Hardware Store Bike Ride

Up until now my bike riding has been for exercise and fun(?) but on a Friday Dana asked if we had any caulk. My answer was “I’m sure we do, and I’m also sure it’s dried up since we haven’t caulked anything in a lustrum!” So she said if we got a chance we should get some thing weekend.

And I said “Wait… I can just bike to the hardware store in the morning!” So I did. I actually rode my bike to the store instead of driving a car. I was just getting caulk and some work gloves, so nothing too large or heavy or unwieldy. Stuff that could easily fit in a backpack.

The ride there was not uneventful. Besides some fairly steep hills, I had to detour a bit due to Run Tosa Run taking over some of the areas around North Avenue.

The other issue was that when I got to the hardware store there was no bike rack! Or no obvious place to lock up the bike. I ended up going across the street and locking it to a street sign. This is probably not the preferred method, but I could not really find another suitable place. (I did see a fence on my way out though.)

I asked an employee if they had a bike rack and she said “Most people just lean their bikes against the mulch.” So yeah… not going to do that. Sure, it’s Tosa, but still, not gonna leave my bike just leaning somewhere while I’m in the store.

Is this how people get radicalized? You bike somewhere and realize there’s no bike rack? There’s a parking lot for cars, but no bike rack!?!?

Anyway, it felt good to actually ride somewhere instead of drive. I may try doing it more.

Update! See the exciting conclusion: Hardware Store Bike Rack!