First Trimester Biking

Probably not the optimal way to announce a pregnancy...but here goes. Although my travel has definitely gotten in the way of my commuting and training in general, the discovery that I was not exhausted for no reason or that I did not have food poisoning for two weekends in a row :) and that I was indeed pregnant has definitely switched up my biking routine.

Here we are 8 weeks in and I have been barely able to hold anything down outside of Saltines and Ramen noodle soup...gross.  However, lo and behold this morning was the 1st time in a long time that I was actually able to eat a normal breakfast.  Therefore, if I could eat breakfast, I thought a morning commute might be worth a shot. Although slow going, I did make it and was rewarded for the effort with my first decent workout in weeks.  I might request a ride home this evening, but at least this morning was a success.  :) Thanks for the encouragement- your blogs have gotten me through.

Grocery store trips

One of the funner things I've been doing with bike commuting is my grocery store trips.  For probably the last month, every trip to the store has been on my bike.  I have a bike trailer that I pull my (almost) two year old in.  However, whenever I take off on my bike she absolutely insists on going with.  Which frankly, I can't help but love.  It means though that I have to be strategic on my trips because I can carry less.  It also keeps me from buying unnecessary things, which is another good thing!

This last week I got a little carried away and ended up needing to put a gallon of milk, a jug of juice, and a 12 pack of soda in the carriage with her.  She wasn't too pleased about this.  She got angry at first and then the 1.5 mile ride back home she just chattered the whole time.  I couldn't really hear or understand what she was saying, but she's never talked that much riding so I can only surmise that she wasn't happy.

The Year of the Bike

On April 29th 2013, nearly on a whim, I thought I would try riding a bike to work. I borrowed a friend's bike and off I went. The next week I bought my own bike. I biked more miles that week than I had in the last 15 years combined. I was hooked. Twelve months later, I have biked over 3000 miles (nearly all of them commuting miles). To commemorate what has been a fantastic year, below are twelve lessons I learned during 'The Year of the Bike'.

Twelve Lessons

1. Bike riding is so fun! Remember when you were a kid, how fun it was to go ride bikes? I'm going to let you in on a little secret, it is STILL fun. Cruising down the bike trail on the way to or from work you might be surprised by a giddy rush of exhilaration. Getting to inject your daily grind with this level of fun makes you wish you would have started years ago.
2. You will learn and love your city. I have worked in downtown Denver for nearly eleven years, riding mass transit everyday for the first 9, but after a year of experiencing the city by bike I feel like I know it better than ever.
3. Bike commuting will make you better at everything else. Want to get into running? Excited for the upcoming hiking season? Whatever you are into (or want to become a part of) biking will pave the way.  I attribute my commute to achieving 2nd overall female ultimate climber in the 2014 Fight for Air Climb. Powering your own commute by bike is an amazing way to get in better shape!
4. Everyday is bike to work day. When I first got my bike, I thought I would ride 'once or twice' a week, and only during the summer. Once I discovered how fun it was, I became a year-round commuter.  Denver has fairly mild winters making year-round bike commuting an easy choice.
5. Bike commuting will make you a better driver. I have always considered myself a good driver, but a year on the bike has made me better. I am more aware of people on bikes and make a more concerted effort to better share our roads.
6. Your thoughts about transportation will change. For years I never even considered bike commuting, my mind, like many others, was car-centric. A year of bike commuting made me realize that bikes are not an alternate form of transportation, they ARE transportation.
7. You might become a zealot. Now that I have been converted, I can't wait to encourage others. Daily bike commuting has been the single best change I have made in years.
8. You will get healthier. It almost seems like a side benefit, behind all of the fun you'll be having, but daily bike commuting will have a positive impact on your health. Without any added effort besides getting to work and back every day, you will easily be achieving recommendations for daily activity. You will get some fresh air. You will have a chance to 'un-plug'.  You might shed some extra pounds.  You will reduce your risk for a host of nasty diseases.
9. There is (almost) no such thing as bad weather. I used to be such a fair weather outdoor enthusiast, daily commuting has changed that too. Aside from copious amounts of ice and or snow, nothing will keep me off the bike trail. Once you are out in it, it never seems too bad. Plus you'll never have to scrape windows or let your bike warm up, it is always ready to go!
10. You are the captain of your own ship! After years of bus commuting, the freedom of bike commuting is a thrill.  Traveling by bike allows you to stop and check things out.  From unplanned brewery visits to surprise wildlife encounters, being on your bike lets you dictate the terms of your commute, in a way transit or cars simply can't.  My bike route parallels portions of I-25 and Santa Fe Drive, and as I sail past cars idling in traffic, I wish I could encourage them to hop on a bike instead.
11. You can bike thousands of miles a year, and still not own any lycra shorts or a super fancy bike. It has been 365 days since I started bike commuting. In that time I have ridden 3,000 miles. I don't own any lycra. I don't know much about bikes. I don't consider myself an 'avid cyclist'.  I don't know anything about bike sports.  These are not bragging points or confessions of ignorance, but rather facts that hopefully will encourage others who may be intimidated by pricey bike gear or snobby 'weekend warriors'.
12. Your faith in humanity will be bolstered. When was the last time a fellow motorist smiled and waved at you, marveling, however briefly in your joyful, shared experience? If you exclude the 'ol one finger salute, my guess is rarely. Yet on a bike, this happens all the time. There is an instant camaraderie in bike riding, that springs from the fun of being on a bike.  While car commuting can be an isolating experience, bike commuting makes you feel like you are in a secret club.

