New folder on line

I had to take the car in for repair yesterday. Just because it doesn't get driven to work by me doesn't mean it doesn't get driven. The dealership is right on the way to work, so I loaded the folding bicycle into the car, drove to the dealership, dropped off the car, rode to work, and reversed the procedure on the way home.

Everything generally worked as planned. I carried the bicycle case on the rack over the rear wheel, fastened down by two elastic cords. When I got to work I folded up the bike, put it in its case, and carried it to my desk. Lack of practice with the thing made the folding and unfolding a little slow. Fortunately I took the bike out of the case the night before and gave it a test ride, because the tires were low. A folding bicycle is not quite a grab-and-go device for that reason, unless you go often enough to keep on top of the tire situation. I didn't want to lock it up outside at work because everything on it is quick-release.

The bicycle is a Rambler-7 by Sun. One ride isn't enough for a review, but so far it seems fine. The highest of the seven gears is still a little low if one wants to go fast. The lowest gear is more than adequate for the small hills I encounter. The ride is a little twitchy compared to my mountain bike, but I find a road bike twitchy also so I don't think that is a feature of the folding bike, but a feature of any non-mountain bike.

I don't know why I feel a sense of freedom from doing this. I think it is the realization that an automobile provides a false freedom. In a car, one can go far and fast, as long as there are gas stations, the car doesn't break down, and you have enough money to keep it running. A bicycle goes far and fast enough for short trips, is cheap to own and operate, and has some user-serviceable parts.

Getting the folder operating is one more step on my march to simpler living. Of course owning several bikes is not as simple as owning one, but relatively, it is simpler than living in fear of car repairs.