Today's Haul

Today's haul contained the normal stuff: change of clothes, lunch, snacks, computer(s), extra layers for warmth... But then when I left work I decided to take my bird feeder and it's hanging crook home. You can see the 6 foot pole hanging off the bike...

I love my cargo bike.

Check out more here.

Bike Rules

I think I've got another rule to add...

• If it's more than 10 miles away, it's okay to take a car (unless you have the time and are feeling ambitious).
• If you need to take family, friends or pets to the doctor, it's okay to take a car.
• If it's an emergency, it's okay to take the car.
• If the weather is manageable but miserable (ex: downpour), and someone else is already going where you need to go, it's okay to carpool with them.

Biking

Well, on October 7 I mentioned on Facebook that I was curious about a car-free year.

Starting October 10 I rode my bike to work. And the next day and the next. I haven't told anyone that I'm trying for a whole year, I'm just trying to consistently ride my bike.

I've received some push-back from concerned parents for night riding and we'll see how tomorrow goes (it's supposed to pour all day). My parents are already concerned and my coworkers will think I'm crazy.

Ah, well, here goes!

A few "rules" that I've started formulating, otherwise it's biking or walking for me:

• If it's more than 10 miles away, it's okay to take a car (unless you have the time and are feeling ambitious).
• If you need to take family, friends or pets to the doctor, it's okay to take a car.
• If it's an emergency, it's okay to take the car.

I still haven't figured out how to handle this with Chris. He'll support me riding, but he's not really interested in it for himself... So do I limit dates to the Holland/Zeeland area and just meet him there? Or do I just plan on going on dates in Grand Rapids so that it's okay to drive?

So, there ya go. We'll see how long this lasts!

Apple Cider Century & Wine Making

I know, I know, we went on this trip about a month ago...

Well, since it's been awhile since I've gone, I don't have much to say about it anymore. Other than it was exhausting and totally worth it.

Chris and I will probably go again next year, so if anyone else wants to join us, it's a fun family bike event!

You can totally do this trip on a weekend without taking work off, but we were both glad we took Monday off to recuperate from the ride.

Check out some pictures on our flickr site.

Also, Chris has been working on his first batch of wine and we bottled it up last night. It's a Pinot Noir... Now I just need to come up with some clever labels for the bottles...

I like to think I ride my bike for several reasons: earth, health, enjoyment.

However, as admirable as those reasons are, sometimes they're not enough to convince me to roll out of bed just a little bit earlier so that I can ride rather than drive.

This week however, Chris' car has been slightly out of commission, so he's been using my car and I've been biking in.

After work today I rode over to Grandma's house to take care of the vacuuming.

"Oh Alison! You rode all the way here!" (shock and dismay in her voice)

"Yes Grandma, I did."

"Do you want to put the bike in my Jeep so you don't have to ride home?"

...I just can't seem to convince her that I choose to ride, and I could just as easily have taken the car if I didn't want to have to ride home. *sigh* Maybe someday she'll understand. For now, she just thinks I'm crazy.

On my way home I headed to the library. A week or so ago I was there picking up some books on soap making (yes, I'm a hippie-wanna-be...) and travel. As I was looking at the online catalog I saw that Twilight was in on the Express Shelf. What a nice idea! The Express Shelf has a shorter check-out time, so instead of getting it several weeks, you only have like a week to borrow it. Those books are always on such long hold lists, so I was excited that it was actually in.

Needless to say I sped through that one, put the next book on hold, got it within a few days, sped through it, put the next one on hold and today Eclipse came in at the library! So I picked it up.

I know. My life is pretty exciting. But you probably don't have much more of an exciting life if you're sitting here reading this. ;)

PS - Apple Cider Century this weekend!

Bicycle Maintenance

Chris is gone at Praise Team practice.

We have a bike trip coming this weekend (Apple Cider Century).

So...while Chris was away, I took the knobby tires off his bike and put on some new slicks.

