Girl Bike
Member
Hello! I LOVE bike touring. Went across a few states on a tandem, a hybrid, and a road bike. Then I stopped riding because we moved someplace where I literally could not make it out of our neighborhood because of hills. I used to feel like I had something to prove, to challenge myself.
Now I’m at a different station in life. And a different city. Sunshine. Less hilly and bike lanes. Middle age, but not yet eligible for AARP membership. I’ve NEVER been athletic, even when I rode, but I’ve been looking for a way to recapture the joy I felt riding. Bought a recumbent. Scared to ride it in ABQ Plus the hills are even worse. Looked into those cute retro scooters but it’s just not the same as a bike. Then I discovered ebikes.
I almost bought the Trek Supercommuter 7+ because it looks and rides just awesome, but I had similar back discomfort I had on my road bike and would need to swap out stems, saddles, etc. just to ride it. I did some serious soul searching. It was more than buying a bike. It’s a paradigm shift. After test riding multiple bikes, this one sparks joy to look at and ride. First I had to accept that it’s “okay” to get what they now call a step over frame, but what I grew up known as a girl bike. If I’m going to get a step over frame, I thought, I might as well get the prettiest one with the best performance I could find.
I got the Electra Townie Commute. In Mineral blue, like the NewMexico sky. It’s a tank. But the motor offsets it. I just returned from my first ride since I brought her home this past weekend. It’s absolutely liberating to go for a bike in a skirt, without spandex or fussing with clipping into the pedals. No anxiety at the intersections, about falling from a failure to free my shoe from the pedal. Exhilarating.
As for accessories, I envision a wicker handlebar basket full of kittens or a baguette and a bouquet of flowers. I feel like a kid again!
Now I’m at a different station in life. And a different city. Sunshine. Less hilly and bike lanes. Middle age, but not yet eligible for AARP membership. I’ve NEVER been athletic, even when I rode, but I’ve been looking for a way to recapture the joy I felt riding. Bought a recumbent. Scared to ride it in ABQ Plus the hills are even worse. Looked into those cute retro scooters but it’s just not the same as a bike. Then I discovered ebikes.
I almost bought the Trek Supercommuter 7+ because it looks and rides just awesome, but I had similar back discomfort I had on my road bike and would need to swap out stems, saddles, etc. just to ride it. I did some serious soul searching. It was more than buying a bike. It’s a paradigm shift. After test riding multiple bikes, this one sparks joy to look at and ride. First I had to accept that it’s “okay” to get what they now call a step over frame, but what I grew up known as a girl bike. If I’m going to get a step over frame, I thought, I might as well get the prettiest one with the best performance I could find.
I got the Electra Townie Commute. In Mineral blue, like the NewMexico sky. It’s a tank. But the motor offsets it. I just returned from my first ride since I brought her home this past weekend. It’s absolutely liberating to go for a bike in a skirt, without spandex or fussing with clipping into the pedals. No anxiety at the intersections, about falling from a failure to free my shoe from the pedal. Exhilarating.
As for accessories, I envision a wicker handlebar basket full of kittens or a baguette and a bouquet of flowers. I feel like a kid again!
