Do I take my bicycles for granted?

It\’s beginning to seem like it. Day before yesterday I took my hybrid in to the shop. The brakes didn\’t seem to be catching well, and were also making loud squawking sounds when applied. I figured the pads were wearing out.

I had to leave the bike at the shop; and it\’s making me realize that I always assume that \”Katy\” is right here at home, waiting for me.

If I want to go to the drug store, it\’s far faster to ride. Now I have to think twice; do I really want a soda badly enough to walk to the drug store for it? I\’d have six-tenths of a mile to go. I know; that really isn\’t so far. It just seems like it when I\’m on foot because the going is much slower.

Today I began to develop a craving for cashews, which I usually buy from the bulk bins at Whole Foods. That store is two miles away. Walking there would involve applying sunblock. This time of the year, it would also get VERY HOT.

Why don\’t I use my road bike? The road bike would be somewhat trickier to lock up. For one thing, it doesn\’t have a kickstand. It can\’t stand up by itself! If something happened to it, replacing it would cost much more than having to replace the hybrid. I\’d be extremely limited in the amount of merchandise I could take home by road bike.

Let\’s not take our bicycles for granted. I don\’t appreciate mine always being at the ready until one of them is away for a few days. Maybe I should remember the phrase: \”Absence makes the heart grow fonder\”!