I was wishing I was heading on a big adventure instead of to...

I was wishing I was heading on a big adventure instead of to work this morning, with my camping gear loaded up. The second round of groceries for an overnight with 2nd graders will be my evening Big Dummy challenge.

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My OTHER bike blog

Hi! Hope everyone had a nice week of riding. I had a fun, mellow ride to Cherry Creek and all over town on Saturday. Now I'm getting ready for overnight trips coming up at school, but hope to be blogging often. If you notice I'm slacking, remind me, and check my other blog: godummygo.tumblr.com. I think I linked them both successfully, so will actually remember to share more adventures now. 

Haulin'

What a slacker poster I’ve been! Between my job moving, and trying to post regularly to another blog, I’ve missed documenting some serious Big Dummy fun. As camping season gets started at school, I’ve been figuring out all sorts of creative propane, gear, grocery hauling setups. All this stuff goes to school tomorrow… To be continued!

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An unexpected commute

Today I had an unexpected commute. Mon/Wed/Fri are my swim days. However, after finishing boot camp, I discovered that I had brought everything for a swim except my suit and goggles! Fortunately, I did have my 'cross bike in the back of my car as Fridays I take my seniors out on a bike ride. So I decided to use my swim time to ride into work.

Bike:  Fuji Cross Comp
Attire:  Fox chamois liner, North Face baggie mountain shorts, Specialized Body Geometry mountain shoes, fingerless gloves, short sleeved jersey, arm warmers
Carriers:  Osprey Backpack

Since I had to improvise, I transferred things I didn't need out of my backpack in order to carry my work essentials with me, including my lunch. Now, I'm not one for commuting with a backpack, as it doesn't carry a whole lot, and you sweat a lot more with a bag on your back. But I wanted to ride, so I did what I could to make it work.

It was a gorgeous morning; deceptively so. I had 3 pairs of gloves to choose from in my car, and picked the wrong ones - at 7:30am, it was still rather chilly out, and my hands were frozen in fingerless gloves (lesson learned!). I'm also one to take it slow going into work to sweat as little as possible - however, the windiness of the Platte coupled with where I parked made the ride a little longer than I expected given my driving route. It added about 3 miles to usual commute on the road. Since I had a client at 8:30am, I had to pick up the pace a bit. Still, I can't complain when my views are of the river, and my 'traffic' is people on the side of the trail photographing to local wildlife!

