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Yesterday, I took the new bike out for a ride to work (as opposed to riding into town, which is what I did last week). This involves riding to town, catching the train to Oxley, then riding from Oxley to work.

As much as a pleasure the bike is to actually ride, walking it anywhere when loaded is a real nuisance. I'm so accustomed to the Cannondale, being able to just lift the thing and basically manhandle it anywhere I want it to go. Not so with the Specialized and its panniers. No. The back end is like a giant lump of lead. To get into the train station, I had to take it up four small steps. HARDEST TASK EVAH. I did find the wheelchair ramp on the return trip, but still. So, I got up to the platform and realised I'd have to lift the bloody thing onto the train. Not to be defeated, I found the wheelchair access, a part of the platform that's raised so it's level with the train doors. Yay!

I got onto the train only to discover it was full of people, and I had to stand. I tried to fold down one of those retractable seats, but it wouldn't budge. One of the other passengers had a crack and it and even he couldn't get it to move. Sigh. A few stops later, people got off the train, and I was able to sit down on a seat near the doors. As we approached my station, I mentally prepared myself for the task ahead. I visualised successfully maneouvering the bike backwards and sideways so that I could quickly push it through the doors and onto the platform.

It didn't happen. The train lurched to a stop, and I got up. I reversed the bike as I always do, and turned it around as I was doing so. The weight of the panniers made the bike fall onto me, somehow jamming both my legs between the front wheel and the chainring. I was absolutely pinned. I couldn't move. To my horror, the doors started to close. But the other passengers came to my rescue. One of them jumped out of the train and waved at the conductor to tell him someone was still getting out. Two others pulled the bike off me. I thanked them and got off the train. Honestly, I couldn't get out of there fast enough. It was more embarassing than a clipstack at the start of a mass riding event.

Fuelled by my embarassment, I raced for the lifts. Once again, I had to turn the bike around to get it into the lifts. I found myself thinking if I'd solved one problem (carrying weight) and replaced it with another (lack of mobility). But I persevered and finally got into the lifts and headed down to the subway.

Once I was back on the bike, all was good, and I rode to work without event (I'm pleased that riding through the Glass Gauntlet did not result in a puncture. That would've really topped off a bad morning). Except for a nagging pain in my left knee. It turns out the frame or handlebars or something had whacked me really good on the knee. There's a lump there the size and shape of a golf ball. And it's hard, too. This morning, the bruising has settled down somewhat. Also, on my right calf, I have managed to remove five big chunks of skin. Funnily enough, the pattern is that of the chainring. There's grease trapped in the wound too. I tried to scrub it out, but it just won't budge. Knowing my luck, I'm going to end up with a permanent gumby mark on my leg. Perhaps I should just admit my gumbiness and get it tattooed there.

With all of that in mind, I was somewhat less than enthusiastic about riding home. I found myself researching train station accessibility. Did you know, only Roma St and Central Station have raised platforms for wheelchair access? The rest of them rely on the conductor getting out with a ramp and pushing people in. In fairness, QR have done a lot of work to help mobility-challenged people, but there's still a bit to be done. Oxley station is, fortunately, great. My alternative station (the one I use when I'm so tired, I just can't face the massive 9Km ride to Oxley) has NO facilities for people with disabilities. No ramps, no lifts, no disabled toilets. Nothing. So, Oxley's looking better by the minute!

Using Oxley station also means my return route takes me on the road where I was almost taken out a few months ago. I'm *still* scared of riding on that road. But I told myself to suck it up and stop being a princess, and off I went. One of the great things about having the panniers now is that I can actually see properly behind me. So imagine my joy when I could fully turn around to assess traffic behind me. It was one of those joyous moments that I cannot really describe. I actually grinned. GRINNED. I waited for the cars to pass, then turned right and off I went. The rest of the ride was very pleasant.

I decided to use the wheelchair section of the platform at Oxley and got myself into a carriage that had a bit more room. At Toowong, the conductor had to kick me out to make room for actual wheelchair users, so I moved down to another carriage and ended up having to stand the rest of the way. I managed to wedge the bike into a corner, but it was still a bit of a nuisance to other passengers. At Roma St, I decided against trying to turn the bike around and instead reversed it out the doors. I was soooooooooo happy to be off the train.

The ride home was great. The Apex 32-tooth cog made a mockery of the big hills. I struggled a little on Kedron Brook Rd hill, but made it up only puffing a little bit. Happy days!

I finally made it home at around 1830. I was very happy to finally be home and was greeted by an overjoyed pooch. Isn't it funny how even the crappiest of days can be made good by a happy dog?

I'm really happy with the new commuter bike. Well-fitting bike plus panniers = riding pleasure. I loooooooove being able to turn around and really see what's behind me. I love that I can carry a heavy weight and not suffer back pain and bruised shoulders from backpack straps. Once I figure out how to deal with the logistics of a heavy bike, my commuting life will be perfect! And if I just can't resolve the logistical problem, clearly I'll have to find a job where I don't need to mix-mode commute!