By Ashley
Ashley Lyle is a grant writer and all-around girl Friday. She is working on her masters degree in nursing and is the managing editor of an academic health journal. On the weekends and evenings, Ashley enjoys volunteering, hosting theme parties, and singing with a barbershop chorus and quartet.
My bicycle is built for comfort, not speed. Her cushy bubblegum-pink bar tape and stout robin’s-egg-blue frame take me everywhere I need to go. She takes me to work, to rehearsal, to the bar and grocery store – all the essentials. Her large rack and fat tires make her great for touring. Together, we laughed all over Wisconsin. Sometimes, I took a break to walk her up the hilly country roads. Still, we made it to our destination eventually. We were happier for having taken all those breaks.
In the city, spandex-clad cyclists whiz by us, but we don’t mind – we’re taking our time picking raspberries and chatting up cute kids. We like it that way. Instead of spandex, I wear a loose skirt and pigtails under my helmet. The straw yellow pannier we take along isn’t “aero,” but it has plenty of room for books, a picnic lunch and a few beers. We can take everything we need with us – how comfortable!
When I’m down on myself, she holds me up. I complain about my thick thighs, but she reminds me how they power us up hills. What about my squishy ass? It feels soft on her seat. I know I can always count on her to show me what my body can do. She helps me forget about all the times I’ve decried what my body isn’t and reminds me of what my body is. When others tell me I can’t, she affirms that I can. She always meets me where I am.
When we’re together, I know we can go anywhere and do anything. She gives me autonomy and strength – not despite my femininity, but because of it. Though we’re slow, we can always take our time. We’re built for comfort, anyway.