The Ride Routine

Oh hey there. It's been a minute. I bet you think I forgot about this thing.

Nah. You know me better than that. BUT, it has been awhile so I figured I'd bring you all up to speed on what's been happening.

Life.

OK, that's a broad generalization, but more or less, that's the story. Starting a new job in a new city while also being thrust full-time into family living has proven quite rewarding in some ways, and quite taxing in others.

My new surroundings feature plenty of opportunities for riding, but my commute isn't one of them. It's 8 miles one way, and unlike my situation in Philly, it would take me much longer to commute via bike than a car. Due to fuel efficiency, a tank of gas will still last me more than 2 weeks, so I'm really not spending all that much to drive. I also work outside (for a pretty awesome lawn care company), which keeps me active but doesn't leave much energy left over for riding to and from work, especially on the hottest days.

Whatever the reason, I've made a near complete 180 from the guy who used to ride a bike all day every day (even for work) and then some. The routine is completely different. By that I mean, I'm riding a lot less, but it is still a part of my routines, like taking recycling to the local station for example:

Or making small trips to get groceries. Or just taking leisurely rides with the kid, which happens almost daily now that she's gotten more confident in her riding abilities:

All great reasons to ride a bike, but nothing necessarily noteworthy. Nothing even close to the 700 miles in a month variety. BUT, as Summer nears its end, I'm thinking back on all the things I (we) have done, and how many of them involved a bike, but more as a supporting character and not the main event. My cycling routine has become dramatically different, but not bad by any means. If anything, it's gotten better because I'm watching someone get excited about riding a bike more and more with every short spin around the block.

That said, my girlfriend and I are always finding possible new avenues for exploration. We did buy a couple bike racks for some potential future adventures, and my car finally feels complete after nearly 11 years:

And who knows? Once temperatures become more pleasant, I may start busting out the bike for commuting once again. The point is, it's not just about me and my crazy cycling routine anymore. It's about building something much more, and bikes will definitely be a part of it...