Bike to Work Day

Mr. Rogers said that "play is really the work of childhood." So, it seemed fitting that today this guy biked to his play/work at SPREE camp like a boss.

He loves riding on those pink rumble strips! It was mercifully overcast today, making for near perfect riding conditions. We got a lot of smiles from other cyclists, and a few people encouraged or complimented him. On my ride home with his red bike in the empty box bike, I also received a comment from a stranger: "Good work, mom."

Good work.

I hope everyone had a lovely ride to work this morning. I know that our sometimes excessively long bicycle commutes help our whole family stay happy, healthy, and more productive, for which I am grateful.

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/fredrogers193081.html

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/fredrogers193081.html

Helmets

All four of us wear helmets with MIPS concussion prevention technology, as much for improved comfort and superior fit as safety. We’ve drilled our kids to wear helmets so insistently that they will sometimes call out to our fellow cyclists without helmets, “That’s not safe!” We chuckle abashedly but as far as we can tell, no one has noticed their commentary so far.

We talked to another cycling family, who regularly sees a dad out with his two kids on their longtail bicycle with no helmets among the three of them. We all thought the parent should do whatever he wants, but the kids should definitely have helmets.

Then I went to pick up my daughter from school in the box bike and forgot her helmet.

There I was, buckling her into the bike with my own helmet on, her beautiful wispy hair waving unobstructed in the wind. I was more than a little embarrassed. Fortunately she was distracted and didn’t notice that I didn’t have her helmet, or else she would’ve cried all the way home “This isn’t safe!” at a volume impossible to ignore.

The truth is, it wasn’t safest, but it wasn’t unsafe. We’ve crashed our box bike before and the kids’ heads didn’t end up anywhere near the ground. We’ve all walked away from those crashes with nary an injury.

That said, I have a vivid memory of when my son was getting the hang of his Strider balance bike. He got going a little too fast and couldn’t quite stop with his feet, the only breaking mechanism. We were on a slight hill, so he gained speed as we entered an intersection which I had already checked for cars. He swerved as he approached the other side of the street, just as I realized how fast he was going. His balance bike tipped on its side and his momentum carried him head-first into a rounded curb, shaped like a bludgeon. It was a moment I’ll never forget. He was wearing his helmet, so he hopped right up and said, “Woah! Do it again?” Meanwhile, I scraped my jaw off the ground and put on a smiling face as I imagined what I’d be doing if he hadn’t had a helmet: calling 911.

As it happens, the guy with the longtail got helmets for his kids. I think it is a good move, but I’m not going to moralize about what happened before the helmets were purchased. He got out there with his kids and nothing terrible happened. We’ll all continue to wear our comfy MIPS helmets whenever we manage to remember them, but I might talk to the kids about the scale between “unsafe” and “safest” and point out that cycling is a fun, healthy activity for everyone, regardless of which safety precautions our fellow cyclists choose or reject.

Thankful for Stormy Skies

Last week I had to run a mundane errand downtown. I decided to make the most of it by riding my bike. The ride to my destination was uneventful; boring, even. My mind kept churning on its usual unsolvable problems, but I enjoyed myself nonetheless. The ride home was a different story. I exited the government office just as a cold front was blowing in, sending sleet-flecked gales down the city streets between the tall buildings. I was inadequately dressed, so I resolved to work up a sweat in an effort to stay warm. I unlocked my bike and pointed it straight into the oncoming storm. Two blocks later, the wind was alternately whipping me out of the bike lane and slowing my speed to a crawl. I was putting in all of my effort and literally inching along. I gritted my teeth, bent low to the handlebars, squinted my eyes to protect them from the leaves blowing in my face, and felt ice sting my cheeks as cars whizzed past while I struggled to stay upright and move in my intended direction.

It became absurd, nearly hopeless, just before the exhilaration hit.

The usual unsolvable problems were forgotten. "Enjoyment" as I typically understand it was out of the question. Suddenly, I didn't care how fast I was moving on my bike. I just needed to keep moving. I didn't care how long it took me to get home. I just needed to get there. Bizarrely, this was exactly what I needed that day. No race. No complexity. No nuance. Just a goal, and adversity.

