I was given a new bike today – the best bike I’ve ever owned… and no, it doesn’t look quite like the image above.

[A note about the image: I took some photos this evening of my new bike, none of which were very good on their own... Tania suggested a photo-collage...]

I’ve been sorta-wanting a bike for a while, not really needing it, just thinking it would be an added value to my life, eliminate some car and gas use, and be a nice way to get around Long Beach, which is slowly moving towards bike-friendliness…

But this last week, a friend said to me as he was helping me move a love-seat up our stairs, “Man, you are out of shape. You need to get some exercise, you need a bike…” and I had to agree.

The truth is, I do need exercise. I’m going to be 45 years old this year, and I’ve maxed-out some of my health credit cards, and before they send the mortuary to repossess my body, I better get on top of this situation… I don’t want to go through a personal, physical version of our current financial crisis because I ignored good advice.

But we have no money for a bike right now, so I said a prayer, and thought about taking my dog out for an extra walk every day for more exercise, or something like that, until my bike shows up…

Now, to jump a bit. About our Happy Hour Group:

We have an ongoing, informal weekly Friday night gathering at a local Pub/Restaurant that consists of our loose group of friends, and their friends, and their friends friends… which started over three years ago with Russ Roca and Laura and me and Tania. (That’s Russ and fellow artist and long-time girlfriend, Laura, in the bottom right corner of the composite photo above.)

Our Happy Hour get-togethers didn’t start-out so bike oriented, but it’s grown that way, especially after Dominic, the manager of Bikestation in downtown Long Beach, became part of the nucleus of the group.

Between him and Russ the Happy Hour table filled-up rather quickly with bike people.

But Tania and I don’t ride bikes, and haven’t been interested in riding bikes (except for that “sorta-wanting to” bit I mentioned)…

Last night, as we were leaving and making small talk about my need for a bike and exercise, Dominic and his girlfriend Jayme conferred with one another and then told me they had one they could give me, and they’d bring it by on Saturday if I was going to be around…

This afternoon they brought me a very nice gift: It’s a Trek 800 Sport – a very nice bike by my standards (which is – not having had a bike in over 28 years – and always a third-hand bike before that – never one like this).

While checking the reviews online this evening about this bike I realized that Dominic not only gave me a great bike, but he choose one that’s just perfect for my current needs and limited bike knowledge.

Here’s a review I read:

An exceptional value for anyone looking for an affordable and quality ride that won’t drain their pocket book and won’t have them complaining to the dealer a week after purchase. After having mine for a month, everything is still running smooth. Make no mistake, this bike is designed for those who use their bike to primarily ride around town and take a few moderate trails, so if you want to rockhop, I suggest you look elsewhere. However, for those that don’t have a lot of cash or don’t plan to aggresively push their bike there is no better deal than this. A+, highly recommend!

Naming The Bike…

A bike like this needs a name… I like to give things names (our Honda Element is called “The Element”) – so I named my new bike “Wheels” after the song by The Flying Burrito Brothers and Gram Parsons…

Wheels - The Flying Burrito Brothers
written by  Hillman/Parsons

G Em D G D

D             G   G7    C              G
We've all got wheels to take ourselves away
          Em            D                 C
We've got telephones to say what we can't say
           G  G7      C            G
We all got higher and higher every day
C       G      D7             G
Come on wheels take this  boy away
      Em    D       G
We're not afraid to ride
      Em  D         C           G      C             G
We're not afraid to die come on wheels take me home  today
C          G      D7            G
So come on wheels take this boy away

G  Em  D  G  D

           G G7 C                 G
Now when I feel my time is almost up
    Em         D           C
And destiny is in my right hand
             G G      C                G
I'll turn to him  who made my faith so strong
C       G      D7              G
Come on wheels make this boy a man

                    Copyright @ 1969 Irving Music Inc.(BMI)
                    From the "Gilded Palace Of Sin" LP

Because I received this bike as a gift (and an answer to prayer), this little items stood out on the review page I was looking at today – this was posted on March 1, 2009 by “jonathan”:

I was walking along in iowa city today after having a free meal at the salvation army, on the way to that meal I found a $20 bill!, afterwards like I said, I was walking along and in the back of Geoff’s cyclery were these bikes just sitting out, so I inquired about them and they said as far as we know they are just up for grabs!?!?, this bike is as new, absolutely new!, everything is brand new condition and it will give me years of transportation as the case is that I never have a car! Thank You Lord!, I really mean that, always give thanks to the Lord, he was thinking of me as I was thinking of him.

What a funny thing… my name is Jonathan also – two Jonathans given the same kind of bike in the same week… imagine that…

Any other Jonathans given a new bike this last week?

You’ll probably hear more about my new Wheels later, and Tania will get a photo of me on my new bike so you can see what it looks like…

Thanks for the Wheels Dominic and Jayme!

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