I did not find it to be a problem to cart two large canvases on a bicycle. I put them in an extra large trash bag and they sort of flopped like a sail as I sped along Washington Ave.
At Rubin’s, they did not have a chest of drawers for me. But there was one at the far west Rubin’s. So I biked there to take a look.
It was close to 100 degrees yesterday, but Mr.B has his own air conditioning system (it’s called the wind as you speed along) and so I did not mind.
At the far west side Rubin’s, I fell in love with a lamp. It has a large glass shade with orange and blue splashes of color. I purchased it on the spot.
Can I wrap it for you in bubble wrap? – the salesperson asks.
If you wrap it in bubble wrap, it wont fit into Mr. B’s saddle bags.
(I know, I have just made Mr.B sound like a horse, but what else do you call those big bags over his rear wheel?)
How is it that you’re taking this?
On a bike. If I fall, it will crack no matter how much bubble wrap you puff it out with. But I haven’t fallen for more than a year so chances are good that lamp and I will make it home.
Lamp is heavy. I push forward, pausing to buy several ears of corn at a stand, a baguette at Wild Grains and a jug of rose wine at Steve’s. At Border’s I refresh myself with a latte.
At Whole Foods I pick up some olives. I come out with more than just olives and as I stand contemplating how I can stretch the saddle bags even further out to accommodate the additional nectarines and pea pods, someone comes up and tells me: your bike attracted quite the attention a few minutes ago. People were talking about whom it may belong to.
Don’t others routinely ride around on bikes with bright yellow fenders in 100 degree days with lamps and baguettes sticking out of their saddle bags and jugs of wine and ears of corn packed tightly in between?
This morning I was out of my superman clothes and going about as if life was normal and the world was full of happy children holding sunflowers and orange balloons. I left Mr.B at home.
UPDATE (in response to commenters): the lamp:
Hey! I'd like to see the lamp, please...
ReplyDeleteI've overbought while on my bike, and had to run and buy bungee cords at a hardware store to rig up some sort of contraption to make it home. It wasn't pretty, but it worked. But never on a day like that...wow.
ReplyDeleteVenturing out in the heat? I have been hiding inside with the air conditioner going full blast.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see the lamp too.
FYI - Bike saddle bags are usually called panniers.
ReplyDeleteThank you! The lamp is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThat is a cute lamp. I never shop at Rubin's but will check it out the next time I need furniture-y stuff.
ReplyDeleteI don't think your bags look that strange. Of course, I'm currently living next to a grocery store in a town where *everyone* rides a bike *everywhere*.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the person I saw in Copenhagen a few weeks back who was on a bike with a Double Bass -- that was strange. And impressive.
A few years ago I bought a compact fluorescent light, and put it on my bike's luggage rack to take it home. When I got home, I opened the box and found a heap of glass fragments. I hadn't fallen, but I must have gone over some bumps, and and my bike does not have a suspensions system.
ReplyDeleteEver since that experience, I have been very careful about carrying breakable items on my bike -- sometimes I carry them in my backpack, and sometimes I put lots of padding in my baskets.
If I were you, I probably would have taken all the bubble-wrap I could, but I'm glad your lamp got home intact, even without the padding.
"Don’t others routinely ride around on bikes with bright yellow fenders in 100 degree days with lamps and baguettes sticking out of their saddle bags and jugs of wine and ears of corn packed tightly in between?"
ReplyDeleteThe tone of your voice in my head is perfect--and hilarious. Thanks!
Good on ya for braving the heat, having such great taste, and transporting everything... and living to tell the tale!