The F.U.B.A.R. Ride Home*

The temperature was well into the 90's yesterday. That makes for a lovely ride to work but a very hot ride home. I didn't make it any easier on myself.

Last Friday, I took my bike over to the local bike shop to have a critical portion of the bike repaired. I needed a new lower bracket which is the bearing assembly that the peddles turn around.

I drove to work on Friday with the bike in back. I dropped the bike off and told the guy I would be back at 4:30.

Upon returning at 4:35, the guy had me stand around for a few minutes before telling me it wasn't ready. I said I had a quick errand and would it be done in half an hour. He said yes and off I went.

I returned and the bike was sitting out on the floor. I paid the $15.00 and wheeled it out to the car.

When I rode it to work yesterday, it did not feel like it was any better. Don, who is my Bicycle Consultant at work, said it had not been replaced. The bike store was of course, closed on Monday.

I left work at 4:30 yesterday when my office thermometer had to be hitting 98 degrees. I had every intention of waiting the 15 minutes at the stop for the bus, but decided at the last minute to try and ride the six or so miles to the bus's next stop. I'm riding the bike in part for exercise and here was a perfect (if not sweltering) opportunity.

It was a very nice ride, paralleling the Spokane River the whole way. When I reached Sullivan Road, which was close to my goal, it was also very close to the time the bus would be getting there.

I was riding down Indiana keeping an eye on my rear view mirror for the bus. It wasn't long before I saw the bus coming up on me and I was still a good mile from the Park and Ride spot where the bus would pick me up.

I stepped up my peddling and as the bus came along side me I waved at the driver and he pointed to the next stop up ahead.

I had made it! I was sweaty and out of breath, but I made it.

I sat back in the coolness of the air conditioned bus and congratulated myself as the bus turned onto a street it was not supposed to turn on.

It went up the the YMCA and turned around and headed back towards the Park and Ride. It began to dawn on me that I should have checked the number on the bus. Was this Bus Number Se7enty-Four? There was nothing in the cabin of the bus to indicate what the route was. I noticed the schedules and didn't see one for Se7enty-Four.

As we pulled out of the Park and Ride, I saw Bus Number Se7enty-Four pulling in. I pulled the stop cord, got a transfer and got off.

Bus Number Se7enty-Four was right behind the bus I got off. As I stood there with my bike, proudly pleased with myself for having figured out the system, I noticed that the bike rack was full. The driver slowed and kind of shrugged at me.

One of the things I have been concerned about riding the bus is the availability of open bike racks. I figured I would run into the problem. I just didn't expect it on my first day. I'm sure that as the price of gas goes up, it is going to become more of an issue.

The bus passed on by and I was struggling with the despair of the system failing me. Suddenly, the bus stopped and a guy hopped off. He was one stop short of his goal but since he had a bike, it didn't matter. He jumped off and gave his space to me.

Finally, as the bus pulled onto the Freeway, I was able to congratulate myself in the air conditioned coolness of Bus Number Se7enty-Four.

*that turned out okay