It's just under 9.5 miles to work from where I started - not a bad ride in, around 45 mins. A little slower than I'm used to riding, given the bike I was on and having to carry a pack. It was a good baseline ride that I can use when planning commutes for the future. The ride home was uneventful, though a little windy at 5pm at night. Nothing that would stop me from riding home. The clouds that had formed reminded me that we're getting into that time of year of afternoon thunderstorms, which means I need to dig out the rain jacket and keep it handy. I've been caught in bad weather before and improvised with a garbage bag when I needed to!

The best part of the day was my late morning ride with my seniors. A nice and easy 7 miler along the Highline with residents of the campus I work at. We had heard there are baby owls at the Flyin' B Park, so we looked for them but didn't locate them. Temps has warmed up since I had ridden in, and it was a pleasant ride. And when I say seniors, well, the oldest person is 90 years old!!! How awesome! The day before we spent a half an hour together as he told me stories of how he rode around New England as a late teen/young man during the summers staying at youth hostels. He would ride 100 miles a day, and would cover 3,000 miles a month!! He did it with only a small knapsack. I love that he's still riding at 90 years old. Goes to show you, you're NEVER "too old".

You Can't Win them All

Despite the mostly gorgeous weather, a variety of factors kept me from my bike for most of the week (boo!).  I was however able to fit in two days and they were great.  So rather than focusing on all of the missed miles, I'll be glad for the ones I got.  Some miles are better than no miles!  Have a great weekend everyone!

Biking and Femininity - Does it exist? Do we care?

Is there such a thing as a feminine way to ride a bike?

A fantastic article that I came across which discusses some of the challenges women face when it comes to cycling and femininity.  It includes some great insight from other women commuters around the country on what societal constraints are placed on women ("Women are expected to show up to places already presentable"), in addition to the constraints that we put on ourselves ("I know many women worry about showing up to work sweaty after biking. I have yet to run into a man that shares that concern").  

My two cents on the subject of being feminine on a bike is, when I jump on my bike, whether it's road, mountain or downhill, my mind is set on accomplishing 2 things:

• Achieve my particular goal for the day (whether it's getting home from work, honing my MTB skills, conquering a road training session or enjoying a relaxing ride to the coffee shop)
• Have FUN!!

Given my goal-oriented approach to cycling, I devote little to no time worrying about my outfit or what others may think of it.  In my opinion, you can wear whatever you like, as long as it's comfortable, safe, and just makes sense.  I'm certainly not going to show up to a mountain bike ride decked out in heels in a skirt just to prove to the guys that I'm not one of them.  However, I admit that I did buy black & pink body armor for downhilling, but in my defense, it also fit much better than the men's body armor option.  :-)  Nonetheless, I think it's important for women to keep things in perspective and not let the pressure from others dictate how you ride your bike. 

“Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel…the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood.”
-Susan B. Anthony

DRCOG commercial - ROCKS!

Asking for it ... ladies this is spot on!

http://bikeyface.com/2014/04/23/asking-for-it/

The Little Things

After two weeks of commuting, I have come to the decision that my bike seat and I must break up.  Since the cyclocross bike is my first road-ish bike, I thought that the stock seat might be OK because I wouldn't need to lean down into aerobars like on my TT bike.  Alas, not so much.  A traditional seat shape and my personal seat are not compatible.

So, I shelled out for another version of the model on my triathlon bike and felt immediate relief.   Sure, it looks weird, but who cares if it is not a torture device!

The moral of the story is that every seat (pun intended) is different and if yours is not working out, don't be afraid to shop around for one that works for you.  No seat should require recovery time or cause abrasions.  Soreness happens, especially when you are building mileage, but abrasions are just plain wrong.

And, while we are on the little things, here are two different videos on how to change a bike tire:

1.  Outside Magazine new video starring Lance Armstrong
2.  Vulcan Bike Wizard (this is how I learned)

When changing the tire, it helps to inflate the tube a bit.  Also, do not forget to confirm that no part of your tube is pinched by the bead.  If a part of the tube is pinched, your tube will explode when you attempt to inflate it which will make you scream and negate all of the badassness of changing your own tire. 

