During this beautiful Michigan summer of transition, Curtis (he’s very wonderful) and I bought a house that’s 14 miles away from my job. Our house is also conveniently located near a bike trail, so every day I ride my bike to work.
After more than a month of almost 30 miles a day on my swift red bike, I’ve learned a few lessons:
Riding to work is somehow always slower than riding home.
On-time arrival isn’t accomplished by sporadic spurts of speed—it’s earned through steady, continuous pedaling.
There is such a thing as having sore, tired thighs all the time.
Skunks don’t spray humans every time they see them, contrary to what kids books and the media want us to believe.
If you think being chased by a bear is a good speed motivator, try attempting to out-bike a thunderstorm.
Deer aren’t exactly the smartest animals, but they can certainly jump.
If you call out to cows, they will look at you.
Riding four miles on a flat tire is not a good idea.
Biking in 45 degrees without gloves on will make your hands very, very cold.
Greasing your chain makes a major difference not only in ease of pedaling, but also in rattling and squeaking.
Some cars are gracious and pass with a wide berth. Others are less so, and pass a lot closer.
Traveling down a mist-covered path isn’t quite as eerie as it is in movies . . . but it’s close.
Skinny road bike tires + gravel roads = lots of fishtailing.
Bikes are great conversation starters.
Every time I pass anyone else on a bike, I always say, “It’s a great day for a ride, isn’t it?” Once past, I laugh because they don’t know the secret truth: it’s always a great day for a ride.
Biking is easily the best part of every day (besides being with Curtis). Nothing compares to the cheery expectation of miles of smooth path on a sunny afternoon.
If you’ve never ridden your bike to work, give it a shot sometime. If you don’t own a bike, I’m so sorry. If you never learned how to ride a bike, come to my house and I will teach you and we’ll go on an adventure and get ICE CREAM.
All in all, it’s not a bad way to start the day.
You’d be amazed how many people stop and talk about biking when they see a bike. It’s almost the equivalent of walking a dog or a baby. Almost.
Biking in northern Michigan poses slightly different road hazards than biking in downtown Chicago . . .