How I get to work.

When we went house shopping last spring we limited ourselves to within 4 miles of school.  The reason was because we are committed to being a one car couple for as long as possible.  Right now, that is pretty easy, but if Collyn ends up working a job that she can't easily get to using public transportation (likely considering the current bus system here).  I figured 4 miles was an easily bike-able distance that wouldn't require me to shower once I got to work, or leave so early that it would still be dark (not because it's a safety concern, but because I just don't want to be heading to work when it's still dark out because that is wrong).  That means it was time for a "new" bike.  I still have my trek road bike, and it still runs great, but I wanted something that I could mount fenders and saddle bags on, as well as cross railroad tracks, potholes, sticks, and other common road phenomenon around here, without getting unseated.  So I went to a place that specializes in 2nd hand bikes and bought this:

 Oooh, fancy.

It's so much slower than my road bike, but I don't worry about asphalt cracks with this one.  It's a less extreme riding position, but still aggressive enough that I can get some speed up.  You can see from the seat height that the frame is a little small for me.  That was because we wanted something Collyn could ride as well.  She has ridden some, but complains about the seat, so we may need to get a new one. 

The real surprise is how much I have enjoyed riding to work.  It adds just a few minutes to my commute time as compared to driving, but it wakes me up and warms me up.  Sometimes I still drive or have Collyn give me a ride based on having to take things to work, or not wanting to bike home at 9:00p.m. after a late soccer game, or ride in the rain.  I find myself looking forward to my ride home.  I was initially worried about the cold, but I've found that gloves, ear muffs and a relatively light windbreaker and I'm fine.  I may need to get a helmet cover or a balaclava for this winter.  There are 4 of us in the science department that primarily cycle to work, so I'm in good company.