Flat land biking

Much of Yuma is pretty flat. The neighborhood streets are not busy and have caused us to think about getting a bicycle. Of course, we also need to consider how we're going to store the bike(s) and transport them from one camping location to the next, but right now, we're just thinking about getting a bike.

Patti had looked at Craigslist thinking that there might be others who had purchased a bike but found they weren't using it much. There are a few for sale, but we weren't sure what we might want. Patti's pretty sure about what she DOESN'T want: none of those handlebars that curl under where you have to sit hunched over and bend your neck way back to see where you're going, and not one of those skinny seats that attempt to cut you in half. I think what she's looking for is an "old lady bike".

We went to Bed, Bath & Beyond and next door was a bike shop. We went in just to see what they might recommend. The salesman we talked with said the best seller was an Electra Townie:
http://www.electrabike.com/Bikes/townie?field_markets=am&field_pricing=1

He offered to let Patti try riding it in their back parking lot... she had looked at the price tag of one of the bikes, and since it was well above her desired level of less than $100 (the pricetag of another bike in the store that she had looked at was over $500, but she didn't look at the Townie), started to refuse, but then thought, "why not?".

The concept of the bike is that the pedals are a little ahead of the seat, so you have a little feeling of a recumbent bicycle, can get full extension of the leg in pedaling, and still be able to put your foot flat on the ground when you stop.

So... it has been a while since Patti rode a bike, so she asked him about the brakes. He pointed to the brake handle near the left grip of the handlebar and said, "That's the left brake" and to the one on the right side and said, "That's the right brake." Now, Patti's trying to figure this out (she's remembering that the tractors on the farm growing up had the ability to just apply the brake on the right or left so you could turn more sharply, but doesn't that take having two wheels on the same axle?). The sales guy then helpfully contributed, pointing quickly, "this is the front one and this is the back one, just like on a motorcycle". Does Patti look like someone who would know how the brakes are situated on a motorcycle?

<<< updated to add: my brother said that it was due to all the tattoos that I have that the salesman thought I would know all about motorcycles - hah!!! >>>

At any rate, she successfully navigated once around the parking lot, trying out the gears and eventually the brakes as well. It is indeed a very comfortable and easy-to-ride bicycle. Whether we think it is worth $500+ for a bicycle or not... well... not so far! But it was fun to look and try one out! And, we could rent one for a week for a mere $100.... hmmm...