Catch Up

I have met so many wonderful people and had so many wonderful experiences recently. I love love love it. Thank you, Universe.

Austin Commuter Challenge

Since you asked, the Austin Commuter Challenge coincides with Bike Month (May) and encourages people to trade vehicle trips for bike trips. Regardless of distance, anytime you ride your bike rather than turn your car key you get to log a trip. There are team, individual and family "competitions". Those with the most trips at the end of the month win mad bragging rights and cheesy trophies to drink beer out of, or I suppose juice for the families.

The majority of people's trips are within 2 miles of their homes, and 90% of those are made in their vehicles. So I read.

Since I've been commuting to work I've slowed down enough to notice just how many people are on bikes around Austin. Today I passed a little old man cruising Shoal Creek Blvd. (my route for about half of my commute) and said, "Morning". He looked a little surprised to see me next to him, but emphatically responded with a, "Good Morning!" Then a lady pushing a stroller on the other side of the street looked over, smiled and said Hi even though she was on the phone. A second lady who was running, sans cell phone, did the same. It was incredibly refreshing and put me in a really good mood first thing in the morning. It's still an uphill battle to be recognized out there though, as I was cut off twice in a row at the same intersection in Tarrytown, which is a very quiet, pretty slow-paced neighborhood with a lot of runners and walkers out every day.

About half-way through the month I've gotten in 78 miles in 14 trips. Not great, but not shabby either. Hopefully I'll be able to at least double that by the end of the month.

May Is Bike Month...

Which coincides with the Austin Commuter Challenge (some of you may have your own commuter challenges in your oh-so-progressive cities). It's given me extra motivation to make the 8+ mile each-way ride to work as frequently as possibly when I don't have the pup.

How's it going? I get to start my day with a metabolism boost. I spend less on gas and less time being annoyed by the drivers on Slo-pac. I get to cruise through some of Austin's finest neighborhoods. Stop at my favorite coffee shop on the way. I hear birds, I breathe the beautiful Spring-time air. On the way home it's usually dusk and honeysuckle is heavy in the air, which is refreshingly cool. Plenty of fresh laundry smells to sniff along the way as well.

It's so, so liberating and simple. Riding home tonight I took a different route than I normally do. At least on the rides home, I try to vary my route just a little each day. More than simply a means to an end, my bike ride provides me with a pinch of exploration wrapping up an otherwise normal day.

One Word, 15 April

OK. Thanks to Carly and her intraweb finds, here's a blog for you. String of conscious style writing prompted by a given word that you can find here

Coaster brakes on bikes are so much fun. Remember when you were a kid and you'd pedal pedal pedal as fast as you could just so you could lock up the brake and slide as far as possible and see how long a skid mark you could make on the asphalt or better yet the gravel in the driveway.

Pace Bend Camping Trip

Commenced with a beautiful sunset.



Still a little muddy after the rains, getting loose in the corners.



New Teeter-totter to play on.



Buddy testing it out.



Beautiful weather and trails had us both excited.

The New Ride

Happy late birthday to myself! Super stoked to have a new ride. Pump tracks, girlie jumps, street rides commence!

Pace Bend Park Ride

Have ridden these trails before, but they were MUCH better this time around. All the mud reminded me of my childhood when my brother, his friends and I would slide out in the puddles and jump off culverts into muddy water holes.

First time back on the bike in far too long. Good company. Beautiful weather.

After the first long, muddy descent:






Mud running down over the socks:


End of the ride: