On selling a bike

I sold a bike this weekend. I’d had it for a bit over a year, and had a ton of fun riding it, but I hadn’t ridden it in four months, and when a friend posted a “Want to Buy” for just such a beast (single speed mountain bike) on the local bike forum, it was a clear sign that it was time to pass it on to another rider.

Selling a bike is always an occasion for mixed feelings, but three main currents stand out. First, there’s the thrill of freeing oneself of a possession, particularly a possession that has become part of one’s identity. Second, there’s the regret at the loss of a freedom; there are now paths I can’t ride which I probably could have. Third, there’s bewilderment: “How does the money disappear so fast?”