A Collection of Bicycling Quotes:

I rode my bike to work today and my husband picked me up as it was after dark when I got off....soon, it will be light when I get off and maybe I can ride both ways. I resolved to ride more, so I am taking baby steps in the right directions.

These are some quotations I collected a while back about bicycles: (I didn't cite some of my sources...ooops!).

A bicycle was described as "an instrument of freedom".

The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. (Christopher Morley)

The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine.

The bicycle is the most civilized convenyance know to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart. (Iris Murdoch)

When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. (H.G. Wells)

Birdy and his Ragamuffin MawMaw have a good day.

We just returned from a walk and the Birdman looked so spry and happy. I'm still trying to make peace with the idea that I will soon have to choose the day of his demise, but today was mostly a good day. He actually looked like he was smiling when we were walking and he trotted along not letting anyone else get ahead of him. He gobbled up the liver his Grandma cooked for him, but refused the "yummy" canned food. He almost always looks sad like the picture, but as he trotted along he looked so very happy.

I had a good day too. I took care of a little chore, showered and then rode my bike to a baby shower. I had to remind myself several times to just enjoy the ride. I would be cranking away on the pedals like I was late for something. Seriously, I need to unplug that fuse in my brain, the one that makes me manic. When I slowed down, coasted along, and just breathed it all in I realized that it was damn near perfect day. Funny how something as simple as riding a bike can bring joy to your soul.

Resolution #2: Ride my bike more than I drive

Day One: Bike Commuting.

I couldn't have asked for better weather to bike to work. It was 68 degrees, overcast, a little windy, but it is JANUARY and almost 70 at 7:00am. Having resolved to ride my bike more and drive less, I set out about 20-25 minutes earlier than usual. Since I haven't been running or riding lately my quads were singing and I was puffing a bit (probably more nerves than anything).

The scariest part of the route is crossing the highway and usually I go a little out of my way to cross at a light, but this morning I caught a break, a beautiful thing, no traffic in both directions creating a gap just big enough for me to zip across using a crossover. The city's recently finished hike/bike trail kept me out traffic after I crossed the lake. I scared up a Great Blue Heron along the way, the best reward I could have received for riding instead of driving.

The afternoon ride home wasn't so rewarding (though I did see another heron). It was a headwind and tons of traffic...a little scary.

Of course, there have to be rules. I am governed by rules, well... half of me is governed by rules and the other half of my gemini-self doesn't really care for rules. Actually, I like rules that I make for myself and am not too crazy about rules that other people make for me. So, the rules of this bike riding thing are:

1. no riding below 40 degrees (I'm a weiner)
2. no riding on the days I teach yoga (because it would mean riding home in the twilight)
3. aim for riding more than 50% of the time (most weeks that means three days of five)