“I can’t do it. It is way too difficult. I’ll be late for work. I have to take the kids to school, yada, yada, yada.” Yah, this was me a few weeks ago, anything to avoid my husband prodding me to try commuting to work by bike.
It’s not that I don’t enjoy riding my bike, it just all seemed kind of overwhelming”it’s difficult enough as it is to try and get myself and three young children out the door on time in my car, let alone on bike! You have got to be crazy!
And then I filled up my tank..$50 later..at $3.24 a gallon”that was it. I had it. It pushed me over the edge. Enough already. That bike looked pretty darn good.
And so I stopped making excuses and started finding some solutions. Now that I have changed my perspective on it all, it really isn’t that difficult. I really have nothing to complain about. My job is just up the street, babysitter is just across the lawn and the kids actually LOVE riding their bikes to school. Sure, we have to take some extra time the night before. But since the kids really want to ride their bikes to school, they are all of a sudden so helpful.
This is my ride, the Ibex Trophy 770
They have had the best attitudes about getting ready for school. This morning my oldest daughter, 10yrs old, jumped out of bed with her clothes on already. I guess she figured she might as well just sleep in her clothes, skip the whole pajama thing. LOL.
And it helps to have a little more leverage on them now. Anytime they get out of line that is the first privilege I threaten to take away. Works every time!
So, it’s been two weeks now and I have to say I have really enjoyed it! After I drop off my 4 year old with the babysitter, I ride with my two other girls to their school and from there I am off to work. And my job couldn’t get any closer”about 4 miles round trip (be quiet!). 🙂
And I get to work with plenty of time to change and freshen up. Not that I work up a sweat or anything but I do suffer from a slight case of helmet head “need to work that out. So all in all it’s actually been A LOT of fun.
So what are the benefits? Well, my $50 of gas now lasts me about 2 weeks instead of 1 week. My kids are really easy to get out the door now (priceless). The ride really wakes me up so I don’t need that cup of coffee in the morning anymore. The exercise has REALLY helped. Anyone ever complained about rock hard calves??? And my husband thinks I am really cool (bonus). Oh yah, I am sure I am helping the environment and saving a creature or something great like that”..yah that’s all good too. 🙂