The not-so-pretty part of commuting on city streets

Last year when I commuted to work on my bike, I generally parked at a location a few miles closer and then rode the C470 trail to the DTC.  It ended up being about 12 miles, 17 miles if I depart from my house.  But this year, I've been commuting in via Dry Creek which takes me about 55 minutes and is 14 miles one way.  I really like being able to leave right from home actually.

I think I mentioned in a previous post that it really requires your full attention to ride on the road with traffic as there's a lot going on.  You have to constantly watch what's ahead, listen to what's behind.  Work hard at being courteous to the cars on the road while keeping yourself safe.  After a few weeks though, I kind of reached a point of mental exhaustion.  Last week I felt like I had a lot (ok, maybe only like 3 times) of battling traffic, people yelling at me and honking.  One day I decided to stick to the sidewalks as much as I could which resulted in a flat (there's so much debris on the sidewalk and at one point I hit the curb too hard after crossing a road).  When using the sidewalk I realized it's almost just as dangerous because cars pull into the crosswalk rather than stopping behind, so it was a bit of a dodging game.

So I decided to take a bit of a break and stick to the trails for a while.  Commuting by bike, whether to work or the store can be tiring. Especially if you do it a lot.  It often requires a bit of planning and organization on top of the other things you "deal" with when commuting.  My point is, its ok to find ways to ease up in yourself to help you stay dedicated. Don't burn yourself out, on whatever it is. 

Meet our team!

We recently met as a team and handed out our sweet Primal high-viz gear!

We gathered responses to some commuting questions to hopefully inform you and your commutes, and to help guide you in your commuting journey!  More new members and more responses coming soon!