All by myself.

No help.

Just me, one woman.

I feel so empowered!

New Slicks

I got some new slicks (smooth tires) for my bike the other day. So... I learned how to change bike tires! I don't think it's quite as quick of a process (changing a flat) as everyone says, but maybe I just need more practice.

Anyway, I feel better having changed tires because now my ride is a little easier (knobby tires make it a little harder on all street riding) and now I know how to change a tire. This is all good stuff in preparation for our upcoming trip, the Apple Cider Century. I don't think we'll actually do the century (100 miles), but there are plenty of smaller options for us to choose from.

Anyway, here's my tire (left) vs. Chris' tire (right) - which is what my previous tires were.


And then here's me with my "naked" xtracycle (no bags or snapdeck on it).


Take note of the shirt I'm wearing... It says "The Pumpkin Patch" on it... You know what that means. Every year, the 2nd and 3rd weekends of October...great family fun! Chris and I won't be there on the Saturdays this year (we have weddings both weekends), but we'll be there for the Sundays. Check it out!

Xtracycle Video

I got this updated video on Facebook. I like the Xtracycle lifestyle. Someday I hope to do more than just commute with it.

Magical Slideshow - Xtracycle from Xtracycle on Vimeo.

BIking and Pizza

Chris and I took the xtracycle out for the first official errand. Yes, I've taken it to work a few times, but nothing where I've had to "haul" anything.

So today, we missed church, so for whatever reason we transformed it into a date night. We ordered pizza at a local place about 2 miles away, hopped on our bikes and picked it up. We ate some pizza there, then ran into Blockbuster, strapped the pizzas to the bike and headed home.

The boxes didn't budge from the bike, but the pizzas rattled around quite a bit inside... Good thing we ate some before it got jostled!

Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera along, so no photos of this trip.

Now we shall spend the evening watching Twilight, which everyone has been raving about.

World Commute

Found this site. Could be cool.

World Commute

It's still a work in progress, but it's fun to track the miles I commute or exercise by non-motorized means.

It even calculates and estimate for money saved and carbon offset.

Maybe I can use the "money saved" portion as an excuse to add moola to the bike envelope more often and pimp out my bike some more...

Time for an update!

Okay, what's new...

I rode my bike to work on Friday. It was a little wet out, but fantastic to get outside. I had about 4 cars pull out in front of me at intersections, but I was going at a very leisurely pace, so I was able to keep space between me and the cars. However, the sherrif car that pulled in front of me was a little ironic...

Chris and I went to the Home Show today in Grand Rapids. It was fun to attend. The main intent was to recon for what other landscaping companies are doing and their marketing pieces, but it was fun. Zero freebies handed out though... I guess it's just another reminder of how everyone needs to be a little tighter with what money they have.

I ordered my worms today! I've been holding off, partly because we haven't put together a lid for the box yet and partly because I've just kind of forgotten... But now the worms are on their way and Chris and I will be forced to pull our act together. The worms are coming form Uncle Jim's Worm Farm.

That's most of what's new. I bought a reflective vest-thing for when I'm biking to work to help my visibility. What I'd really like is the Down Low Glow, but I'll have to save up quite a bit for that one. I'll probably get Glowspek Pedals first, since those are much more affordable.

That's all I've got for now. If you're a facebook user, become friends with Beaker Bob - he's our mascot for our online menu company. He's the one that's a cute little beaker...

My Xtracycle

I'm so excited! I took it for a quick ride in the snow. Works great! I even rode around with Chris on the back.

Almost here!

The xtracycle arrives tomorrow! I'm so excited! Now I just need weather warm enough to take it outside...

It's coming!

I've finally ordered my xtracycle! Very excited. It's being shipped to Velo City Cycles... Should arrive late next week or early the following week.

Now I've just got to trudge through the snow to the shed to pull out my bike and bring it into the shop to be converted.

Yay!