BTW: Bike to Work Day
bike to work day is usually an everyday event
since breaking my finger it has been Walk to Work Day
under my PT 's (Physical Terrorist) recommendation I have been avoiding the bike
permission to ride a stationary bike
orders to not be stupid enough to ride a bike
with the official Bike to Work Day happening I could not resist
for some reason I felt it vital to RIDE AND BE COUNTED
it was not a mishievous temptation.... it was a righteous calling
so last night after a late night on the clock and a few drinks at a local pub I wound down by collecteing my gear for my ride to work
the rigid Karate Monkey Single Speed was my ride of choice
there was air in the tires
there were pedals on the cranks
pretty much ready to go
so I gathered up shoes, helmet, GLOVE, glasses
leaving the rest of the apparrell to be dictated by the temperature of the morning
actually gear was gathered other than shoes
my winter shoes were out in the open, my Sidi shoes were revealed when I eached for my rain pants the next morning
the next morning arrived fast
lisa went to bed sick and woke up sicker
dean woke up at 6:30, which woke grant up at 6:30
perhaps it was 6:20 as our bedeoom clock is set to trick me by being 10 minut s fast
I got up to intercept all toddling invaders
in an effort to manage grant I put dean in front of the television
this is no the standard morning routine
grant walked right through me
straight to momma
with dean watching television I was able to get him to wear the clothing I selected
and eat the food that I prepared (banana and oj... not much preparation really)
with lisa sick I accepted the responsibility of driving cross town to drop dean off at school
the drop offs can be a bonding pleasure, but on this day my actions were cutting into my Bike to Work experience
back from dropping dean off I leashed up the dogs and marched into the woods
did I mention it was raining?
did I mention it was cold and raining?
did I mention it was raining cats and dogs?
even roscoe and brutus were bummed by the rain
the dogs got walked long enough out that I was able to see that at least one of the dogs had pooped
the other one will figure it out as we walk back and will have ample time to drop a load
went inside
unleashed the hounds
watched and wondered why they refuse to shake dry outside rather than inside
gathered, wallet, cell phone, blackberry, company id/building pass and headed down to the basement to suit up and head to work
with the rain coming down I opted for a full GORTEX gear
head to toe
with my City Bikes jersey hidden I grabbed a Timbuk2 messenger bag with a large red City Bikes oval patch to aid in my representation
in actuality...
I just hope that the drivers see me....
it is tough for a driver to see a cyclist through a rain covered window all foggered up because they are breathing heavy as they watch porn on their dash board DVD while they check emails on their microscopic Blackberry
with a plastic bag over my splint and a clip on fender over my rear wheel I was off and rolling
my path took me past a park in Mt. Pleasant.... not so much as a straggler from the local ralley
would like to say that it was good to be on the bike
but for some reason when it rains car drivers break out in a bad cas of stupid
bumper to bumper traffic
angry agressive hatefilled car drivers
I know.... I own a car
I know... I see their expressions as they run me off the road
down through the city
mount pleasant/adams morgan/dupont circle
the white house/treasury department
ah
freedom plaza
not much ditance
but plenty of nice views... what can be see between the rain drops and Metro buses
arriving for the final moments of the rally
missed the speeches
but caught some of the energy
it was a large wet wheel-filled amemba mass
then with a blink of an eye
cyclists rushed off to work
volunteers began to tear down in a shockingly efficient fashion
I had almost missed the whole party
it was hard to make contact with people
everyone looked like a wet rat
as far as I can recall.. I do not have many wet rat friends
I went from booth to booth
making small talk with what wet rats I could recognize
bopped here
bopped there
scored swag here
scored more swag there
still managed to get to work by 9:25
only 25 minutes late for work
and about 10 minutes earlier than I often arrive
about to suit up in my wet gear and pedal my way home
not sure how much urban riding I care to do with one hand and one claw
pot holes cause pain
panic stops and sudden movement cause fear
all of the "what ifs" are too much for me to risk
all of the worst case scenarios are enough for my wife and physical terroist to do more than say "i told you so"
worse yet... something happened and they said, nothing
it was good to get on the bike
it was good to get out for Bike to Work Day
