Yippee- I won CycleAware's commuter contest!

[Tri Girl]

I use a CycleAware mirror (cycleaware.com) on my helmet when I commute and, well, anytime I'm on my bike. I saw on their website that they were having a commuting contest. You had to submit the following things (copied from their website):
- A description of your daily commute
- A photo of you with your favorite commuter bike and attire
- Your best Hemingway version of your most memorable commuting moment

I wrote about the commute that I did sometimes last year (although I didn't commute as much as I would've liked to). My favorite commute was early in the year when my students saw my bike and were shocked that anyone would WANT to ride their bike to school (because most of them HAVE to). We mad a whole lesson of finding out how far I commuted in inches, yards, centimeters, millimeters, etc... (I teach Math). Some of them couldn't be outdone by their teacher so they started riding their bikes to school. Ten year olds are too funny!
Anyway- they chose me as a winner (or is it: weiner?). I won a whole pack of all their mirrors (5 of them), a mesh bag, a polar bottle and a jeresy. I was pretty excited because I NEVER win anything. Pretty surprising!

I now have all these cool mirrors to choose from, but still can't DH to wear one. He can't get over the dork factor- or so I think that's the reason (although they sent one that's teeny tiny that attaches to the inside of your glasses lens so noone can see it). We'll see if he jumps on the bandwagon now that his selection is free. Free usually does it for him.

I didn't even see the contest until the last day of May and the deadline was June 1st, so I hurried and made my entry. I should've posted it here, but totally forgot about my commuting buddies on TE in my rush to get my entry submitted. We could've overwhelmed them with the influx of entries from this commuting bunch.

[mimitabby]

congratulations!

Where do you live that children actually ride bikes to school? Do you know how unusual that is? (and wonderful?)

Dork factor? I sure love being able to see who or what is behind me. I don't care if it looks dorky; i think it's dorkier to get run over.

Thanks for the smile. (a picture of you wearing your 6 mirrors would be good)

[dex]

Awesome.

I've been considering that teeny-tiny mirror for the inside of the glasses, so if he goes with that one, be sure to come back and tell us what he thinks of it!

[coyote]

Wow, that is really cool. Congrats!

[GLC1968]

That's awesome! Congrats!!

[DebW]

Methinks those mirrors are not for the over 45 crowd. I can't imagine trying to focus that close through the top of my bifocals.

[WhirlyGirl]

Congrats, we started a Commuter of the Month program at our store in Southern AZ. It's great you are in an area that you can teach bike commuting to kids!

Way to GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[DDH]

Wow, congratulations. I think that is the coolest thing!!!

Your story about working it into class work is great. It takes a special person to be a teacher, thank you for all your hard work with our future generations.

[Tri Girl]

Thanks ladies! It was a surprise. I think I'm going to give away one mirror to a friend who keeps complaining about the cars on the road. This way she can see what's coming and not be so surprised by cars sneaking up on her (and totally OT: those new hybrids are quiet as a mouse- I can't hear those buggers when they're moving slowly- they're stealthy).

Maybe now that I have so many mirrors, I'll start using one on my sunglasses when I'm just walking around. I love the convenience of seeing what's behind me. It may come in handy at school, even. The whole "eyes in the back of your head" thing and all. I'm going to mount that little tiny mirror on a pair of clear glasses lenses so I can keep an eye on my kids in class at all times.

Where do you live that children actually ride bikes to school? Do you know how unusual that is? (and wonderful?)

I love that so many of my kids ride their bikes to school!!! I live in central Oklahoma and teach in a suburb south of OKC. I've taught in 4 schools, and this is the only school where such a high number of kids ride their bikes. There are lots of neighborhoods close by and tons of kiddos use their two wheels to get to school (a lot of my students last year got themselves out the door on their own b/c mom and dad already have left for work when they leave for school). It's so refreshing to see them riding (although sadly most don't wear helmets). I've been pushing helmets, telling them of the importance, and even showing them pictures of crashes where helmets saved a life- but unfortunately for my kiddos (5th grade), the cool factor doesn't "allow it" and until mom and dad MAKE them wear one, it might not happen. Most of them ride a mile or less to school. I make sure that my helmet is visibly seen when my bike is parked in my classroom. Maybe it'll rub off...?