Bike Commute

Many days on the way work it felt like a scary adventure sharing the road with Winnipeg motorists. Its a toss up whether they hate runners or cyclists more. Not sure how other riders do it, but I've found trails are a much safer way to get to where I have to go, even if it adds more minutes than otherwise. You discover unofficial trails along the way as one trail seems to lead to another and another. I love feeling the fresh air, getting exercise and generally feeling connected to the environment. Love passing other commuters too. We do the little nod or smile like we belong to some secret society as we whiz by each other.

The drink insulator attached to the handle bar and pannier are the latest additions that make the ride even more comfortable.

I have been changing my perspective on education these last few years due to learning first hand the practicality of a "good education". This question came to mind again as I sat in my frozen dead car the other day when temps dipped to -41C .

I am educated, have a good paying job, and am reasonably intelligent. Still, my immediate solution was to take a $30 cab ride to where I had to go and then call my garage to come deal with it for a couple hundred dollars. Thankfully neighbour Bill came to the rescue and showed me how to charge my car battery instead. Neighbour Bill has a wealth of knowledge. He grew up on a farm back in the day and that pretty much says it all.

Charging your car battery is seriously easy if done correctly.
Go out and buy one of these things right now.



Get someone who knows about cars to show you how to use it properly. Then read about it in your car manual for good measure. I don't want to be responsible for someone reading my directions wrong and ending up with battery acid all over their face.

Knowing how to start your car in this crazy ass weather is what I call good education.

Keeping Feet Warm When Winter Biking and Other Tidbits

Last night I attended a winter bike race info session. Might as well go to where the pros gather when you are searching for some answers. Now I'm not crazy and have no intention of riding across lake Winnipeg in February like the rest of those guys, but it is nice to hear what experienced winter cyclists have to say. I was hoping to learn once and for all what can be done to keep my feet warm. Eureka! The big boys and girls wear these galoshes over their footwear. You can get them padded or not and either way they are super lightweight. You can wear them over your boots. They can be purchased at Canadian Footwear for about $130. I would say these are good for super long rides or in crazy cold temps of -35C and colder. I would wear them on my hour long commute to work.




I wear these neoprene and rubber winter boots. They are 2 sizes too big to accomodate shoes or extra socks with warmers. Although these have worked well, my feet still get cold even if its only -15C. Mine are purple for the cuteness factor which is also very important. My teenagers would say that I am very much mistaken and that they are not at all cute. I am planning to put the galoshes over these.



It took a year for me to break down and buy disposable heat packs. It makes me crazy to generate this much waste. However, there doesn't seem to be a way around this one and they are good in emergencies. I used these in the Kamiks and they have saved my feet. They are supposed to work for up to 20 hours. A nice hint from the pros is that if you haven't used them up, store them in a plastic bag and remove the air. The absence of air makes them stop working so that you can use the same ones again!






Best to go with a screw top water bottle because the sippie part of the regular water bottles will freeze up ( I lack the technical term , but you know what I mean). It is for this reason that I experimented with gatorade ice cubes. If only I had known....

Even this will eventually freeze up in an insulator so another tip is to invert the water bottle so the ice will form first at the bottom instead of the top. The pros say to take a sip every 15 minutes even though you won't want to.

It really is possible to ride your bike in the winter and it is fun too!

"Mom's Dumb Sign"

Bike is Back

25 years ago there was a girl who commuted via her bike. She rode through heat, rain, snow and blizzards. Most of her bike time was spent travelling to University or to her waitress job. Surprisingly her only wipe out occurred while making an overly confident turn on ice which resulted in showing up to a first date with a boy (who would later become her husband) in ripped blood stained overalls with a battered knee poking through. The girl was not what you would call a cautious cyclist. She was more about the adventure.

The girl was still riding her bike when she got married. She graduated and rode her bike to her first career job. One night the bike was stolen, she bought a car and that was the end of that.

Until now!

Grown up woman is sick to death of driving everywhere, especially to work where there is minimal space to park and no plug in for her sensitive diesel car. She dug the bike out of her shed and parked it by the front door because she worries about things like getting ice and salt in her bike chain, things she never gave a thought to 25 years ago. She equipped her bike with studded tires because she is more interested in the commute than adventures on ice. Grown up woman marvels at how long it took to get back to it but knows it is better late than never.

Screw Shoes

My transportation is running, whenever possible. I love having a destination to run to instead of just putting in the time.  I  also love seeing how long the gas tank stays filled.  It is important to have the right footwear, especially this time of year.  Instead of buying snow grabbers,  I asked the B man to drill screws into the bottom of these old shoes for me.  He did a fantastic job and they work great.  

Bike

Reading The Long Emergency

I am almost finished reading this book and last night I was inspired to walk to the grocery store (gasp).  It was 7 pm  when this idea came to me.  My kids told me it was too dark and they were scared to go with me.  My husband looked at me  like I was a little nutty.  To heck with them!  I  dressed warmly , took my messenger bag, cell phone, and iPod and walked out the door.  It took 45 minutes to complete this task.  We are a family of 4 living in suburbia and  although not proud  to admit it, dependent on our 2 cars.  I rebelled 3 years ago and bought a Beetle Volkswagon which looks a little funny when it is stuffed with 2 kids, 2 adults, and 2 hockey bags.  Not sure what I was rebelling against then, just that I was sick of having a huge vehicle.  I am presently trying to convince my husband to get rid of his car, and have us live as a 1 car family.  I know this can be done.  We would just have to manage ourselves better... maybe take a bus now and then, ride our bikes for  half the year, or walk.  After thinking about changing for so long, and after nearly completing this book, I think I  am ready to take things to the next level.