Compilation of thoughts...

[mtbdarby]

I came across this and thought it was a pretty accurate insite into biking in the US. http://www.slate.com/id/2131049/?GT1=7407

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Warning: Confession coming:

My commuting didn't last long. I only commuted about a month and then the weather turned bad. Single digits early in the year and besides not wanting to get out there myself, I didn't have the heart to subject my 3 yo to the elements. I am still in search of some inexpensive winter pants I can layer with then I will try it on the weekends I don't have him. Kudos to you brave women biking in the cold. Keep motivating me cuz I WILL get out there!

For now I have a new strategy. I am working my Power 90 program hard until January to drop 10 pounds. I - I mean Sanata - bought a trainer which Performance - I mean the north pole - will deliver next week. Bicycle magazine - I mean my new coach - has put me on a new program of how to train for a century and master the mountain so I can prepare for my first 12 hour solo come May. I still have my eye on a 24 hour solo race in July which is now also a national event and world qualifier! What a race that will be...

Cuz life don't stand still, my job is opening up positions in the Fox Valley area (2 hours east of here) of which I will be offered one. I now have the decision to make of moving and starting over with a biking club, routes, friends, etc. or commuting 28 miles away. I was actually looking forward to the challange of biking that commute a couple times a week come spring! So a BIG decision to make soon. I feel a little guilty if we make the move cuz it will be the fourth town my little guy has lived in in less than four years. The joys and heartaches of divorce continue...

Wow, didn't mean to make this a me post (chuckling). I kinda got carried away. Thanks for listening though.

[bikerz]

Interesting article - and pretty funny too.

Seems like we need a "tipping point" and a lot of systemic and cultural changes before cycling can be as much a part of our lives as it is for the Dutch, Belgians, etc. Really high gas prices would definitely help...

I've thought about commuting to work - it's only 4 miles downhill to my local Bart train station (which means a 4 mile uphill ride home at the end of the day) - a nice chunk of exercise, good hill training etc. And I could probably get away with normal clothes on the way down...

But, you can't take a bike on Bart during commute hours (which are pretty much when I'd need to get to and from work), and there's something like a 3-yr waiting list for a bike locker at the station (not to mention the difficulty in safely lugging my 10 lb briefcase containing laptop etc, up and down hills). I could go very early in the morning and home late in the evening in the summer... but in winter it would be more difficult. And i'd need to outfit my bike differently, or get a second bike... For me, it seems like too many hurdles to make it work - but if the systemic ones (Bart schedules, lockers, etc.) weren't there, I think I could handle the convenience and gear issues.