Tuesday, January 15, 2008

My Daily Commute


Many people have emailed me impressed at streak that I've kept up riding to work. The fact of the matter is that it's not that impressive. Sure, there have been a few days (rainy, below zero with incredible wind chills) that I could have wimped out and driven or caught a ride (which is how my last streak ended) but I have trudged on, often BECAUSE of the streak.

Maybe I'm feeling like Cal Ripken Jr. or Brett Favre and their incredible streaks of starting in their respective sports. Streaks that they didn't want to see come to an end (Favre's is currently still going!). While my streak hasn't even reached a year, many seem so impressed. Truth is, the mileage is only between .91 and .96 one way depending on if I can cut through the park or not. Take into effect that I have never had a parking permit at my job so even if I did drive, on average I'd have to park 2-3 blocks away. So I ask you that are impressed: Does it REALLY make SENSE to drive? It would actually make more sense to WALK than to DRIVE. That being said, I am a little OCD when it comes to goals/streaks. I will enter into any contest and or goal with FULL intentions of completing it.

I am more impressed with those who have miles of daily commuting, like fellow bloggers from Minnesota and Mr. Bite and others in Sioux Falls. While they may not do it EVERY day, they do it MOST days.

For those that find inspiration that I do this every day, that's what it's all about: Inspiration. Get out there and do it as often and as long as you can. If you keep finding excuses to ride the bike, pretty soon the bike becomes the first thought and the car becomes an afterthought.

Ride on!

4 comments:

The Designer's Prospective said...

Amen...

Jeffrey C. said...

It's not how far you go, but that you go...

or...

It's not how far you go, but how you get there...

Peace!
Jeff

Anonymous said...

Great job. Here is some more incentive for your efforts. The following link lets you compute your savings by not driving.
http://www.drivelesslivemore.org/ComputeYourCommute.asp

peddlinshutterbug said...

It is, indeed impressive that you bike in all those conditions, and I admire those who do it, such as those many 'silent commuters' out there who can be inspirational to others. A good example of this osmosis taking place, are several friends of ours who have taken up commuting. Many of 'not-yet-biking' friends, as we call them, who constantly rave over my husband who commutes 16 miles daily, without blogofare and posting. (Although he does keep a faithful record of his 2008 miles~over 1000 commute miles) Keep up your online 'spokes' personing! The word is getting out through many 'cycles' of information!!!!!