Was down yesterday; decided I had to break out. Rode my bike to Coney Island as the sun set. I had to suit up for the cold—in NYC theres no snow or ice yet so it was possible—thermals and puffer. I remembered on the ride that I’m so sick like the coolest. I hadn‘t rode my bike out to Coney since I was a teenager.
The return night ride along the belt parkway I passed only three other people just striding by the Narrows. To my right—hundreds of car headlights pointed to the airport. It like forced me to give myself some credit.
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Idk why I only got hip to this method of transport as my primary one this summer as this is my 4th year living in New York. I was notoriously 30 min late everyday to any class before 12pm in college or any class I didn’t care about purely because my method was train or bus then train and I’m one of those people that always just thinks they have 20 minutes to spare when it takes so long for them to put a perfect outfit together and they then negate breakfast every morning. I was often late to morning shifts of retail jobs for similar reasons or the bus just was late late late… Or I’d oversleep so much going to class didn’t even seem worth it.
But now. I realize. If I had just taken a fucking bike. I really wouldn’t have been the latest girl in the world all these years. And I love biking; it’s literally how I survived lockdown. my daily routine was get high all day and ride my bike around my suburban hometown to different locations and keep smoking (until this led to an actual psychosis.)
perhaps I was intimidated by nyc chaos. I will admit electric Citi bike is not for the faint of heart. I’ve almost gotten hit numerous times. And once somewhere around Times Square on my way to the JT concert, a strange man with a high quality camera took a picture up my skirt? Hopefully it was blurry as I was going the speed of light but idk. so many of the docks are broken which may cause insurmountable frustration? And there was one time this summer I went to 5 different stations and every dock all of them were dead and it felt like the electricity system was conspiring against my ability to meet my friends at Mott Street Eatery.
Regardless. I’ve felt safer transporting myself at night without the fee of an Uber. I’m more often at time. I feel like I’m flying. Ive gotten to reconnect with my passion of the bike ride. I love to whip around with my friends who equally love biking. And I feel unstoppable.
My dad wants me and my sister to invest in collapsable helmets but that feels embarrassing like borderline voyeuristic - and I’d have to really commit to the bit as I bike probably average 4x a day now. he says young people avoid safety precautions because we have huge ego. Considering the amount of accidents these fast ass bikes cause: he has a point.
Live love laugh electric Citi bike. It’s an art you should master. I have a need for speed.
Oct 7, 2024
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Ryan and I had quite the day.
The ride also got me to briefly stop working on this fucking website. Which I probably needed. My brain is turning to mush from coding 13 hours a day for the last month. I'm completely fried.
It's worth it though. I love reading all of your recs.
Nov 4, 2023
It was such a cool, sunny day when i woke up so after breakfast i picked up my bike from the storage and hit the road! It was hella windy and my butt hurts now but it was really fun, way better than the past few months of running.
The birds were chirping and i got a slight tan too, whats there not to like!
(I also like the frank ocean song so imma link it so there’s a picture)
Mar 25, 2024
Top Recs from @chasem
i was up late working on a history assignment as a sophomore in high school when i first heard this record. my aunt gave me her deceased husband’s original copy as a gift. i put it on the shitty crosley turntable on the floor and was totally sucked in. i think about this record nearly every day.
“i could write a book and this book would be thick enough to stun an ox.”
Nov 7, 2024
Nov 19, 2024
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I recently realized drinking 3-7 black coffees a day could be contributing to my anxiety.
Its wild. Definitely a rough start. Now—a few weeks without coffee or caffeinated drinks—I feel much calmer.
My sleep and bruxism are improving. My motivation suffered but is on the rebound. Will report further updates.
Nov 27, 2024