Name	Lydia	Kristin	Mary Beth	Steph	Tiffany	Dawn
Location	Lives in SW Littleton, works in DTC	Live in DTC, Work in Lowry	Lives in Whittier, Works in Highlands (soon to be downtown Denver)	South Boulder/ Broomfield	Live in Englewood, works in downtown Denver	Live in Littletown - Work in LoDo
Favorite place to commute and favorite route	Love commuting to work via the c470 trail	Love riding to work-it clears my mind at the beginning and end of a long day	I love my morning 6:30 am commute (sometimes). Often, I reach the top of the 20th St. bridge or Cuernavaca Park right as the sun comes up over downtown, and it’s fun to watch my ride change with the seasons. Very little of my ride is on paths, but I like riding through downtown every day.	Work –Route TBD	I love to commute to work via the South Platte and Cherry Creek Trail system.  It is not the most direct route but I can get all the way to work almost exclusively on bike paths.	Any place that has a great coffee shop!  Mostly REI/Starbucks. S Platte River Trail is always the easiest, but typically the busiest route.
Best piece of gear to make commuting easier/possible?	The bike of course!!  Otherwise, probably my Osprey backpack for carrying my clothing/cosmetic essentials.	my Camelback, I can fit a pair of pants and shirt in there along with snacks, wallet, water and phone without a problem	On below zero winter days, my gigantic Black Diamond mitts with handwarmers inside have been key! Otherwise, I’m a sucker for a nice waterproof backpack and a few little zip pouches to keep wallets and bike tools organized and easy to access. And good rechargeable lights.	Waterproof Bag	I would have to say my bike bell!  It is an effective and friendly way to let other trail users know you are around.	A properly fitted bike and definitely a comfortable backpack.  I have several backpacks and depending on how my day is planned, that will dictate the bag needed
Best piece of advice for getting ready at work on commuting days?	Plan ahead!  Carrying shoes in your backpack is a pain and takes a ton of space and maybe there's a blouse you don't want wrinkled. Take it to work the day before so you don't have to carry it. I usually leave a couple pair of shoes at my office in fact.	Plan ahead and keep a supply of toiletries and clothing in the office already so that all you really need to carry on your back is food, water, phone and other essentials.	I have a pretty casual job this year, so I often ride in my work clothes which include lots of nice wool stuff. I also keep a few extra layers and shoes at work. I have a good place to wash up, and keep a Paktowl and toiletries at work as well.	Pack a light	In order to make commuting mornings go smoothly I try to get everything ready the night before.  This includes making sure my front and back lights are charged, appropriate clothes are laid out and coffee is ready to go!	Plan ahead!!  I keep an extra bag of make-up, shower supplies, etc. at work, so I don't have to transport everything.  Depending on my schedule, I will bring my clothes & shoes in the day before (works out well since I am commuting a few days a week).
What you would tell women who want to start commuting but don't know where to begin?  Mapping?  Packing?  Routes? Pre-planning? Equipment?	I would actually say planning ahead is key. I check my meeting schedule, bring shoes or clothing ahead of the commuting day, things like that. But know your route too. My commute required me to play with my route a bit closer to work because there's a lot of traffic in the DTC. Taking a road that had a little less traffic felt safer and so while it has a wicked hill, there's a lot fewer cars on it. Driving your route in advance is good for checking road conditions too, like narrow shoulders or potholes.	I would say partner with a friend who is starting out as well and encourage each other. Pre plan your routes and maybe meet on the weekend for some exercise during a practice run so there is not that stress and worry when you are trying to get to work.  Use websites, apps or even trail maps that you can get at many bike shops to locate the trails that will work best for you and enjoy this green, gas/money saving, healthy way to travel.	When I used to ride only occasionally, it was a pretty ridiculous production to get myself ready the night before. Once you start, it’s easy to fall into your habits and routines, and now everything is just second nature and it’s no big deal to ride every day. So be patient with yourself as you figure out what works. Keep it fun and try new routes or find a friend. Find a friendly shop and ask questions.  Keep essentials at work. When I first started, setting a fun treat as a goal was awesome. Maybe if you ride a certain number of days each week, you get to stop for coffee or ice cream or buy a fun new bike gadget.	I practiced my route on the weekend to identify a safe route.  Packing the night before the commute also helps.  Bring contingency equipment (light, tube, snack, phone) in case of weather, mechanical or other surprise!	I think the best piece of advice I could offer is to keep an open mind.  Investigate a variety of routes, maybe consider making your commute ‘multi-modal’ (perhaps some bike and some bus).  Also, keep in mind that you don’t HAVE to ride every day, but if you stick with it, you’ll probably find yourself wanting to!	Ask around!  You'd be surprised at the number of women who commute regularly.  If you're new to the area (like me), the Google Maps app will be your new best friend!  You can view the hundreds of miles of trails that are all over the Denver metro area.  If you're an adventurous person, take some time on a Saturday/Sunday, find a trail, grab a few friends and just start riding!  You never know where the road will lead, so take plenty of water, cell phone and some money (in case you happen to be lucky enough to stumble upon a coffee shop!!) For me it was important to get comfortable with my commuting route before doing it, so I rode it several times with some friends.  To get started, I highly recommend visiting a few local bike shops.  Each shop will have employees who are  very informative, but for me, it was important to find a shop that I could connect to and feel comfortable asking questions.  There will be an all-women's bike store opening up in Littleton within the next few months, which is really exciting!!  What better way for women to learn more about bikes/cycling than from other women!
Your longest-ever commute?	I don't always leave right from my house because I have to drop my daughter at daycare first, so my commute is generally 12 miles. If I leave from home it's 20 miles.	40 miles	My commute now is pretty easy- only 5 miles each way. I’ve never had a super long commute, so I push myself to do all my errands by bike, especially since I got rid of my car last September. Shopping at Costco, picking up rental skis, going to the hardware store. Finding ways to challenge what I can do on a bike keeps it interesting for me.	I ran 20 miles to work once and commuted from work directly to a group ride several times.	While not technically a ‘commute’ I have ridden over to visit my parents on occasion, which works out to a 50 mile round trip.	My normal commute is 12 miles (24 roundtrip), but I've ridden 15-30 if there's ice cream/coffee/diner food involved.  To me, commuting is more about the journey, than the mileage.  Certainly, from a health perspective, adding a few extra miles to your trip will pay off big in the end, both physically and mentally.

