Week Two

Sunday night requires a little more preparation than it use to! Food to pack, clothes to organize, bike to get ready, and weather to check. The biggest news of this car-free journey is that I've decided to change bikes for the commute. My road bike is very light and designed to just ride fast. This is great unless it's 'breezy' or rainy. Now, I need to clarify that Colorado's version of 'breezy' is like Ohio's version of a tornado. If you are on a light bike on a breezy day, you risk literally being lifted up off the ground like the little boy in ET.

So rather than investing in an authentic commuter bike, I am attempting to just work with my Kona Cinder Cone Mountain bike by adjusting a few features. It's a heavier frame and a 'triple' so I have a real 'GRANNY GEAR' for those hills! Today, I learned to swap out my tires and put on 'slicks'. This was quite the pain in the ass. I put this process in the same category as pounding a square peg into a round hole with a handle-less hammer that is too small. I added some new lights and picked up some necessary bike essentials (new socks so I now have five pair- one for each day so as to not have to do laundry every day) and some tire tubes and CO2 cartridges. I also transferred a rack and bike bag for the back so that I don't have to carry a backpack- nice! These items were purchased on my DRIVE into Fort Collins (32 miles) because the local bike shop is closed on Sunday. Quite ironic that I had to drive to the bike shop so that I could go car free. I know I know.... what about the 30 days? I needed some supplies, but now I know to visit the local bike shop on Monday through Saturday. But I'd say driving 32 miles in one week, is still very eco-friendly and quite the accomplishment.

This week- FIVE more days of commuting. The temperature is suppose to drop into the 50's with rain. Shit.

Purchase of the day: Coffee Travel Mug that fits nicely into my water bottle cage! yea baby, coffee!

Concern of the day: Weather and riding a different bike. And of course- food.

If you haven't already- check out the video link above by clicking on 'my ride'. It's a photo journal, and much like me, a work in progress.

Embarking on Week Two of being CAR-FREE and cheers to the 34solo Challenge!