your first commute to work

[xeney]

My bike commute is so short that it is barely worth getting the bike out of the basement -- it's ten blocks to work, about a three-minute ride or a fifteen-minute walk, so if the tires need air it's faster to walk. I like riding, though, because I often have to carry heavy transcripts or stop for groceries so it's nice to not have to lug everything on my shoulder. Once a week I stop to pick up vegetables we have delivered from a local farm, and I have those Nashbar townie baskets for that -- the neighbors all crack up when they see me riding down the street with carrot tops trailing out of my bicycle baskets.

I use my Specialized Crossroads for that trip but I am now wishing I'd just bought an old Raleigh with a mixte or step-through frame, because I wear skirts a lot and on those days I just wind up walking. (For a ten-block commute it is not worth changing my clothes.) But my husband makes fun of me every time I suggest it. I do have an old Schwinn with a step-through frame, but it has coaster brakes and I haven't ridden it in years -- I do occasionally have to ride in traffic and I am a little afraid that I will forget how to stop!

[singletrackmind]

My hubby forgot the 'drawers once. He mentioned it in an email once he got to work. God, I was turned on ALL DAY and ravished him when he got home. Mmmmm....Got no idea why that got me all crazy, but even now all he has to do is mention that one time and........


I commuted from march1 to december 16 the year before I got married. I used the car once-for a vacation to Colorado-that whole time. Grocery shopping, work, going to then b/f's house, anything. Rain, snow, heat, cold, anything. I LOVED it. I used the bob for when I needed to carry stuff with me. I also discovered a medium sized watermellon would wedge nicely onto my aerobars-a favorite food. It'd make the steering interesting but oh, so worth it. I'd use either the mountain or the road bike. Now I either walk or ride to my son's school, the grocery store and anything local and that I can avoid busy streets because of my son. I sure wish I could ditch the car almost entirely again. One day.......