This weekend, I crossed the happiest item ever off my to do list: I got my bike fixed. It’s hard to put to words how excited I feel. I’ve been without my trusty bicycle for more than a year now. MORE THAN A YEAR! It’s time for bike rides in Prospect Park and long rides to the beach! Impromptu night photo rides and waaaay more trips to places the subway doesn’t go. I can’t wait.

I never thought I’d have the guts to ride a bike in New York City. The first few times Matt and Peter brought up the idea that I should get my own set of wheels, I totally brushed them off. There was no way I could re-learn a skill I’d not practiced for 15 years AND navigate the city streets AND not get hit and killed by a car. No way. But slowly and surely they convinced me that it was hands-down the way to commute. It’s (often) faster than the subway. It’s wonderful exercise. And you get to see so much of Brooklyn you’d never otherwise see! Okay, okay. So I bought a bike.

My very first ride in Brooklyn was to get from the bike shop in Bay Ridge to my place in the Slope. It was six miles of pure heaven. Shortly thereafter, I was pedaling 10+, 15+, 20+ miles to get to Coney Island and Plumb Beach and Dead Horse Bay. I began commuting to DUMBO a few times a week. Matt and Peter and I had good times in the freight elevator. I loved my bicycle so much.

And then my back tire kept going kaput. After several unsuccessful repairs, I gave up. We moved to the new house and I got a new job in the city. I resigned myself to a boring commute on the 5 train. No fresh air in my face or burn in my legs. And my bike stayed broken all of last year. But once the warmer weather started showing up this year, I could only think about one thing: getting back on the saddle. I am so, so happy. Check out some of these feel-good Flickr faves while I plot my first ride back.

“Sears,” by Joel Zimmer:

“Deer in Headlights,” by LaToya Moore:

“Peugot Bike,” by Shawn Hoke and “Brooklyn Heights Bicycles,” by Joanna Pan:

“Bicycle Man,” by Leighton Gleicher:

“Low Rider,” by David Pexton:

“Big Brother,” by Michael Pearce:

Untitled, by Joanna Pan: