Shopaholic Bikes to Work

The Goal: National Bike to Work Day 2010
The Challenge: I'm out of shape, haven't ridden a bike in 20 years, don't know the first thing about gears and these new-fangled bikes, am scared of riding in traffic, and work is 16 miles away in another state

So, does Shopaholic rent a bike? Perhaps try out other people's bikes? M says, just see if you're gonna like it or not before you buy. No. I'm obsessed with gear (see Shopaholic Snowboards, Rock Climbs, In-line skates, pole, etc.). Luckily, a little money came my way and off I went.

The Bike: This was a pain because I hate trying on clothes and one really has to go and take the time to ride a few bikes and see how they feel. I wasn't confident because I didn't know what a bike was supposed to feel like so I didn't know if the problem was me or the bike. I spoke to a few people in the office and H and A had Giant bikes so I picked out the Giant Sedona and Cypress DX W. Both are hybrid bikes which are a cross between mountain bikes and road bikes (speed, multiple terrains and more rugged). The Sedona didn't feel good, it wasn't smooth, hurt a bit (makes me question supporting one's weight on one's lady parts). The Cypress is a "comfort" bike, was very smooth with a big comfy seat and 24 speeds. I also liked the fuchsia color but searched for the silver one because M said that it would be harder to sell a pink bike than a silver bike (again, she's thinking about plan b). In the end, I could only find 1 xs Cypress, they only had it in pink and bought it from Hudson Trail Outfitters because they offer lifetime tune-ups and maintenance on the bike. They were also super nice, helpful and did not hard sell me on anything.

For safety, I got a Bell helmet with a visor for rain/ sun, yellow Navarro convertible jacket/ vest for visibility/ wind/ rain, Planet Bike lights for front and back, leg reflector/pant holder, sunglasses for dirt/ wind, Giant gel-pro gloves in case I fall, bell (although I prefer to say "passing left, thank you"), a Kryptonite U-lock AND cable lock. I keep a kit on the bike: extra tube, patch kit, levers, portable air, multi-tool, tri-flo lube.

For commuting, I got a back rack which was such a pain to attach because my bike's frame is bizarre. Chris at Hudson Trail Outfitters actually had to make special brackets to attach it. I loved my friend's panniers so I got the Ortlieb Classic Back-Rollers. I put the water bottle holder on the handle bar because again, my bike frame is so weird so there was no place to put it on the frame. I also got toe clips but I think that was a mistake and will look into clip-in pedals/ shoes. Most importantly, I got Gore 3/4 tights with mega padding and makes for a very comfortable ride.

Did I train? Not really (it's been raining a lot). I was scared of riding in the street and didn't know if I was allowed to ride on the sidewalks (vary by county). I ended up enrolling in an 8 hour Cycling Commuter Safety and Traffic Skills class at the local community college and am so glad I did. We went over laws, bike anatomy, sizing/ fit/ adjustments, gear, pre-ride check, shifting, riding, locking, maintenance, route selection, taking the bike on public transportation, etc. The other great thing about the class was we went on a ride and they pointed out things to be aware of, made bike adjustments and coached us. One of the instructors is on the board of an organization that collects, builds and sends bikes to third world countries. The other instructor is a huge bike advocate and set up many of the bike routes in the county. I was the first person to fix and patch a flat tire!

Finally the day came and my convoy showed up at my apartment at 6:30 AM. M says, "so, you're leaving for work 2 hours early, pedaling there, and you don't even have to be at the office that day." Yes. Again, my weird frame wouldn't fit on the bike rack so I threw it in the car so we could drive to the start of the trail. We decided to drive to the Capitol Crescent Trail because I was not confident about riding on roads.

The trail was amazing. It was a cool morning and because there's a slight decline, we were flying under a thick canopy of leaves. There were babbling brooks, squirrels, a gorgeous bridge, placid river. It's a gorgeous ride. We crossed the Key Bridge into Rosslyn and got our National Bike to Work Day t-shirts and swag at the pit stop. The ride to work was do-able with some good challenging parts that I'm eager to conquer.

While some believed I could bike to work, most doubted I could get home. I, too, was nervous about the mostly uphill ride. Our convoy leader set a good pace, I learned to look for inclines and stand up, switch gears in advance, and WE DID IT! WE MADE IT BACK IN ABOUT AN HOUR! I conquered National Bike to Work Day!

So, yes, I do plan on doing this regularly when the weather is nice. We have to get a rack for the car and I can't wait to explore Rock Creek Trail and all the other beautiful trails in the area. Got a bike? Let's ride!