The Summer of Biking

Through a random series of thoughts and events, I recently bought a bicycle. I haven't had a working bike in years, so this was a departure in itself. I thought it would be a fun way for my two sons and I to spend some time together doing something active and manly in the outdoors. This desire coincided with a sudden windfall, so I decided to invest the money in a bike.

I first went to a real bike shop in town and quickly knew I was out of my league and out of my price range. These bikes started at $400, which may not be much in the grand scheme of bikes and biking today, but was much more than I could spend. I had also been looking bikes at Academy, most of these being within my price range. Through some honest reflection, I realized that if I insisted in waiting on a nicer, more expensive bike I would probably never get one. This project seemed important enough, so I swallowed my pride and bought a Chinese-made bike (It is made by a company that rhymes with "Duffy"). It was initially apparent that the standard saddle would prove inadequate for my ample caboose, so I upgraded it. I bought other things, too: a rack for the back, tools for a tool kit (one that would satisfy me with its adequacy, not the little Swiss-Army-knife type of tool kit), a CO2 inflator, flat repair items, a lock, and a tool bag to hold all of these essentials on my rack.

The shakedown cruise took place on a camping trip the family took to Lake Ray Roberts. The boys and I spent a good amount of time riding the trails, some improved (concrete), and others more rustic. I liked the bike and continued to try and adjust here and there for a more comfortable and well-functioning ride. We had a lot of fun that weekend, and I realized that I had a mouthful in having adopted this project. I was in pretty poor shape, so the trees swayed to and fro with my every breath and wheeze. This, I hoped, would improve.


A couple of weeks after this trip, the boys and I went to Lake Mineral Wells State Park for a camping/biking trip. The LMWSP Trailway runs from downtown Mineral Wells to Weatherford, some 20 miles away. The trailway is an old railway bed, so longer uphill grades and shallow curves were the norm. We rode for about 3 hours, covering a distance of around 8 miles when we decided to stop for lunch and to turn around for the return trip. This is a great, fatiguing bike trip. Round trip would be a bit much for all but the most advanced and in-shape of bikers, but most of the trail is remote and winds through farming land and wilderness. It is all crushed limestone, which is more resistant than concrete or asphalt, but on the whole it is a great ride. Take lots of water and/or Gatorade. You'll be glad you did.

One evening within the last week, I rode back-and-forth down a 3.5 mile stretch of the Trinity Trails, an improved path along the Trinity River in Fort Worth. The Trinity Trails is a rather extensive network that follows the different forks that make up the Trinity within the confines of Fort Worth. I biked from University to Bryant Irvin and back, about 7 miles round trip. It was a nice ride also. On this day, the paths were populated with runners, walkers, other bikers and on one occasion, a couple skating and pushing a stroller. The bikers were mostly the serious types:  expensive bikes, the strange biking apparel, helmets and other things that communicate, "I'm more serious about biking than you, so get out of my way!" However, there were a few that were more in line with the boys and I: out for fun, sun and perhaps a little fitness.

The serious bikers are also much faster than my boys and I are. Our top speed could be classified as "Leisurely". These guys were usually passing us at what I would call "Testing the Laws of Physics" speed. I believe I usually heard a sneer as they passed, though I could have mistaken the sound of the rushing wind for the sound of derision. I also could not see when they rolled their eyes at us--they were always wearing some type of trendy sunglasses, most of this eyewear costing more than my entire bike. In spite of all the differences, I think we can coexist. We need to cultivate the Biker Wave thing like the motorcyclists do: you wave at a passing motorcyclist, no matter what they're riding, be it Harley, BMW or a rice burner, crotch rocket or cruiser. Us bikers need that kind of esprit de corps.
The Summer of Biking is just beginning. Another road trip is in the works, and perhaps a few more local outings on the Trinity Trails. In about a month, I'm planning on taking us to Lake Somerville to ride their bike paths. We'll camp a couple of nights there and see the sights from the seat of our two-wheelers. I'm also hoping to lure my brother and another friend and his son to Somerville for certain biking adventures. Who the heck knows! I may just loose a few pounds and end up in better shape because of this. As far as the boys and I are concerned, it's already a success.