Happy National Bike/Walk to Work Day!
Hooray!
I guess I should have mentioned it BEFORE as a reminder, but there you go.
Good bike news:
I got free breakfast this morning because I am a bike commuter, plus the cafe was swarmed with other commuters and I loooove hearing people talk about how they never use their cars and only filled up their tank for the second time this year last week.
The weather has been sunny, clear, slightly chilly, and generally beautiful for biking. And it's warm so my bike parts all move easily and aren't half-frozen.
It's sort of astonishing how quickly I forget the dark-at-4:30 commute I had all winter (and which will be back in short order):
I love how supportive Minneapolis Mayor Rybak is of bikes and bike commuting. The city had a commuter challenge, wherein three individuals started at the same place and had to end up at the same place. One person went by car, one by bike (the Mayor himself) and one by transit. Rybak showed up first en bike, followed by the transit person and then by the poor car driver.
On Friday, there is going to be a bike center opening on the trail I take to and from work. It's going to offer repairs, gear, bathrooms, showers, etc. It sounds really spectacular and I can't wait for it to open on Friday. I kind of want to shower there just because I can! Mid-commute shower!
Hay everybody: Who's riding these days, regardless of national initiatives? How's it going? You can leave a comment without signing in here if you'd like.
Comments
I'm jealous that your city is so bike-friendly. I am scared to ride around LA. With all the traffic and impatient drivers, I think I might die.
I totally understand about the supplies/hill issue. There is a big hill right before I get to my office and it KILLS me. I have to bring wet wipes and baby powder to de-stink before I go into work. But--I am WAY healthier than when I first started (couldn't even get up the whole thing without stopping).
Do you have a rack on your bike? That could help carry supplies and I've found that I enjoy biking about 80% more when I can carry more things and don't have to strap them all onto my body in some sort of crazy-ass rig that makes me really wobbly and scary.
Good luck with the new tires! And good luck not getting creamed by a distracted driver.
see, i've got flat and slight downhill segments to work, so I can get there without stinking.
our big giveaways are tomorrow. I'm part curious about what the schwag will be and part asking why I need to be rewarded for doing the right thing.
I've got a basket and a big weird clip thing stuck on the back that I've never really used, but actually this term I have a few classes that don't require me to bring big materials, so I could ride on those days without STUFF issues.
And that's a good idea with the wipes and baby powder, since stinking would be another sour point.
Meh, at least I can always bike to the grocery store. That's good enough.
It totally is good enough to bike to the grocery store.
Yesterday I found this article about bikers in LA and thought of you. : ) It's totally awesome.
You're lucky not to have the stink problem. It's annoying. With my short hair I can just dunk my head in the sink and that helps too, but seriously. It's a little ridiculous to be SO sweaty when I'm sitting at my desk.
Between storms (including a tornado!), I haven't had any seat-time since last Saturday! :o(
However, the weekend is looking good and I can't wait to ride Owl's Roost! My days at this job are counting down (not as quick as I would like..) so I'm not going to get my 16mi lunch-ride around Salem Lake anymore. I will miss that.
It's exciting that you have a new job, but that does sound like a really nice lunch-ride. All the stuff around my office is icky industrial stuff and not very fun.