Bike 2 Work Day Planning

Tomorrow is National Bike-Walk to Work Day, and as previously mentioned, it is my intention to do the hip thing and ride my bicycle to work. Unfortunately, tomorrow is a day on which I have a class first thing in the morning (8:00 a.m.), so I will be unable to take the more leisurely (and safer?) route I had planned along the Erie Canal. That route was about 12 miles in length, so, given the time, I will be taking a more direct route through the heart of the city, Bike 2 Work Day Route 1 made using USATF Map It!

It's not that I am particularly worried about being attacked (though I suppose that is possible anywhere) it's just that I have not had the opportunity to pedal on such busy streets before, especially during high traffic times. Another concern is that the handle bar mirror on my bicycle is broken, so short of running to the local bike shop after school today and figuring out how to fix it (not one of my stronger suits) I will be riding at a visual disadvantage... but, nothing that can't be overcome.

It's funny the things that you think of when considering a long bicycle ride to work: what do I wear? How much time will I need to change? How sweaty (and smelly?) will I get? Am I really going to want to ride home after a day of work?

Oh, well, those considerations and more are all part of the adventure. I do know that at the very least, I'll be waking up early and hiding the bike rack in my wife's trunk just in case I need a lift home!

Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!