As part of LGRAB's Summer Games I decided to post on grabbing a non-cycling friend for a little ride around my neighbourhood.
If you read this blog with any regularity you must know that my friend Raffaella and I hang out a lot. She's the one that takes all the great pictures of me. Yeah, handy gal to have around, especially if you're a blogger!
Raffaella has the advantage of having always lived very close to LRT stations and she is also an avid pedestrian. If I'm meeting her for a movie or dinner or drinks she can almost always walk or take the train. Biking hasn't really been necessary because her life is already so convenient.
She always talks about buying a bike soon but hasn't gotten around to it yet. I often tell her to take the Dahon so she can store it easily in her apartment and tool around it for a few weeks to see if she likes it. I keep forgetting to give it to her, but tonight she rode it around with us and then wheeled it home for a trial period.
I think she looks pretty good!
Tiny 16" wheels. So cute.
Biking means seeing friends and people in your community all the time. We happened to ride by Chelsea walking her dog.
My other friend Tom, on the other hand, was riding the Madsen with me in the back.
Want to see our rough start? It was the first time either of us has ridden the Madsen with a grown up in the back (and it was Tom's first time riding the Madsen, ever). Um... getting started with all the weight is hard! Here I am, laughing hysterically while Tom is trying to get us going.
Now, I am weary of posting videos of us trying this stuff for the first time. I fear people getting up on my case about safety or recklessness or how I might not be portraying the cycling world in a way that is safe. I'm not really sure what to say to those people. Sorry? We were doing this all on residential streets without much traffic at all if that makes anybody feel any better.
I would encourage any naysayers to try to take these vids with a grain of salt.
Anyway, here I am, showing off my cat t-shirt.
After some time we decided to stop our little bike duo/trio and switch riders. Tom questioning whether I'll be able to tow him.
He was right to question. I've towed the baby and groceries before, but not a full sized dude. I obviously need to refine my technique.
And here I am failing miserably!
After this we went back to Tom riding and Miss Sarah in the bucket. I figure this was better for me taking pictures, anyway. Also, this way we could actually go places.
I'm obviously going to keep practicing the Madsen riding. I'm thinking weight in the cargo definitely has something to do with ease of starting and riding. I'm not saying Tom is a fat dude:) I'm just thinking kids aren't going to be nearly has heavy or tall and maybe that will make it easier? I mean, I've seen some guy riding a Madsen with a mattress on the back. If that is possible, then surely Miss Sarah will be able to conquer this challenge someday?
This experiment also got me thinking that a tadpole bike (Christiana, nihola, Sorte, etc) might be easier to maneuver with a huge payload? Will have to ride more to find out.
In any case, I took more photos from the back.
Tom's cycling shoe (not worn specifically for the Madsen, they were for his new bike that he rode over to my place).
Aforementioned new bike.
View from the bucket.
Madsen close up.
By the end we had pretty decent momentum happening on the Madsen. As we rode past cars and pedestrians everybody turned to smile at us. See? Biking = Fun. Sometimes awkward and embarrassing when you don't get it right, but fun nonetheless.
All of our shenanigans ended with lounging around the bungalow. Needed to unwind after all the hysterical laughing and screaming.
Made some pasta. Drank some coffee.
Sort of a perfect casual week night in my books.
12 comments:
soooo much fun those videos! I keep asking my partner to give me a double down our road on my Pashley (residential and quite too!) :) it'd be so much fun! Laughing like that is good for the soul!! x
awesome. Love the vids, so much laughter and joy.
when I had the sucky motor on the sorte I tested it and there was a guy at the shop riding bikes. I had him get in- he was happy to- and I rode him up and down. He was perhaps 180 pounds. Because of the three wheels there was never a balance thing going on... I just got on and stood up and pushed the pedals forward. I won't say it was easy, but it wasn't impossible for a short block ride. and the turning was fine.
I rode in the sorte box recently for the first time with someone who was moving fast-ish and it was WEIRD. My kids are brave!!!
Those videos make me want to try riding the Madsen. Looks like fun! Rafaella does indeed look great on the Dahon. Loaning a folder to a friend is a good idea; might try that one myself. :)
I wouldn't worry too much about the videos. It's clear that everyone's having fun and not in any real danger. Well, maybe in danger of busting a gut from all that laughing.
That looks like great fun :) We've had occasion a couple of times to ride with friends of ours who don't typically ride bikes, and they've always been surprised how easy it is to get around town by bike, and without being exhausted or sweaty or whatever.
Anyone who thinks that what you were doing is too dangerous needs to, as Regina Spektor says, "drink a lot less coffee and never ever watch the 10 o'clock news." :) I'd be more likely to hurt myself jumping rope, to be honest.
I would bet that a trike like the Sorte or Christiania would be a bit easier to handle with heavy loads, simply because of the balance issue - resting on three wheels, you don't have to worry about tipping over. Which also means you can ride more slowly, because you don't have to balance (useful for hills).
Cheers!
hahahah funny videos! I guess riding the Madsen with a grown-up in the back is a lot harder than it looks!
Wow, I would not be able to ride that Madsen! I am so clumsy that I pity the poor baby or pet trapped in the bucket with me behind the wheel. I think all things considered (grown adult in the bucket!) you guys handled it splendidly.
Hey Guys - Thanks for understanding the context of the videos. It's not like we were trying this on the freeway. But some people... love to hate. It's good to know you guys aren't those people:)
It never occurred to me that riding the Madsen would cause these balance problems. I always thought I could do anything! In fact, I was attracted to the thought of the 2 wheels.
Katie - Maybe it's not that hard. I might just suck. Tom seemed to be fine with me in the back!
Velouria - I'm just glad nobody got hurt. And nobody's camera.
Well, that started my day with a laugh! Or several. The next Summer Games round-up may have to include a video. The moment when Tom fell right over out of the bucket is priceless. Good use of the grass. At least you can practice on him and be a pro by the time Dexter is that size :)
I hope Raffaella enjoys the Dahon. She looks like an elegant natural in all of the beautiful pictures.
Oh Sarah, these are priceless! Love Tom falling out of the bucket...can't wait to give the Madsen a try some time.
Fun! Makes me want to ride in a cargo bike too. :)
Dottie - I think Raffaella is very close to narrowing in on the Dahon Ciao or something like that:)
Tricotmiss - Yeah, they're priceless. And embarrassing.
Christa - I'm glad that I've gone and made a fool of myself first so that the rest of you don't have to feel self conscious about not being able to pedal a bike with cargo in the back:( Failure!
But it was pretty hysterical.
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