Highlights

Well, it turns out I really enjoy biking to work. Somehow, it's faster, and it wakes me up for my day!
Here are some highlights of my Bike to Work Week....

Monday:

Joel fell off his bike today as he was pulling up to work!!! Oh man, I wish I could have seen it! Could it be as funny as I am picturing in my head?! This was his first time falling as a result of not being able to unclip his bike shoes. But, he got a free BTWW shirt at the bike shop after work.
I drove today. I had to take all my lunch and weekend work I had brought home with me.

Tuesday:

For some stupid reason, I decided to start RAGBRAI training the same day I started riding to work. I biked 10 miles tonight.

Wednesday:

My butt hurts so badly today, I can barely sit down on the bike to ride to work! But I did.

Thursday:

Drove today. My butt still hurts!

Friday:

I started a RAGBRAI reading initiative with my students today. Kids are excited!

I decided to bike to the bike shop downtown today to get my free safety check and shirt. In jeans. DON'T EVER BIKE IN JEANS! It was a pretty cool afternoon, but as soon as I walked into the shop, I started sweating profusely. I didn't even get a free shirt out of it!

I left the bike store and somehow got lost on all the one-way streets downtown.
Something you should know....I get very annoyed by people who complain about our one-way streets (they are not that hard to figure out.). Man, is it different on a bicycle! It seemed like every street I turned on was not only one-way, but there were several cars coming right at me! Eventually I figured it out and got home, extremely sweaty and flustered!

Saturday:

We biked all over downtown, to farmer's market, to a cute little cafe, my favorite bookstore, and the festival that is going on all weekend. It was kind of nice to experience our town in this way. I would suggest it to anyone who lives here. It is so easy to forget the charm of your own city when you've lived there your whole life. Driving around just doesn't do it.

Lessons Learned:
I like biking to work. I should keep doing it.
I need a mirror.
(Maybe that will help with the terror I feel riding in the streets!)
Don't bike in jeans if you are riding more than one mile.

Bike to Work Week

Well, I think I found my motivation! This week is Bike to Work Week, so Joel and I signed up on our local newspaper's website as participants, which simply means we have committed to biking to work this week.

Now. Joel works about 4 miles from our house, and in order to get there, he must climb one of the many atrocious hills that his workplace sits upon.
I work 5 blocks from our house.

I know.

I should be biking or walking everyday. But, keep in mind...I am lazy.
I think about it all the time, but never get going in time, or get in the right mindset to commit to commuting in a more environmentally-conscious way.
So, this is a good kick in the pants for me! I do, however, feel a little weird pulling up to school, parking my bike on the playground with all the little Huffys! (Are Huffys still around?!)

Maybe getting over my embarrassment will inspire other teachers to bike or walk to school! (There are 2 other teachers who live on my block who drive to our school everyday. I'm not the only lazy girl!)

So here is my inspiration for you after reading about it here and here.....get out there, bike to work at least once this week! Joel took his clothes and lunch to work today, so he can change at work. Teachers take work home almost every night, but if you use a backpack, or a messenger bag that straps around you, you can do it!! If you bike slow enough, you won't get too sweaty! Our local paper is offering coupons for free bike safety checks at local bike shops and free showers at a downtown gym when you sign up as a bike-to-work-er! There is a party with prize giveaways for participants at a local bar this weekend. There are lots of cities that are getting bike racks on the city buses, so when the hills or distance gets the best of you, you can hop on the bus! Many are offering free rides this week too. Even if you only bike for part of your trip, you are still making a difference. Maybe (and this is my hope) it will be a great start to your day and either 1) It will inspire you to exercise more or 2) You can skip some workouts because of your commute! Inspired? Check into your city's events for Bike to Work Week!