This Thanksgiving, I reflect on recent hardships. I am extremely fortunate in so many ways, but it turns out I am most thankful for the adversity I've faced in recent years. It reminds me of what is important:

Home
Family
Health

These aren't things that are raced toward. They are cultivated, often among harsh conditions. This year I am thankful for the adversity that brings the truly important things into sharp relief. Thank you for reading and have a very happy Thanksgiving.

Family Ride: Kid's Choice Picnic Dinner

Last week, before school, my son said, "After school? I wanna go for a long ride? And have a picnic!"

You got it, kid! The weather was lovely. I had a transportable dinner menu planned. We could take a not-TOO-long ride to a playground near daddy's work, so he would have more time with all of us before bedtime.

Daddy bikes to work, so he was able to ride home with us!

Of course, when I picked up my son from school, he didn't want to do it anymore. But I explained that I had made a plan at his request and daddy would be left at the playground with no dinner, wondering where we were. Fortunately this was amusing enough that he neglected to suggest I use my cell phone to alert daddy to our whereabouts. So, after picking my daughter up from day care, we set out in the box bike for the Downtown Children's Playground.

The playground sports a lot of great equipment and a really neat human-powered water feature. We've visited this playground before, but this was the first time the water feature was functional. The kids loved it!

Our menu included pan-fried chicken cilantro dumplings from Costco and spinach salad with carrot ribbons and yellow pepper spears, all garnished with soy sauce and sesame seeds. Crackers and cheese kept hunger at bay while we waited for daddy to arrive from work. I cooked the dumplings right before picking my daughter up from day care, and was pleasantly surprised that they held their heat so well in our indestructible Ortlieb pannier.

On the ride home, Daddy rode the box bike and coached our son in reading the street names posted over the Cherry Creek Path. Meanwhile, I was riding the commuter bike behind them, hearing both kids yell, "BANNOCK, MOMMY!! BAAAAAANOOOOCK!" More yelling of a new street name ensued at the next underpass. At this rate, our daughter will have a better sense of Denver's layout by her third birthday than I have now.

The kids melted down upon our arrival at home for bedtime. I couldn't really blame them. Who would want an evening like that to end?

Recipe for a Fall Ride

1) Cycle to the grocery store to pick up a bunch of canned goods, a couple of bell peppers, and whatever else you need to make Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Chili (it isn't very spicy unless you add more than a dash of cayenne).

2) Check tire pressure and gear. Gather helmets. Decorate bike(s), if desired.

3) Rest overnight.

4) Throw everything in the crock pot and cook on low while you ride around for anywhere from 4-12 hours.

5) Skip the croutons described in the recipe and serve the chili with tortillas, cornbread, biscuits, etc. We aren't vegan, so I use real mozzarella or Monterey jack cheese as topping.

Enjoy!

Two Problems and a Solution

Recently I read this article by Julia Belluz on Vox which answers the age-old question: If there were more time in the day, what would you do with it? According to the 2015 Food and Health Survey, 36% would use an extra 4 hours per week to exercise more. Belluz gives suggestions for incorporating exercise into one's day, but missed an important opportunity: cycling as an alternative to driving. Moreover, the survey also found that 31% of respondents would spend more time with friends and/or family. As a parent, a lot of my "commuting" (getting kids to and from school and activities, as well as running errands) is done with my kids, and sometimes with friends and/or my spouse.

The very same day, the New York Times published an article by Jane E. Brody on the "Well" Personal Health blog, outlining the price children pay for screen addiction. Among studies showing myriad health effects, from stunted social development to increased violent behavior, one personal anecdote jumped out at me:

"Two of my grandsons... stay plugged into their hand-held devices on the ride to and from school. 'There’s no conversation anymore,' said their grandfather, who often picks them up."

What struck me was the the image that came to mind as the obvious alternative, and my own reality:

I use this bike (unfortunately no longer available from Joe Bike) to run errands and take my kids to school and day care. Instead of weaving through the city by car with kids fighting in the back seat or plugged into electronic devices, I get my workout and my kids engage with the world... especially if we pass a construction site!

This week, I rode to the Botanic Gardens to see "Stinky" the Corpse Flower and avoided parking hassles as thousands flocked to see the rare bloom. My husband and I frequently cycle for "date nights," stopping at a nearby restaurant and taking a long route home if the weather is nice. There are so many ways to incorporate cycling into daily life that eliminate hassles (parking especially) and really don't take much more time than driving or taking mass transit. So cancel that gym membership, put away the iPads, and put the time you would've spent in your car to good use!