Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Learning to Ride

On my ride home yesterday, I saw a young boy. He was straddling the bike sheepishly. He was unsure of himself, but determined. His left foot was hopping along the ground as his right foot was busy coaxing the corresponding pedal to the 1:00 o'clock position. By this time, I drew abreast of him and quickly passed by. I glanced over my shoulder to gauge his success to find that he and the bike were a cohesive heap on the road. He immediately jumped up, grabbed the bike patiently and started to attempt the whole process again. I smiled to myself and thought, bravo, keep at it lad. The joys and freedom that await you once you get up on two wheels will far outweigh the bumps and bruises you suffer while learning to.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

My Typical Commute - Mile 0

The alarm goes off at 4:30 AM and my day begins.  I throw some beans in the grinder and start the coffee a brewing...

The smell of coffee does it to me every time, so its off to the throne...

I let the dog out...

I get dressed...

I pour a cup of coffee, piddle a while on the computer and enjoy the peace and quiet.  The mornings are my time.   In the next couple hours, I'll be at work enduring constant interruptions and being pulled in a million directions.  When I finally make it home, it will be time to invest in this wonderful thing called marriage.  I'll sneak in a drink or two.  I'll go to bed early.  The mornings are my time and I protect them religiously and savor them immensely.

I don my riding gear...

I load the bike...

Before I get to the end of my drive way, I am faced with a choice...

Do I turn right and take the longer route to work (10 miles) or do I turn left and take the shorter route (5 miles)?  It's cold and still dark out, so I turned left.