a bike and add some cycling to my workout routine. I never did...moving around every couple of years made me leery of buying large things, as it was just one more thing I had to move and it seemed prudent to live as light as possible.
Cut to the present day. Since I moved back to Seattle, I've toyed with getting a bike off and on. I put it off due to not wanting to lug it to my third floor apartment after a ride, not to mention finding somewhere to keep it. However, a friend and I were talking about cycling recently and I thought it would be cool to go riding with people, so I finally caved and gave it some more serious thought.
This morning, while out on a hunt for parts to build various crazy machines I came up with and finding absolutely none of the parts (although I did finally buy a soldering iron), I decided to just spend the money on a bike instead. Picked up a decent mountain bike, helmet, gloves, pump, and lock. Took it home, aired up the tires, made some adjustments here and there, and it was good to go for a test ride. I decided to ride over to my mom's place, just over 2 miles away. 4 miles round trip seemed like a good way to get a feel for it and see if there were any more adjustments I needed to make.
I get most of the way there, I'm 2 blocks from the destination, waiting at an intersection for the light to change. I'm feeling pretty good, only minor adjustments still need to be made and I was starting to remember how zen riding a bike was. Next thing I know, there's a cry of 'Woohoo!' and I'm hit in the face and chest by a 32oz Big Gulp from 7-11 and soaked in orange soda. The assholes then speed off before I can do anything more than give them the finger. Great way for the first bike ride in years to go down, eh?
I'm a pretty laid back guy...I've never started a fight, and I have very strict rules about never throwing the first punch. I can fight, but I will only do so to protect myself or someone else when they are being physically attacked. I do not consider these rules to be bendable...ever.
That said, reverse a few years. I have always had problems with bullies and assholes preying on others. As far back as first grade I can remember getting in trouble at school for taking down the class bully when he was messing with my friends. I will not let anyone mess with my friends, I just get really protective about anyone close to me. As with most folks, I don't like being messed with personally either, but I'll usually take more abuse myself than I'll let someone dish out to my friends. These guys in their truck today really pissed me off though...tends to be a knee jerk response to having a flying object hit you and burst open, you get a little pissed. They have no honor and apparently think their fellow humans only exist for their amusement, as opposed to treating them as people. They also, obviously, do not have the balls to stop and follow through. Probably for the best, actually, because it's been a long week and I could do without the hassle.
So I finally get home, and I'm still a bit irritated. No one around to talk to about all this and vent a bit that way, so I pop my ipod into the speaker system, que up the workout playlist, and drag out the punching bag. Might as well get more of a workout from all this, that's constructive...right?
25 minutes in, I feel something on my feet. Look down, and my feet are soaked, as well as the surrounding carpet. See, I have an Everlast inflatable punching bag, weighted down at the bottom by a few gallons of water. I have been hitting it so hard, I have burst the seams in several spots, and the water jets out all over my feet. So to add to this strange domino effect going on for me this week, I have just inadvertently destroyed my punching bag, which up to now has been the main upper body cardio part of my routine.
I think I am just going to stay in my apartment all day tomorrow and meditate on life or something. This is just not my week at all. Luckily, I really can't complain about most of the rest of my life, so I'm sure it is only temporary.
Cut to the present day. Since I moved back to Seattle, I've toyed with getting a bike off and on. I put it off due to not wanting to lug it to my third floor apartment after a ride, not to mention finding somewhere to keep it. However, a friend and I were talking about cycling recently and I thought it would be cool to go riding with people, so I finally caved and gave it some more serious thought.
This morning, while out on a hunt for parts to build various crazy machines I came up with and finding absolutely none of the parts (although I did finally buy a soldering iron), I decided to just spend the money on a bike instead. Picked up a decent mountain bike, helmet, gloves, pump, and lock. Took it home, aired up the tires, made some adjustments here and there, and it was good to go for a test ride. I decided to ride over to my mom's place, just over 2 miles away. 4 miles round trip seemed like a good way to get a feel for it and see if there were any more adjustments I needed to make.
I get most of the way there, I'm 2 blocks from the destination, waiting at an intersection for the light to change. I'm feeling pretty good, only minor adjustments still need to be made and I was starting to remember how zen riding a bike was. Next thing I know, there's a cry of 'Woohoo!' and I'm hit in the face and chest by a 32oz Big Gulp from 7-11 and soaked in orange soda. The assholes then speed off before I can do anything more than give them the finger. Great way for the first bike ride in years to go down, eh?
I'm a pretty laid back guy...I've never started a fight, and I have very strict rules about never throwing the first punch. I can fight, but I will only do so to protect myself or someone else when they are being physically attacked. I do not consider these rules to be bendable...ever.
That said, reverse a few years. I have always had problems with bullies and assholes preying on others. As far back as first grade I can remember getting in trouble at school for taking down the class bully when he was messing with my friends. I will not let anyone mess with my friends, I just get really protective about anyone close to me. As with most folks, I don't like being messed with personally either, but I'll usually take more abuse myself than I'll let someone dish out to my friends. These guys in their truck today really pissed me off though...tends to be a knee jerk response to having a flying object hit you and burst open, you get a little pissed. They have no honor and apparently think their fellow humans only exist for their amusement, as opposed to treating them as people. They also, obviously, do not have the balls to stop and follow through. Probably for the best, actually, because it's been a long week and I could do without the hassle.
So I finally get home, and I'm still a bit irritated. No one around to talk to about all this and vent a bit that way, so I pop my ipod into the speaker system, que up the workout playlist, and drag out the punching bag. Might as well get more of a workout from all this, that's constructive...right?
25 minutes in, I feel something on my feet. Look down, and my feet are soaked, as well as the surrounding carpet. See, I have an Everlast inflatable punching bag, weighted down at the bottom by a few gallons of water. I have been hitting it so hard, I have burst the seams in several spots, and the water jets out all over my feet. So to add to this strange domino effect going on for me this week, I have just inadvertently destroyed my punching bag, which up to now has been the main upper body cardio part of my routine.
I think I am just going to stay in my apartment all day tomorrow and meditate on life or something. This is just not my week at all. Luckily, I really can't complain about most of the rest of my life, so I'm sure it is only temporary.
