Robert Shelton found a way to change his life (and perhaps the environment) for the better.
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I did it.
I rode every day for 40 days in a row.
Instead of giving up something for Lent, I committed to doing something every day instead. That something being riding my bike. I still needed use of a car for certain things.(family gatherings, etc.) I just had to get on my bike and ride every day, whether it be a long trip or just a spin around the block
I’ve been trying to think about how I wanted to analyze what happened. I think the best way to put this into words is to run a comparison of what I expected vs what actually happened.
That first ride was a crap shoot. I was late to work, I smelled, I couldn’t figure out where to carry anything. It was a disaster.
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So, here goes.
What I thought would happen
When I decided to do this I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but with a little extra effort and some planning …
• I thought it would be fun. I didn’t think about losing weight or how I would feel after a week. I just kind of went into it with as few expectations as possible.
• I thought I would get stronger and in better shape endurance wise. I also thought there would be days that I just dreaded throwing a leg over the bike.
• I thought I would get a few comments at work in the beginning, with some shock and awe included. I thought being such short ride I wouldn’t sweat much.
• I thought my wife would get super annoyed at spending money on the train when I have a perfectly good car. I also thought she would lose interest in the extra time spent on commuting quite quickly.
• I thought my bad interactions with cars would skyrocket as the time I spent on the bike increased; you know, statistics.
What actually happened.
The first day I rode into work it was brutally cold. I didn’t test ride my bike, I didn’t test riding in extreme conditions (other than the extreme heat I’m used to.) By the time I got to the train station, I had already sweat through my work shirt.
That first ride was a crap shoot. I was late to work, I smelled, I couldn’t figure out where to carry anything. It was a disaster.
Day two was much better, and by the end of the month, it is down to a sheer science. I know exactly the pace I need to keep, how much I need to rush after getting off the train before getting back on the bike. I did a lot of experimenting and still was up until the end.
I learned that riding on the road is MUCH faster than riding on the trail. I knew that my road bike was much faster than my city bike, but not by how much. For instance, my time to work from the train station on my road bike and on the road was 14:27. If you compare that to my time on the Electra and on the trail, 18:43. Over four minutes slower. I was quite surprised how far apart the two bikes were. The Electra is over 30 pounds and there is NO escape from the wind. My road bike weighs under 18 pounds and I have a much wider range of gears at my disposal for those windy days.
Interactions with drivers were pretty minimal. I did get buzzed a few times, whether intentional or not is up for debate. It is a bit off putting when someone doesn’t give you the three feet required by law. I was surprised that the worst offenders seemed to be people that drive for a living. The little buses that daycares use, tow trucks, work vans, etc. all seemed to be the worst offenders. Aside from that, older cars and big pickup trucks, especially diesels, seemed to like to see how close they can pass.
I only had one person yell at me, and it was on the last day of my challenge on the way home. I was sitting at a red light, between a turn lane and the inside lane. A middle-aged man in a 4Runner rolled his window down and smugly said, “Siiiide waaaaaalk.” To which I replied, “Is for walking.” He went on his way, the light turned green, end of interaction.
The best part? I was in the bike lane. I expect I’ll have more as the year goes on, but I really thought I would have more negative interactions than I actually did. I always see people sharing videos about road ragers going bananas on cyclists, but I guess that was just confirmation bias.
Fitness:
I am definitely a much stronger rider. Before I started in February I was pretty consistently getting dropped on the A-group ride I like to join on Sundays. I have no problem keeping up now, as long as I don’t try to pull too much or win any of the sprints. I am starting to see definition in my abs, and I finally can see the full outline of that “teardrop” muscle above my knee. Everyone has noticed that I’m much thinner and look much healthier.
Work reactions:
The first day I arrived at my desk quite sweaty, and everyone wanted to know how it went. Some of the other guys on my desk considered trying it but after seeing how sweaty I was that first day they were no longer considering. I didn’t get too many questions until the first week was over, and my managers wondered which route I was taking, whether I was going to do it into the summer etc. I had the answers to some of those questions, others are still up in the air.
One thing I never thought of, was how my outlook on life would change as a result of this.
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What I noticed most is that when the word had started to spread, I got a lot of thumbs up around the building when I walked through with my helmet. While preparing my coffee in the kitchenette, people from other departments on my floor have been expressing their curiosity. They all seem quite impressed with the mileage, and that I can use the train as a crutch. Most everyone is anxiously waiting to see how deep into the summer I’ll continue to ride in.
I’ve been asked for advice on bikes for fitness, and have even been asked some very specific questions about what type of bike would be best for particular commutes. I think a good friend did a test run this weekend to see how long it took him to ride the seven miles of trail directly to our office door. So I did accomplish one goal; that of promoting cycling as an alternative. That is probably my favorite outcome of this challenge.
One thing I never thought of, was how my outlook on life would change as a result of this. I have always been a car guy, I love driving. But now, I think of all the ways I can to avoid it. Need a couple things from the grocery store? Bike. Farmer’s Market? Bike. Afternoon snack and a beer? Bike. Even my wife is thinking of ways to avoid driving to the store. Were there days I didn’t want to get on the bike? Absolutely, but I always got a guilty feeling and found myself quite cranky until I went for a spin. This weekend is Easter, and my challenge is complete so I took yesterday and today off from the group rides. And you know what? I’m miserable. I absolutely miss the thrill of pushing my limits, the focus that it takes to stay alert in the pack. It has put me in a horrible mood today. So, I’ll probably take the cruiser out just to get out of the house later and enjoy nature.
So, am I happy? YES! Riding has impacted my life in many more ways I had initially imagined.
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Speaking of nature, the more time I spent on the bike made me even more aware of our environment. I have asthma, and on days when there is a lot of traffic on the side roads due to an accident on the highway it is very noticeable. I find it much harder to breathe in those situations. I also noticed just how much trash and debris is just discarded and left on the ground. I was constantly dodging glass, bottle caps, pieces of wood, giant chunks of metal…… It really is true that you don’t realize what you’ve got until is gone. I wasn’t some climate change denier before, but I certainly have seen and felt what we are doing to the air first hand, and it isn’t good.
Finally, the effect this experiment had on my relationships. I don’t see my friends as often because I don’t go out for drinks much anymore. I do miss that, but they are all having kids so that had already started. I like to stay fresh for challenging group rides. My marriage has stayed strong. I didn’t annoy her too much I guess. We rode up to the local sidewalk art fest together recently. It was one of the best days we’ve spent together. She wants to get a new bike so she doesn’t have to ride the short trip to downtown and shopping on her road bike. I’m very excited to see her interested in something I love, and this can only make us stronger as a couple.
So, am I happy? YES! Riding has impacted my life in many more ways I had initially imagined. I’ve influenced people to get out more, my relationships are stronger than they have been. Professionally, I have interacted with more people in the office than I would have unless assigned to a project. My network has grown. I’m in better shape than I have been in 15 years. If people only read one thing I ever write, I hope it is this. If you have the means and the ability, get out and ride. It can only change your life for the better.
Previously published on DecentCyclist.com
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Photos: Courtesy of Author