At last check, the computer on my bike tells me I’ve ridden about 38 miles since Monday. Granted, to an avid cyclist that won’t seem like much, but for someone who has (literally) overnight made a bike her main method of transportation, it seems like a lot to me. It’s been a lot of short trips – I don’t think any given one has been over 5 or 6 miles. Being outside in the wonderful spring weather we’ve been having to head to the grocery store or go to work is so much more gratifying than being cooped up in my car for those trips. Yesterday I stopped at the grocery store on my way in to work to pick up a few small things and threw them in my bag. It worked out quite well!
Weather-wise, Bike Week couldn’t have looked much better. Tomorrow will be picture-perfect as well, and the weekend will warm up to some of the highest temperatures we’ve seen so far this year. Saturday there is a bike swap meet at Acme Bicycle Company in the Crossroads, followed by a scavenger hunt around downtown. It should be a blast!
Tomorrow is a big day – anyone who rides a Metro bus with a bike gets to ride for free. This includes both KCATA buses and the JO. If you’ve been waiting for an opportunity to try riding a bus with your bike, why not try it out for free? There are also a number of group rides tomorrow. Click here for more information on those.
Amanda, if you take a look at most people in suburban Kansas City, you’ll find that a lot of people don’t stray much further than 2-3 miles from home with the exception of their work commute. I went out of my way to find all the little shops in the numerous strip malls within 2 miles of my apartment in Lenexa. It’s quite amazing how many things are really close to home. Even if I was driving, I don’t think I’d need to go much further than 3 miles from home with the exception of the occasional craving for some specialty restaurant.
As new as you are to cycling, riding that many miles per week is not only an excellent number, but you’re also finding out that most of the places you want to go are close enough for a bike ride. You’ve also got quick access to the MAX and the entire KCATA bus system. You can run errands in Waldo or have lunch with friends in the River Market with ease.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences with us!