Grittier side

We all joke about the grittier side of bike commuting.  The guy hawking nice TVs under the bridge.  The weird old man who yells inappropriate things as you ride by.  But yesterday I came upon something that I was not prepared for.

I was riding down the bike path in a drainage ditch, and I saw a person off to the side of the path.  I slowed down and said "Are you ok? Do you need help?"  I realized she was shaking.  And her clothes were dirty.  And she was soaking wet.  I stopped.  "Hey, are you ok?  Can I call someone for you?"  No response.

A family was walking by on the overpass and offered to call 911.  While they called 911 I leaned my bike against the wall and approached the woman, talking to her the whole time.  I put my hand on her shoulder, telling her that I wanted to help her.  No response.  Then one of the kids on the bridge yelled, "The cops are pulling up behind you!"  Sure enough an officer had driven up the bike path.  He rolled the woman over and took her pulse.  Luckily she was still breathing, but her pulse was faint.  Her face was blue.  She was probably 20 years old.  He said a bunch of codes into his radio and looked at me.  "The paramedics are on the way.  You didn't see anything did you?"

"No, she was like that when I pulled up."
"It was probably a suicide attempt. There is nothing we can do.  You can keep riding."
"Ok.  Thanks."

As I rode away I heard sirens converging on the area.  I felt sad and confused and scared.  It took me a while to process this, it won't stop me from bike commuting.  We are all confronted with sad and uncomfortable events, but they just have to be dealt with. I think most everyone would agree that they are better or stronger people for dealing with STUFF rather than being sheltered.  Perhaps it widens our understanding and compassion.  I hope so.  And I hope that woman can now get the help she needs.

How to be a bike friendly bike business!

http://pathlesspedaled.com/2011/05/5-easy-ways-to-be-a-bike-friendly-business/

Co-commuters

In addition to the 4-5 guys that I see in the mornings when I commute, here are a couple of examples of the other co-commuters on my route:

 

My husband has been telling me about how the cows are in the pasture when he does his runs, but I have never seen it before.  On Friday, though, the cows were on my trail!  How cool is that?  They completely ignored me, but it was cool to see them up close.

The groundhogs are not as noteworthy as the cows because they are everywhere.  However, this week, they were making R2D2-ish alarm noises when I rode up.  They are very interesting little critters.

In other news, a mountain-biker held one of the gates open for me to pass on Friday morning, which was really nice.  So, I held the gate open for a lady later in the day and on my way home, the dude in front of me stopped and opened the gate before I got there!  I like the mountainbiker vibe a lot.  Very friendly group.

PANNIERS!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/537437576/freerider-pannier-for-urban-bike-commuting-made-in

Ways to get More Women on Bikes....

http://us3.campaign-archive2.com/?u=e0ebbef42105a03d777b613f3&id=399ca39e43

Biking like a WOMAN!

http://takingthelane.com/2014/04/16/biking-like-a-woman/

Flat Prevention and Recycling!

This morning I went out to the garage and found I had a front flat.  Boo.  At least I was still in the garage so I changed it easily (with perhaps a bit of grumbling) and went on my way.  But I realized that I haven't had a flat on my commuter bike for about four years.  Knock on wood.

My flat prevention technique is cheap and easy.  I took an old set of tires from my road bike and cut across each tire so it is no longer a circle.  Then I cut the beads off of each tire (the beads are what holds the tire to the rim).  Voila - a bike tire liner!  I put each liner inside of my commuter bike tires and no flats for four years.

I think my flat this morning was caused by a bit of friction where the tire liner overlaps.  Still getting four years out of a tube is pretty good!

P.S. Another way to recycle old tires is to give them to OrthoPets.  They set up collection sites at various races and events throughout the year, and they use your old tires to make prosthetic limbs for pets.  It is really a win win win!

