Last week I worked a table at the Interstate Farmers Market. I passed out free bike maps and stickers, talked to folks about bikes, and answered random bike questions.
As an ice-breaker I asked people to try and stump me with a question about bikes in Portland. I got quite a range of responses including;
- How would someone train to do a bike ride down the Oregon Coast?
- Where can I rent a bicycle in Portland? (I get that one all the time!).
- Do you know of any rides for older folks like me? (he was 55-60 years old)
- Is it true you can take Leif Ericson road (in Forest Park) all the way to the coast?
- Where can I get free helmets for my kids?
- Do you know the statistics for how many cyclists are getting hit on the roads?
- What’s the deal with bikes on the MAX?
- What kind of chain lube do you recommend?
But besides chatting about bikes, the thing I like most about going to events like this is that I inevitably meet an interesting person.
Take Frank Kunkel for example. The first thing I noticed about him was his smile and his beautiful, red vintage road bike.
He approached my table slowly and when I commented on his bike I could tell I’d struck a nerve. It turns out he has owned this bike since he was 15 years old (he’s now 49) and it’s the only bike he’s ever ridden. Frank moved to North Portland from Michigan in 1999 and has not owned a car since.
I’ve seen people marry their bikes, but I’ve never sensed the same attachment between man and bike than I did with Frank and his Fuji “Special Road Racer”.
I don’t know, maybe it was the way he spoke about it, or the calm, caring way he held it (I know that sounds weird), or the fact that it was so well cared for. Whatever it was, he and his bike left an indelible impression.
I’ve had some favorite and faithful bikes over the years, but nothing that compares to this.
How about you? Do you like your bike, or do you looove your bike?