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June 30, 2007
The Intrinsic Value of a Bike
How much is your bike worth? I paid $200 for mine. In a little shop in the Beach, Toronto called Recycle. They refurbish old bikes and sell them. I’m not sure if they’re still around. My bike has taken me many miles, and I have fond memories. Chis and I used to commute in Toronto to work. When we lived in the country north of Toronto, we biked the snowmobile trails on the weekends. In Vancouver, I biked from our home in Horseshoe Bay to downtown, a distance I can’t estimate now, but the hills doubled the distance easily. By the time I got home in the evening, I had just enough energy to take Quincy and Eddie down the stairs to the beach for a swim. And I sat on a big rock and watched Eddie swim around, and Quincy try to eat the bubbles on the surface of the water. His eyesight was not so good, so I can’t imagine what fascinated him about chasing the bubbles. I guess it was like a game.
Living on the Upper West Side has revealed a golden opportunity to commute again. My daily trek to check on the floor progress started out on the subway, and shortly gravitated to my bike. It is a wonderful journey up the Hudson River Trail, the highlight of which is the 79th Boat Basin. Over the past week, I have watched cruisers come and go, and most recently spotted a Platina sister sitting out on one of the moorings. Flying the French flag. There didn’t appear to be anyone on the boat for several days, and yesterday I noticed that the dinghy was in the water, and some towels were hanging out to dry. They had returned, and I imagined that they must be getting ready to head somewhere. Possibly north to New England. South into hurricane alley was a doubtful plan. We’ve been there.
But I digress. I bought a lock for my bike the other day. I lost the key for my old “D” lock. Besides, I doubt that the old lock would have done much to discourage a street savvy New York thief. I asked for the best. They must see me coming a mile away. $90. I cringed. I said “that’s more than my bike is worth”. The salesman looked at my bike, which he could tell I love because the frame is filthy and beaten up, but the gears and brakes are immaculate. He simply said “What if your bike was stolen? Then what would you do?”
Good point. My bike is one-of-a-kind. It’s worth a lot more to me than the $200 I paid for it. It has moved as many times as I have. I think I am ready to admit that I have an emotional attachment to my bike. Like I did with our boat.
$90 well spent, I say. And so far, nobody has tried to steal it. I don’t leave it out at night. I mean, in this city, that’s like stapling a c-note to your t-shirt. Nope, I carry it up the long, narrow, dimly-lit, steep staircase into our tiny, dimly-lit apartment.
Besides, a little goes a long way. The more time I spend on my bike and off public transportation, the smaller my carbon footprint.
Coming up… Is a bike a pedestrian or a car? And, hey ped, get the %^$& outta my way!
Posted by dave at June 30, 2007 09:18 AM