a rugs life

I went to the bike store to buy a $5 front light for my bike and emerged 20 minutes later $74 poorer but $74 safer.

The clerk looked at my helmet and said in a dispairing tone of voice, “how old is this”? Since I couldn’t actually remember WHEN I bought it, I hedged, saying, “oh, a few years”. Then he said, “you know I don’t think they make helmets like this anymore…” Well, one new helmet was put in the shopping cart.

I then learned that my bike would not accomodate the $5 style of front light, but required a $34 front light. This is the type that attaches to the front of one’s helmet and resembles a miner or brain surgeon.

So one $34 front light went into the shopping cart.

The clerk also took a look at my daughter’s child seat, and did a few bangs and pings. Apparently the seat needed some bolts tightened.

And he showed me the coolest thing: it is removeable! When my daughter tips the scales over 40 pounds, the seat can be removed, leaving a handy baggage rack in its place. Very cool. By then, I hope that Rada will be riding a two wheeler, and we’ll be hooking up a device to the back of my bike where she can bike along behind.