Aug 24 -adult bike rodeo!

Come test your skills and meet members of our TCL ladies' commuter team too!  Most bike rodeos are for kids - -this one is for the BIG kids ;)

8 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Washington Avenue between 10th and 11th streets

Your kids have been through the bike rodeo and have developed the confidence to ride, but do you have it?Come to the adult bike rodeo to build your skills and your confidence on two wheels. Taught by Megan Hottman and her team, League Cycling Instructors with the American League of Bicyclists. Join in the fun and make your next ride a family ride!  This event is sponsored by Hottman Law Office and TheCyclist-Lawyer.com.

Info here: http://goldenmoves.org/2014-events/

Ice, My New Best Friend

The past few times I've ridden to work, the ride home has been very hot. Recently, I discovered the ice machine that is right outside the lab I work in. I grab a ziploc bag and fill it up with ice before leaving to head home and put the ice either in my pocket or the front of my shirt. It definetly helps on those hot rides home to keep me a little bit cooler.

la-girafesportive: La Girafe Sportive socks, designed by Lauren...

la-girafesportive:

La Girafe Sportive socks, designed by Lauren Ayers for Tenspeed Hero.

Great socks.

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1A2UHle

via IFTTT

Contingency plan

Something I learned very quickly is that one must always have a contingency plan because you really never know what could go wrong, mechanical problems, horrible weather (I've been caught in lightening and hail before), whatever.  

I had an issue once where on my morning commute I managed to fail to unclip my shoe and I just fell right over. That afternoon on my way home my bike was acting bizarre. The gears were slipping all over the place and I was riding in traffic and it was starting to become a safety issue. So I parked myself in the grass in front of a Burger King and called my husband to pick me up.  Had my husband not been able to come get me, my friend/neighbor and I have an agreement that we know we can call each other for rescue.

So whether it's someone you can call or knowing how to use the public transportation, it's really important to have a backup plan because things don't  always goes according to plan... 

Biking Through the Winter of My Discontent

This year had been hard.  Harder than any other time in my life.  There has been death, loss and terrible illness.  Events that have never affected me and my charmed life have shown up with a vengeance.  Yet even in these dark times there is much to be grateful for; my bike is definitely on that list.  My summer plans of hiking and biking have been replaced with countless hours spent at the hospital, sick with worry over my ailing mom.  During these dark times my bike provides a great escape.

Back in routine...

I have been on vacation the last two weeks and before that I had a crazy schedule at work, so I literally haven't hardly commuted by bike to work in probably a month. It stinks. It's such a great way to start and end a day!!  I finally commuted the other day and it was awesome. I missed it a lot. I've been getting on my bike every day, just not commuting. I feel so accomplished and refreshed when I do.  And that is my incentive to commute. Not just to work but doing other things. I had to get a ride in the other day and so I returned movies to RedBox on my bike.  It felt good to not turn on the car and to just spin my legs. It's a great psychological and physical reward.   :)

Hail

It is the season of summer storms.  But the good thing about the Denver area is that most storms blow over quickly.  On a recent ride from work to the bus station, I got hailed on five times!  But the good thing is that it stopped hailing four times.  Haha!  That is how I talked myself through that ride.  Luckily it wasn't too cold.  Just not super fun.  And I remembered I hadn't cleaned my helmet in a while - mmmm . . . old sweat and sunblock running down my face.  But I got a lot of Toughness Points!!



My soaked legs and feet.  I felt bad for the person who sat on the bus seat after me!

Change up your Commute and Support a Cyclist!

There's nothing better than getting into a nice, easy routine when it comes to commuting to work.  Having your clothes picked out the night before, the coffee pot set to 'delayed start' and maybe even having your lunch packed and ready to grab.  But there is definitely something to be said for shaking things up once in a while, which is what I started doing this week!  

Thanks to Megan Hottman, I was introduced to an absolutely AMAZING biscuit shop that just-so-happens to be on my commute to work!  So instead of chomping down on a bowl of cereal before running out the door, I decided to swing by Rise and Shine Biscuit Kitchen and Cafe on my ride in.  It was exactly the change I needed to keep my commute interesting!  Aside from the delicious fresh-from-the-oven biscuit of the day (today was blueberry...delish!!!), I had a great time talking to the friendly folks at the bakery (both workers and customers) and it was such a wonderful way to start the day!  Not to mention that the owner (Seth) is also an avid cyclist!!  

So get out there and start exploring shops and stores along your commute!  If you find small businesses that are owned by cyclists, please share!!!  The Starbucks of the world will survive without our $5 for a cup of coffee, but small businesses thrive on our support and, in my opinion, are much more appreciative than their rival multimillion dollar conglomerates.   

Incentives

I am lucky to work at an institution that supports biking to work wholeheartedly.  Like many cultural institutions, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science is motivated to keep as many spaces open in the parking lot for visitors as possible!  They actively encourage walking, biking, carpooling, and bussing to work.  Here are some of the perks/benefits/things to make life easier:

1) Amazon gift cards or a paid day off for every 10 days of not car commuting!!!!!!!!!

2) EcoPass for all employees (this allows you to ride free on all RTD lines)

3) Bike locker (and lots of bike racks for days when the bike locker overflows)

4) Showers

What does your workplace do?  Anything that would be easy to implement?

July 20 Rapha #women100ride

TCL commuter ladies-- please join me on this event - ride as far as you like, feel free to turn back and head for home if it's more miles than you want to do !! But please join us and wear your sweet high viz HOT PINK jersey or vest if you come along!!

https://www.facebook.com/events/663955940328945/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming