Sunday Wonders - B

B is for Bicycles.
I like bikes.  I like the feeling of rolling along the road - it's almost like flying.  OK, you do have to use your imagination - and your legs - a little bit.  But, can't you feel the wind in your hair?  Oh, yeah, that was before helmet laws.  But the wind is still there.  Really.

Two or three years ago, we decided that we missed that free-wheelin' experience and invested in some second-hand bicycles.  Except for sore butts, we had a great time on them.  But where we live is pretty hilly and quite urban...no place for oldies on bikes - even with helmets.  We wanted to take the bikes with us.  So, we bought a station wagon.  No wait!  That's not why we bought it. Good thing, too, since the plan didn't work as we had hoped.  We just didn't get into the habit of loading the cycles into the car and driving off for flatter land.

And, voila!  See what rolled into the thrift shop last week?  Aren't these just the cutest things?  I've seen them before and mostly at places where we'd like to ride.  Folks just fold 'em up and put them in the car.  Simple.
According to some web site, they can be folded (or unfolded) in 15 seconds.  I think they're using a different way to measure time...it sure took us a lot longer than that.  But after a couple of practice runs, it's down to a minute or so.  The wheels are really small, so adults look a little odd riding them.  But we have our gel seats and we don't care.  So there! 

The perspective of the second photo makes the bike look quite small on the bottom.  It is, but because of the kick stand it's leaning towards me.  So just mentally push it away.  I've added the office chair to give you some idea of the actual size it is all folded up.  I think they're just incredible.  And they haven't been used much at all which is sort of worrying because then you think: well, maybe we're just dreaming, too.  No matter, they're going in the car on the next road trip.  I'm pretty excited.