what would induce you to ride an extra 10 miles on your rainy commute?

[Biciclista]

ok, ok
In Seattle the Cascade bike club is making it really fun for commuters for bike to work month.

I received an email today that if we happened by certain locations between 330 and 6pm today we could win FREE STUFF!

And it was POURING! I had to go a way I am not really familiar, but one of the prizes was an Ortlieb bag which I do need (especially today) so OFF I went into the pouring rain and industrial neighborhood. The spot was "under the Spokane St bridge" well, that's a long bridge! so i rode around disconsolately for 35 minutes under that bridge, dodging giant drips, puddles and feeling like a drowned rat, and finally gave up, crossed to the other side, and !! there they were. the Cascade people. and i was the very first Cascade member to pass them by. So they took my picture and gave me a large men's wool jersey. Hm, how useful! but I was happy to get it. Maybe I will use it as a prize for my bike to work team. Anyway; i'm home. Almost
everything I was wearing is wet. Shoes, socks, (ankles) teeshirt, slacks, rain pants, raincoat.
Dry was my wool sweater!

[shootingstar]

:) Yay, Mimi for the prize! You are dedicated.
That Ortlieb bag would have been a real prize.

Hmm.. what would induce me..a gift card for $500.00 to a sporting goods/bike store/grocery store/pharmacy chain/bookstore. Ok I would settle for $100.00. :D

[Zen]

George Clooney :)

[salsabike]

Ah, Zen. We love you, man.

[reddDesign]

what would induce me? I actually did it today, went off on a side road cuz it wasn't busy, and happened across a place that sells MG's...

[Tri Girl]

Yippee for you!!! I would've ridden 30 miles out of the way for an Ortlieb bag. :)

[twin]

I had my yellow Ortliebxs on my LHT and would have ridden 10 miles out of my way if the bike to work folks would have set the bike to work station up before most people have to go to work. I have to be to work at 8:30 and when I went by only one voluteer was at the station. However I would have done it for something as simple as a free Starbucks hot chocolate. Yummmm

[LilBolt]

I'm also on a team for the Cascade commute challenge. One of our teammates was hit by a goose this morning and he was wondering if he is now entitled to a special prize. I'd probably take a detour to find the Cascade Prize Patrol. ;)

[cylegoddess]

I wish we had prizes! Intstead we have, fog, rain,cold,glass and wind chill!

Id go 10 miles out of my way for;
Lance in bibs, with a open jersey- holding a piece of quinoa banana bread.

Alas, have to settle for pretending. Anything that gets me to work, at crack o dawn, in 7o weather will do!

[kfergos]

Other commuters going my way.

I realize that sounds weird and maybe a little pathetic, but I have never ridden any distance with anybody on my commuting route in the 4 years I've been commuting because there is nobody on the route. Just me and cars. I'd go way out of my way to ride with another polite bike commuter most of the way. Occasionally another person on a bike appears going the wrong way on the sidewalk without a helmet, or I'll see a speedy recreational cyclist zip by on the other side of the road, but I spend 99.9% of my time on my bike alone and I'd definitely like company now and then.

[NbyNW]

Mimi, congrats on scoring what sounds like a great sweater . . . even if it doesn't fit you!

I wonder if participation in the Cascade challenge is up or down from last year? Seems like there was a lot of momentum for bike commuting last season, but with all the recent layoffs . . .

I'm starting to freelance, so I don't have a regular place to bike to. I tried to start a "bike to find work" team within my field (the Architecture/Engineering/Landscape firms in town do their own little challenge as well this month), but no interest. So I'm just biking for fun. :p

[indigoiis]

Insurance that I would not get a flat on a country road in the middle of nowhere?

No hills?

A warm shower at the end of it?

[Biciclista]

Jocelyn, you're on to something,
Cascade is also trying to round up people who are looking for work on their bikes!
here:
Now Forming - Bike "for" Work Teams

Nearly every workplace is feeling the pinch these days, with many of the region’s top employers trimming staff during the economic downturn. Cascade Bicycle Club recognizes the challenges faced by prospective employees and college grads alike and is offering a little moral support during Bike Month.

In past years this contest has only been open for riders who either bike "to" work or school, but by popular demand we will open to riders who are looking "for" work by utilizing their bicycles as a primary transportation means.

[NbyNW]

Thanks Mimi! I just signed up. Surprised I didn't see this in any recent newsletters, but then again, I don't read them all that carefully.

ETA: I'm going to re-post that announcement in the Northwest thread.