So, today started off as any other day, but got increasingly interesting as it progressed. American has a bicycle rental system through the Student Government that allows you to check out bikes and use them for upto 6 hours, supposedly.
I checked out the program yesterday to find out how it worked, but I had already signed up for it online since last month probably. The reason I hadn't used it yet, was the fact that I had messed with it several times to try to log in, but I had set up several different user names and I chose the wrong one to check. After my interactions with the Student Government yesterday, I wrote an email with lots more questions, like if the bike came with a lock, or if it came with a light to use after dark.
Finding no reply to my inquiries, I went over to the office again today before Calculus and talked to the manager of the program. She answered most of my questions and got me signed in online so that I would have registered to take one out today at 5, after my classes to go to Georgetown. I went over there and checked it out a little before 5.
This process was somewhat exciting for me, so I'll share it with the readers of this blog. First, you make a request online with your log in information and the time you'd like to use the bike. Then, at that time, you go to the space outside room 264 in the Mary Graydon Center and login on a computer in the hall way and select that you would like to check out a bike. After you have entered the information, a green light comes on signaling that you can open the metal cabinet door. Then, there is a light above a keychain that is lit up. You twist that key to the left and take it. This key is used to open a large box that is located in the entrance area of the Letts and Anderson dorms courtyard.
I opened the box to reveal a bike that had no exposed gears besides the normal ones that were needed to propel it. I thought that it would probably be a single speed then, but I couldn't test it, because the tires were flat:S This was not really fun, because I was going to hurry over to Amy's when I got the bike, but instead, I had to walk the bike back to the Mary Graydon Center to look for a bike pump. I went back to the office and they had one that I could use. I took it down stairs and tried to pump the tires. I tried the back one, and it didn't work. Then, I tried the front one and it didn't work either. Then, after 10 minutes or so of being frustrated, I finally figured out this fancy gadget. You put it on with the lever bent perpendicular to the nozzle and then you straighten it and it pulls in the tube nozzle thing. Ok, so I pumped the tires, but was already running a little late. I got on the bike but realized that it didn't have any hand brakes. It had the back pedal brakes like the bikes I learned on. It was also geared very low, and I thought it would be a big pain. Then, as I pedaled it switched gears. I pedaled faster and faster and it changed again:) It turns out that it had 3 gears. I went down New Mexico Ave. and then Tenlaw Street until I met up with 37th, the one I usually walked down.
It came with a lock too, so I locked it up at Georgetown and went to look for Amy. PS, there were a lot of downhills on the way there, so it was pretty fun and slightly scary with the brakes that I wasn't used to.
Anyway, I also realized that the light on the handle bars was out of batteries, so I had to get some from Amy. Thank You Amy, by the way for sharing your batteries with me, and thank you Staples cashier for convincing Amy and her Dad to buy the bigger pack of batteries. So, I let Amy try the bike before I rode home, because I told her that it was really cool and I wanted her to try it. Anyway, I rode home the same way. It was really uphill for the first 5 minutes, then it was downhill and fun to coast for 3 minutes or so. Then it leveled out and I had to pedal some more and it finished uphill back to American. The difference in elevation is 260 ft back up to American. I then put my bike back in the box and logged in to return the keys to the cabinet thing.
It was a good drive and I felt safe even going the way that I had only gone once before. It was great to feel the cool wind blowing through my hair as I cruised down the streets. Anyway, that's all I have to say tonight.
Good Bye everyone.
Hi, this is Brenda.
ReplyDeleteTravis is super busy today, so I thought I'd help him out. It's another hard time for him because he has 2 or 3 big tests on Tuesday and not enough time to study and several problems that have stumped him. It's frustrating when your calc or physics problems don't work out and you don't know who to turn to!
Saturday he and Amy had some fun, but,of course, that used up studying time and Sunday was stressful. Here's some from an email about the soccer game Saturday.
The Soccer Game today against Bucknell was pretty intense. We scored 2 goals in the first half. Then, in the second half, a kid from my floor that I've talked to a little scored another one: ) He is a Freshman also and starts on their team. Amy and I always like to watch him... Anyway, he scored from about 30 yards out and it was pretty awesome. Then, since it was pretty rough as usual, one of our guys kept fighting for the ball, and knocking one of theirs over. A couple seconds later, that guy grabbed our guy around the neck like with his elbow (imagine giving a noogie) and threw him to the ground. A tiny brawl broke out and then Everyone was where it happened and the refs were discussing it. Everyone in the crowd was quite upset and there was some name calling as you could imagine. Anyway, it was really fun, and we won 3-1.
Keep up the good work, Travis. We are all rooting for you.
Love, Mom