Moronacity Cycling Journal » Commuting
Bike to Work Week
Today marks the beginning of Bike to Work Week, part of National Bike Month. It was part of the discussion at tonight’s mountain bike ride and dinner. Apparently, a couple of the Trekkers, our Monday night mountain biking group, were on the radio, this morning. They were promoting Bike to Work Week and talking about their experiences as bike commuters. I’ve commuted in all sorts of weather and have taken many different routes. When I mountain bike, I’ll take the rail-to-trail into town. When I use my cyclocross bike on the road, I have a lot of fun as I race cars through town. Part of the goal of National Bike Month and Bike to Work Week is to promote commuter safety. A large part … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commuting
Timing Perfected
Some people go as far as to call me a brave girl. I don’t really know if I can claim that, but I will say this about myself: I recognize my limits, make a plan, and act on it. Today was a great example. My friends and acquaintances know that I am chronically late. It’s pretty bad. If I say I am going to meet someone somewhere, I usually show up ten or 15 minutes late. It’s pretty bad. I even show up to class late. This bad habit has been acquired over the last couple of years. I used to always be early, even to parties, and found that I didn’t like being by myself twiddling my thumbs while waiting for … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commuting
For the Love of Maple Syrup and Pumpkin Pie
It was all because of maple syrup and pumpkin pie. The fact that I had to take a physics exam was part of the equation as well. I donned my cycling gear and headed out for a bike ride to Houghton. Being mostly downhill, I arrived at Michigan Tech after an hour and a detour for a Keweenaw Coop sandwich. The damage to my vehicle from Thursday’s accident was mostly cosmetic. The … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commuting
Going By Bike
This is my first week back at Michigan Tech for the fall semester. I couldn’t commute, Tuesday, because I had to exchange a textbook and get another one. The load would’ve been too much for my shoulders to handle for a total of nineteen miles. Ick. Yesterday was my first day bicycle commuting. I was creative. I had to get to an 8 a.m. class, which is nearly impossible for me, anyway, as I am quite the opposite of a morning person. I also had to start work at 1:30 p.m. The hospital is six miles from my home, and Tech is nine and a half. I chose to drive to work and park there. I rode my bike into school. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commuting
The Go By Bike Challenge
I was doing some online cycling clothing browsing and meandered over the Trek web site to check out their clothes. I like Trek clothing because they make cycling clothes that fit curvy, not-so-rail-thin women. That would be me. I never got to the clothing part of the web site, though. I saw The Go By Bike Challenge and took note. It’s a nifty little motivational tool. You pick the reason, or reasons, for commuting by bicycle and estimate the number of miles per trip. Then, you pick how many round trips you do in a week. It estimates how many pounds of carbon reduced, calories burned, and gas dollars saved. I chose to place the widget on my sidebar (to the right). … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commuting
A Di Day
We live in such a society where it is beyond the understanding of many that God simply wants us to slow down. In such a society where multi-tasking, economy, efficiency, and so on are paramount to our role as citizens, we have no idea how to not do anything. Even when we are completely wasteful of our time, producing absolutely nothing besides excess fat, we consume our minds with stimuli from video games, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commuting
Exercise Is a Benefit of Commuting
One of the first things I noticed when I began commuting by bike is the lack of guilt I would often feel when I chose not to ride after work. This is probably because I got my ride in on my way to and from work. Go figure. My work place is only about six miles away, and school is eleven. Even though it takes longer to get to school and work, I … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commuting
Stick It to the Oil Companies
Surfing through the MMBA forum, I found myself admiring those who regularly made their commute by bike in the Greater Detroit Area. It’s not like anyone got online and said, “I commuted, today.” My knowledge of these commuters came from their stories of bike-car collisions. When money got tight for my student-self this spring, I realized that bicycle commuting was going to be my savior. I could no longer afford several … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commuting
Stabbing at Local VA Clinic
No one gave their opinion on yesterday’s post, so I will present my opinion Wednesday. That gives all four of my readers the great opportunity to voice their opinion about the Shootout. Just kidding. I have more than four readers. I haven’t ridden since I last rode. I can’t remember when that was. Looking at my log, it was Thursday when I had to ride to the VA Clinic … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commuting
Michigan Bicycle Laws
Sometimes, bicycle laws are a gray area. Even when there are clear laws on the books protecting the rights of cyclists, law enforcement may shift any blame to the cyclist. In many cases, law enforcement is more than happy to protect cyclists’ rights, but motorists feel cyclists have no rights, and most of the time, motorists don’t even know that there are laws giving us rights. That may be a bit of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Commuting
