This Sunday I’m participating in one of my favorite charity rides, The City Of Angels Fun ride. I’m riding the ‘advanced riders’ ride which is 47 miles long with 3 climbs, one being a steep uphill in Griffith Park. How did I train for this ride? Riding my bike to work, of course! (Benefit #1103) See, one of the reasons why I don’t mind riding a heavy bike to work is because once I switch to a light road bike, I practically fly on it.
So today I rode my newly acquired Bianchi Via Nirone 7 to work. This was its maiden voyage and all I can say is that I shaved 20 minutes (round trip) off my commute by riding it at the same intensity that I ride my other bikes. I guess you can say that this would be the equivalent of riding the ‘Sunday sports car’ to work.
I was a little concerned about leaving this bike outside, so I was lucky that I was able to leave it in my cubicle. Here’s the interesting part, when my co-workers saw my bike, they ooh’d and aah’d and began to ask questions about my commute. I also mentioned that May is bike to work day and they should give it a try. Well, I’m a pleased to say that I have one co-worker that is seriously considering riding a bike to work. He lives about 1/4 of a mile from my starting point so I offered to show him the ropes. I’m hoping that if he follows through, my other co-workers will get inspired.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Nice work getting a newbie involved!
That Bianchi sure classes up a cubicle!
I have a friend at work who lives about a mile from me, and I’ve been trying to encourage him to ride his bike instead of driving every day. Maybe Bike To Work month will give him the extra incentive to finally give it a try.
So is that little clip-on fan attached to your desk for drying out the commuting clothes?
I was considering between that one and the Giant OCR-1. I ended up going with the Giant. I had an idea on what a difference it made to my 15+ mile each way commute over rolling hills – but no idea once I hopped on my Gary Fisher Tiburon! The Tiburon felt like a tank in comparison! However, the Tiburon is perfect for short local rides to the store and rides with the kids. It’s kind of like sitting on the livingroom couch comfortable! Let me know how the Bianchi holds up to your commute!
I was wondering about that fan, too. It looks like your headphones are plugged into it!
Congrats on winning a new member to the fold, without resorting to the guilt tactics that get used a lot by other people. Cycling is so “positive” that it catches on with a smile:)
I didn’t mean this to sound so…negative:)
Is there any color in cycling more sexy or coveted than celeste?
The fan serves 2 purposes. It cools me down when I arrive in the morning, once I’m nice and cool, I turn it around to dry my clothes. You guys don’t miss a beat!
Regarding the earphones, I’m not supposed to take pictures inside my company, so in my rush to take a couple snapshots, I dropped them.
Jamis: Forza Celeste!
A nice bike parked next to the desk is a good way to avoid workday doldrums (not that my bikes are that nice.) I find that it’s a good conversation starter as well. I haven’t come remotely close to recruiting any new riders from my office, though. Someone was complaining about the rising price of gas yesterday. Maybe I got him thinking about it a bit when I told him I paid $2.99 when I last filled up, then added that it had been about 3 weeks since I bought gas and that I still have half a tank. I don’t know how to get others from “I wish I could do that” to “I could do that.”
Oh, and nice bike BTW.
cafn8 said: “I don’t know how to get others from ‘I wish I could do that’ to ‘I could do that.’”
Amen to that. I work with a lot of 50+ women, I really don’t hold out much hope for them, but I also work with a few guys in their early to late twenties. And they think I’m nuts. I’m turning 40 this year and thinking “Good heavens, if I only had my 20 something body back.” Most of these guys live inside of my commute. It’s so sad what limitations our modern lifestyles have placed on the human body. When a 24 year old can’t fathom a three mile bike ride, things are really screwed up.
THAT is a beautiful bike.
LOVE that bike, Moe!
When I hear complaints about fuel costs, I make sure to tell people my commuter vehicle has cost me about $20 since 11/06 (one new chain.) Never mind the time and money not spent at the gym…
BTW, you guys can rate my bike here:
http://www.ratemybicycle.com/2008/04/bianchi-via-nirone-7/
(I know, I know, Shameless plug)