Unpleasant encounters on the road

Well, today I had my first experience with a driver very displeased with my presence on the road. I was cruising along and suddenly a white Lexus RX comes dangerously close to me.  He lays on his horn and promptly swerves in to me. Well, immediate in front of me.  Clearly making a point. I was so taken aback and focused on maintaining my lane and composure that I didn't get his license plate number.  After a few seconds I suddenly was furious!  I was obeying the rules. I was being a cautious, predictable, and a safe cyclist.  I put it in to high gear and pedaled my butt off. I wanted to catch up at the next light and take a picture of his car and plate and make sure he saw me doing it. As I pushed my legs harder and my heart rate higher, reason set in. I did catch up with him a few miles later at a stop light and I committed his plate to memory and just let it go.

As a bike commuter and a car driver, I know why my presence on the road will anger people. I'm going half the speed limit in places. I am forcing people to slow down and preventing them from getting to their destination in a timely fashion. I pose a potential risk to drivers because they don't know how to predict my next move. Will I swerve over that pothole to the left, or to the right?  I get it. I just wish that they recognized that I am doing everything to be courteous to them and be mindful of what they are doing.  So treat me the same. 

But, they don't know that.  So I continue to be respectful and mindful of the cars and control my anger when I'm "mistreated".  And I'll make sure I educate those around me about how to treat and understand those of us biking down the road.  

On the bright side, Strava gave me two QOM's for the segments I was on during my "chase"!!  Lol...   ;)

5 reasons to ride that have nothing to do with ... the usual reasons!

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/04/5-reasons-to-bike-that-have-nothing-to-do-with-health-or-the-environment-brenna-fischer/

Exploring

After hearing last night about upcoming Light Rail and B-Cycle adventures, I thought this was a fun read this morning. It's about exploring new places by bicycle, but I think it has just as much value for slowing down and digging in to the places we already know well. I've discovered so much more in Denver by bike, and found new gems I didn't know existed even though I'd drive by them often in the car.

Why You Should Explore By Bike

CUTE!!!

That is one GOOD LOOKING TEAM PHOTO!!  So great to meet you ladies tonight, thanks for coming by the office to hang out and chat!  LOVE the stories that come from commuting!!!  Looking forward to rides and more story telling with you all summer long!

Eating right

I had to start by saying my crummy, off-site meeting filled week last week left me feeling very unsatisfied when it came to biking/commuting.  So I was so excited last week to be checking my calendar and see that every day should be a great day for biking to work.  Well... THEN the April snowstorm hit.  Icy, cold, heavy snow.  Yay Spring!  I planned last night to go ahead and bike to work today, hoping, SO hoping that the roads would be ok, and sadly they are not.  So I was forced (for my safety) to drive since I don't have the right equipment for ice riding.

Now, to my point for this post.  I actually had an unexpected realization recently when it came to my nutrition.  I have been trying to lose weight now for a few months and have been relatively successful (all the biking has helped immensely).  Not the greatest thing in the world to eat because they are high in sodium, but diet dinners (like Smart Ones, Lean Cuisine, etc) have been my lunches for some time in this weight loss journey.  The problem is biking to work I actually burn about 2200 calories a day and those 400 calorie, low protein meals are not cutting it for me.  So my new task is to find nutritious and healthy meals that keep me fueled up but don't counter the weight loss attempts.  I was gassing out an losing energy very quickly through the day.  Not good when you have to hop back on your bike at 4:30 in the afternoon!!  That lack of energy will kill your motivation.  So here's to eating right, keeping that energy and motivation, and wishing away all the snow!!!!   :)

Colorado "Spring"

Well, my garden is coming up, I wore flip flops most days last week, I got my first sunburn, and the trees are blooming. Which means we were about due for another cold, snowy day in Colorado. I rode all winter, logged over 100 days on the Icy Bike Commuter Challenge, and here I am feeling all cold and wimpy after a fifteen minute 20 degree ride on the ice. How quickly I have gotten used to sunny mornings and warm rides! Good thing I have a chance to shake it off and ride to Golden tonight for the TCL Commuter Team meeting. I'm looking forward to a chilly ride there, and a cozy light rail ride home after a short ride to the Jeffco station. Without a car, I like how the simplest trips can turn into a small adventure. 

Bike Skillz

I don't have very many (any) bike handling skills.  However, my commutes on the trails are gradually teaching or reminding me of the stuff that real cyclists don't even think about anymore. 

