strange neighbor

The benefit of living in a city where snow sports are the thing to do is that it’s really easy to find cheap used gear.

I found some awesome, literally good as new skis last week, and in my excitement, forgot that I was on my bike and somehow had to get back home.

I’m wondering now why I didn’t decide to go with ski de randonnee skis. They’re a lot lighter.

I set off with my boots slipped over the tips of the skis, thrown over one shoulder, poles in the other hand. That lasted about 30 seconds, and then clack on the ground. That’s okay, I still had to unlock my bike and somehow arrange myself with that.

I bag that idea, and walk across the street to where they’re going to do all the gear adjustments for me (i.e. fit the boots to the ski fixations). Leave them there, go back for my bike, and ask the gear shop for the biggest plastic bag they have.

Huge bag of ski boots on one handlebar, skis under the other arm, I set off. Op, wait, maybe I should lower the seat. Yup, good idea. Made it decently far, but when I had to stop and go a bunch to cross a busy street, all hell broke loose. The boots clanked against my spokes, making horrid noises that sounded as if they would surely snap. Finally I stopped, looked at my bike, my ski gear, and tried to wrap my brain around how on earth I was going to get the rest of the way home. I was barely 1/4 of the way there. Oy.

Finally, I had it. I rested the skis on my seat and across the handlebars, slung the dilapidated boot bag on the handlebar closest to me, and pushing just a little on that inside handlebar, I moseyed along.

It became increasingly and surprisingly exhausting to walk supporting all the weight in an awkward sideways mosey. When I was almost home, someone stopped to ask where I was coming from and where the ski sale was. I gave him directions and he gave me a half-amused, half-surprised look, saying, “Oh, I thought you came from somewhere closer – I already knew about that sale.” Tourist.

And it hit me when I got to my driveway – how on earth am I going to make it to campus to meet for club outings with all this stuff? Well, I guess I’ll figure that out when the time comes, but surely it will be another smile and a little chuckle for the neighbors if they see me from their windows.