Thursday, January 15, 2009

Excuses, excuses

I was readying myself to write a post about the excuses we tell ourselves to get out of riding, and then I read Ms. dotties post over on Let's Go Ride A Bike on exactly the same thing!

(I have to admit...it made me feel better!)

This week I have been on the news and in the newspaper for my bike commute...and I haven't ridden at all! eek. I lost my gloves the day that the newspaper came out and borrowed a pair for a day or two. Unfortunately I had to return those and haven't gone out to by anymore (those things are not cheap!). I have plenty of knit gloves at home, but seem convinced I will die of hypothermia if I attempt to ride in them. this. is. ridiculous. I realized that when a) Anna rode with knit gloves and b) I could easily later my knit gloves.

some of my other excuses: I have to go straight to a fancy dinner after work. I will probably need to work late. It is only supposed to be 15 degrees. I am stopping by a friend's house after work, blah, blah, blah. You get the picture.

I joined Triathablog in order to form a habit. That was much easier when the highs were in the 40's, not the 20's. It was also easier when I had people keeping up with me and a little competition to push me. Tonight we have a hard freeze warning and a windchill danger warning, but I am riding to a bici planning meeting. I hope to ride tomorrow too.

I told the Let's go ride a bike ladies that we should make a pact to ride at least 3 days next week. I am vowing to do that. Trish said she is in. Which means that I have to ride everyday until Thursday as I am headed to Bike!bike! Thursday (which will be a lot of riding!).

Want to join our pact? It is a small step toward making a lasting habit and telling my excuses to shove it. Everytime I pass Mick (the bike) in the hallway, I can barely look at him out of guilt and shame of his abandonment. I imagine him everyday, looking out the window and crying a little. sniffle, sniffle.

on a completely different note, I saw this on Copenhagen Cycling Chic and freaked out! Now that is some riding style.


The cape, the boots, the bike, the lack of a style sucking helmet...it is almost too much. almost

10 comments:

  1. Very cool idea for a blog! I will link you!

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  2. Thanks for the mention :) I am so in the 3-day pact! It's funny, I was quoted in an article this week about winter bike commuters and I, too, have not ridden to work this week at all. What a fraud! I'm riding tomorrow, no matter what. Currently, it's -11 degrees, but the high tomorrow is 5 degrees (um, but with windchill of -30) - a heat wave, really.

    - Dottie

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  3. Oh, also, I agree about the Copenhagen Cycle Chic picture! No matter what I wear, I become instant-nerd as soon as I put on my helmet and safety glasses (for the snow and cold).

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  4. I had the same reaction to that photo. And just look at those bike lanes! To die for...

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  5. Seriously! It's the bike lanes more than anything else that I'm currently drooling over.

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  6. The Adrian Spokesman has joined the three-day pact, and has invited his readers (both of them) to do so as well.

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  7. Elisa, have you seen the big post they did on your blog on cyclicious? Congrats!

    I'm drooling over that photo too. The cape! The boots! Dot and I are going to do a post one day on the style-sucking helmet, and why we continue to wear one.

    Next week we'll all live up to our reputations!

    ~Trisha

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  8. Trisha,
    I did see it. WOW. It has been quite a week over here at Bikeskirt! I am currently trying to get a friend to help me figure out a pattern for a cycling cape and then am going to get to work on cute reflective materials so we can ride in style AND safety! The helmet and I have a love hate relationship...I admit that I go without one at times...but never on a commute. Just around town.

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  9. Gosh, and I simply resign myself to being so off the charts into dorkdom that it comes back around and people assume it's a version of "style." letsgoride's excuse was 17 below zero temps... what did you say yours was? :P

    Take lots of notes at BikeBike! Blog expressively! I can't go...

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  10. Hello!
    Is it that unusual to bike? Here in Gothenburg Sweden it is wherry common to bike all year around, even in -15 Celsius and 20cm snow.
    Ceap up the good work!

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