Pedram’s commute in Brussels — 30 + minutes of angry, frustrating, frantic driving through the city streets.

Pedram’s commute in Montreal — 11 minutes of gliding on his bicycle.

Pedram’s commute in Montreal = much happier Pedram.

I am still getting into riding a bike as a mean of transportation.  Riding in Brussels gave me an intense sense of paranoia that I might die any minute, and I would wear layers of protection and brightly colored neon jackets to prevent death by car/tram/bus.  Plus, riding a bike was new, so I would fall over alot.  For example, when I had to brake, when I fell into the tram tracks, when I turned left…

But now I am much much better.  To the point where I am trying to focus on the funner aspects of riding a bike — such as fashion.  One of the blogs I follow — the Satorialist, pictures people on their bikes in cities around the world.  I saw this one and thought — this is how I want to look:

There are a few issues for beginner bikers like me, such as:

Not being able to swing my leg over the bike = ripped skirt

High heel shoes on a bike = face plant

Riding downhill = scary hair

However, I am still trying.  One day, I was downtown and swung by McGill to ride home with Pedram and some friends.  One of these friends was 8.5 months pregnant, and while we were getting on the bike, someone made the comment about how great it was that a pregnant woman was riding her bike.  Then she looked at me in my skirt and cute shoes, and stated “whoah, you’re the brave one, riding a bike in that outfit”.

Success.