1.  When opening the gates, I don't have to unclip both feet and jump off of the bike.  While it might be good if I were practicing my cyclocross moves, it is not required for commuting.  I can unclip one foot and roll through the gate.  The pros don't unclip at all!

2.  Just because I am on a trail does not mean that I have to be a hard-core mountain bike expert.  Sure, there are more exciting trails in the world than the quadruple-track on my route, but these nice flat gravel trails are a joy for commuting.

3.  Just look at that view.

4.  My friend Neal, who had a birthday this week (Happy Birthday, Neal!) gave me some good advice:  When taking a turn downhill, put your uphill pedal down (so that you don't scrape the downhill one) and put your weight on it so that your tires slide out of the turn.  Now, Neal has been known to go so fast downhill that he skipped his downhill pedal on the pavement (yes, he was parallel to the ground), but his advice works equally well for novice bike commuters.  Putting your weight on the uphill pedal makes your bike more steady in a turn.

5.   Fuel and drink a a bit extra for the commute.  Drink extra water, and if you are dieting, take a break on the commuting days so that you don't arrive at home completely spent.

Travel Kinks

Travelling can definitely put a cramp in your routine when it affects your sleeping, eating or exercise (or all 3).  Being someone who unfortunately travels almost every week and typically to places that are not notorious for healthy lifestyles (Nebraska...sorry Megan :), I have had to get creative to keep things somewhat on an even keel. 

One such strategy that I utilize is to find hotels where bikes are provided.  Obviously gyms are a standard in pretty much all hotels, but bikes are a rarity. I have actually been able to find a few hotels in out-state Nebraska that provide beach cruisers to guests for checkout for free!  Or if I cannot find a hotel with just such a service, there are often bike shops in town that will let you check out or test drive a bike for the afternoon.  Little things like this really help me stay on track.

When in San Diego last week, I took a break from meetings to rent a beach cruiser and go explore Coronado- probably the cheapest and coolest way to see this gorgeous island.

Happy Friday!

It has been a wonderful week of bike commuting, with beautiful sunshine and busy trails!  I just wanted to post two quick highlights from my week.  First are the trees along Cherry Creek that are in full blossom right now.  They smell wonderful!  Secondly, is the beautiful sight of full bike racks at work.  This used to be the 'smoking area' at my building, but last fall they cleared out the ashtrays and installed bike racks, win win!
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Inspiration

Before joining The Cyclist-Lawyer commuter team, I stayed far far away from Strava.  Part of the reason I stopped racing was because I was tired of tracking every. single. thing.  But I reallllllllly wanted a hot pink wind vest, so I figured joining Strava would  be worth it!  While I am still surprised at the segments people put together - especially the ones that require a lot of stop sign running - I confess that I like it!  And it is because of the awesome ladies on the Commuter Team.  Seriously.  It sounds all wishy washy and mushy, but you guys inspire me to commute more!  You guys commute all the time!!!  I like looking at your routes and getting new ideas for my routes.  And you ladies ride fast and far and frequently.  Thanks for inspiring me to commute more!!!

Me in my HOT PINK wind vest.  With a bridesmaid's dress underneath.  What?!  I got them both on the same day and the colors are quite complimentary.

Ode to The Camelback and other deep thoughts from a morning ride

First commute to work of the season for me...took me long enough right? And an awesome 13 mile ride in if I may say so myself, all thanks to my trusty Camelback.  As you may or may not be able to glean from the below, I can fit my handpump, spare tires, bandanna, hair straightener, jewelry case, clothes, toiletry bag, etc. all in this trusty sucker.  Not a bad investment if I do say so myself.

What might be a better investment?  Laying your stuff out the night before so you don't forget important items like your thermal hat or gloves.  :) Live and learn... or just suck it up I suppose. 

Even with some slightly frozen ears and hands, you can still gaze at the cars idling next to you in complete gridlock and thank your chamois buttered bum that you got yourself a bike and a sweet Camelback. :) Have an awesome day everybody!

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