The other day it occurred to me that, though I’d been hiking a few times and had already taken my kayak on the water, I had yet to do any biking this spring. It was a decent day in the middle of a rainy week, so I decided to take it for a spin.
My mountain bike was a bit neglected in maintenance, as well as usage. So, I rested it upside-down in the driveway, while I pedaled with one hand and oiled the chain with the other. Shifting through the gears, I found there was enough slack in the chain to throw it right off the sprocket.
A few turns of a screw later and it was ready for a road test — en route to fill my squishy tires. The gearshifts weren’t as smooth as they should be, but it rode better than I thought it would.
I made my way up Main Street in Greenfield to the gas station and filled up on free air. I decided to head out on a zig-zagging route I like to call, “the side street shuffle.” I ride the longer north-south streets from Main Street to Silver, go east a block, and ride back. Usually, I’ll add in a trip up and down the Green River bike path before hitting the north-south streets.
Including the bike path, it adds up to about 13 miles. It’s good for a time-killing trek, or a way to get out for a ride under uncertain skies. It only takes about an hour, and I can peel off from it at any point and make a beeline for home, if I have to.
It’s also a pretty flat ride. The steepest climb is up Colrain Street on the way back from the bike path. After that, it’s smooth sailing the rest of the way.
There was one point when I was far from smooth. I was coming south on Conway Street and stopped at the temporary four-way stop by Foster’s. The car that had the right-of-way waved me on, and I nodded in thanks as I stood on the pedals and pushed off into the intersection.
When I was halfway across, I lurched forward as my right handgrip slid off the handlebars. I quickly sat and was able to recover, injuring nothing but my pride. I made a note to fix or replace that loose grip later, and I managed to complete my ride without falling off of the bike.
The rest of my ride was uneventful, in the best way. I cruised along at a laid-back pace, enjoying the warm air and blooming flowers of springtime. Before I knew it, I was back at my doorstep, wishing I could stay out instead of going in to face the housework I’d managed to escape for an hour.
A few days later, I had an hour to kill on a gorgeous afternoon. I got on my bike, but didn’t make it out of the driveway. My rear tire was so flat that the rim nearly rested on the pavement. I added a new tube to my shopping list, and headed out for a stroll instead.
Walks are nice, but for me, bicycling is the perfect mix of speed and leisure. You can cover much more ground than you can walking, but you’re not racing past everything like you would in a car. You’ve got a little time to appreciate things as you go by them.
On a mild, early-May day like that one, that meant lots of lush green, the colors of early flowers, the smell of blossoms and the sound of songbirds. When summer comes and the temps hit the 90s, I save my riding for nighttime. There might not be as many sights and sounds, but there’s something tranquil about having the streets to myself.
David Rainville is a former reporter and editor for The Recorder, who now works as a machinist. He enjoys hiking, kayaking, biking, and finding new ways to explore the outdoors. You can reach him at daverain82@gmail.com.