Lean Green Machine

It was in the year of 2006 when I purchased this Handmade Nirve Bicycle from Bicycle Discovery in Fountain Valley to participate in the July 4th festivities on Balboa Island in Newport Beach. This was when I lived in Huntington Beach, California. Owning a beach cruiser while living in that area was pretty common, yet this bike mostly sat in the backyard collecting dust and cobwebs and occasionally was rained upon. Traveling over 1000 miles with me to La Grande, Oregon, the Lean Green Machine has found a new purpose, serving as my main mode of transportation. It only made sense to use my bike in this small town, when running errands to the bank, the local coffee shop, and the post office was less than a 3 mile ride round trip.

Aside from saving money, gas, and the environment, the comfort of riding this bike brings me to a peaceful place as I enjoy the wind through my hair. A few of my friends have mentioned that I look so "carefree and happy". Stopping by to visit, they often find my bike sitting in the backyard and take it for a spin. Only then do they realize why I'm often found biking around with a dreamy smile on my face. This sense of youth I experience while pedaling to my next destination is a luxury I feel every day.