The Daily Commute
Yesterday I rode into the office carrying a change of clothes since it had gotten significantly warmer and I wanted to take the 8-mile route. With the change of clothes, I wasn't concerned about sweat and ended up riding substantially harder than usual and got a good, high-intensity workout.
Taking a rest day today, I coasted at a slow, even intensity level. The slower pace provided a different set of sensations. Even as I stepped outside to ride, I noticed the heavy perfumes of tree blossoms. Riding through quiet low spots, the nasal impressions were particularly intense. The Bradford Pears are opening -- earlier than usual I might add -- as well as the Redbuds. Last week it was the Tulip trees. Before long, I'll be getting tired of hearing about allergies when people mean normal sneezing.It's mid-March, we're riding in shorts even before the sun comes up, and people are taking to the streets. I don't remember ever seeing so many bike commuters in all the years I've ridden around Atlanta. Daily, I'm stopping to speak with fellow riders to find out how far they ride and where they work or live. Many are Tech students and they show the greatest variation in equipment, clothing, and speed.
Riding around in a car, I don't get the same feeling of community that I get on a bike. Greeting each other face-to-face makes a big difference in how we approach our fellow commuters. Another +1 for bicycle commuting.
Labels: bike-commuting, citycycling
posted by Jett @ 6:26 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
I'm seeing huge numbers of bike commuters in California also. I think we're approaching a tipping point of cycling as a means of transportation.
California is ahead of the curve on everything. I would love if Atlanta could reach within my lifetime the point San Diego or the Bay Area has already reached.
Tipping point. I haven't looked at it that way, but it makes sense.
At some point, people will realize that they too can ride to work -- perhaps not everyday, but perhaps a few times a month -- and then a few times a week until they get settled into a pattern. Seeing other riders could be the encouragement that tips them onto the bike commuting side of the fence.
I wonder if people like us would still bike if it became very popular. I know I like being the "outsider".
Your getting really nice bike weather in Atlanta I see. I just had to back out of visiting my son in Buckhead next month, because of a project. Wifey will be there but she is not as much of a rider as me.
p.s.
I coached soccer at many levels for over 20 years. That was lots of fun.
I've never gotten so many miles in over the winter. I never got the right clothing for winter riding, but we haven't had much winter weather this year. There's been maybe a handful of days the temps dropped below freezing whereas we usually get 2-3 ice storms and some snow each year. As long as I don't think about global warming, I'm loving it.
Let me know if you bring your bike down. We often ride in Buckhead.
Yes, coaching has been very rewarding. Did your kids get you into soccer? I had to quit when my daughters started teaching me stuff ;-).
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