Bike Commute Diaries: 24 Hour Fitness

Before I started bike commuting I dreaded the shorter fall days that shut down my after work rides on trails or backroads. I pondered: should I join a gym? But I never did. Now, when I go to the grocery store after work I ride past a roomful of gym rats slaving away on machines in front of big TV screens. I smile and keep rolling.

About the Bike Commute Diaries: Launched in May 2012 for National Bike Month, this series explores the unexpected and surprising things I’ve learned about bicycling for transportation.

 

Fashion Friday: Country Come to Town

Vacation casual or “country come to town?” I can’t decide, but this loose all-cotton shirt, cropped blue jeans and flip flops sure were comfy when we rolled out for breakfast in downtown Knoxville’s Market Square.

My rental bike was super-squishy: suspension seat post, fork, pillow-soft saddle. Like riding on a balance ball.

Look closely and you’ll see my bracelet is handmade from silverplate flatware. Pattern name: Rosalie.

The ride on this sorry nag was surprisingly unstable. Too much squish and too short a wheelbase.

About Fashion Friday: Inspired by a 2011 Bike to Work Day challenge sponsored by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, this series highlights the broad range of “dress for the destination” bicycling fashions.

 

Bike Commute Diaries: Spare Our Air

When the thermometer rises toward triple digits and sends the ozone to the unhealthy levels, my crankiness rises accordingly. Officials kindly request that we all telecommute, bike, carpool or take transit to reduce car emissions. Before I bike commuted, I’d drive to work as usual and skip after work trips. Now I resent breathing bad air when I see people stacked up on the freeway, business as usual. Transit, bike or carpool, anyone?

About the Bike Commute Diaries: Launched in May 2012 for National Bike Month, this series explores the unexpected and surprising things I’ve learned about bicycling for transportation.