Brain Fart: Commuting
Posted: May 15th, 2008 by Justin
Yesterday’s view of the parking lot at DR headquarters.
This age of nearly $4/gallon gasoline has certainly gotten everyone’s attention. Fortunately some folks are doing more than simply bitching about the high price of fuel. I’m increasingly impressed by the number of people I’m seeing out and about on bicycles whether it’s for fun, transportation, or both.
Now, since you’re reading this blog, I’m going to assume that you’re a cyclist–or at least interested in cycling. Given that statement, I’m going to implore you to give riding your bike to work a shot if you haven’t. Yeah yeah, we’ve heard all the excuses, while some of them are valid, you can do anything you put your mind too.
Alright, I’ll step down off of that soapbox and onto the next. For those of us that are already established bicycle commuters, our civic duty is to help folks who are interested get into the game. Though it may be hard to believe, you may be a (relative) wealth of information. If you know someone who expresses interest in giving bicycle commuting a whirl, do what you can to facilitate. Offer to check out their bike prior to riding in order to make sure they are safe and recommend a tune-up if needed. Help this individual be as prepared as possible for varying weather conditions, make sure they’re safely lit at night, and help them figure out how they’re going to carry all the stuff they’ll need. Speaking of stuff they’ll need, make sure they have a spare tube, pump, necessary tools, and knowledge to change a flat–confidence in fixing a flat tire does wonders. If possible, ride this individual’s commute with them sometime when the clock isn’t ticking. Point out shortcuts and things to watch out for along the way so they’re confident with their route and know how much time to schedule. There are loads more things you can do, but that covers the basics.
As established cyclists we have the unfortunate tendency to coming off as elitist assholes to non-cyclists and those who are new to the sport. The more we can do to help break down these barriers and facilitate cycling transport and culture the better off we’ll all be. So, when you’re out and about say hello and/or give a wave to your fellow cyclists and pedestrians–don’t even think about judging them based on their bicycle or attire. After all–two wheels, one love.
And since riding a bike makes you hungry, and eating is one many wonderful rewards for riding, I’ll include this yummy recipe courtesy of Vegetarian Times Magazine:
CHEESE ENCHILADAS WITH EASY MOLE SAUCE
Serves 8
Cocoa powder and peanut butter make this traditional Mexican sauce a snap. If you can’t find ancho chile powder, use 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper instead.
Mole Sauce
2 Tbs. vegetable oil
2 medium-sized onions, chopped (about 2 cups)
2 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tsp.)
1/4 cup chili powder
2 Tbs. light brown sugar
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ancho chile powder
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1 15.5-oz. can diced tomatoes
3 Tbs. cocoa powder
3 Tbs. peanut butter
Enchiladas*
12 oz. light Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about 3 cups)
16 8-inch flour tortillas
1. To make Mole Sauce: Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onions, and cook 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until browned. Stir in garlic, chili powder, brown sugar, cinnamon, ancho chile powder and ground cloves, and cook 1 minute, or until fragrant, stirring constantly.
2. Add tomatoes, cocoa, peanut butter and 2 cups water. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. To make Enchiladas: Preheat oven to 350F. Ladle 3/4 cup Mole Sauce into bottoms of 2 12×8-inch ovenproof baking dishes. Place about 21/2 Tbs. cheese in center of each tortilla. Roll tortilla around cheese, and set seam side down on top of mole sauce, placing 8 filled tortillas in each pan. Top each dish with 11/4 cups mole, and sprinkle each with 1/3 cup cheese. Bake 20 minutes, or until sauce bubbles and cheese melts.
PER SERVING: 462 CAL; 24G PROT; 22.5G TOTAL FAT (8.5G SAT. FAT); 47G CARB; 30MG CHOL; 629MG SOD; 7G FIBER; 8G SUGARS
*Add your favorite veggies, or choice of protein, to the Enchiladas for a more balance dish. I usually add a variety of peppers, portabellas, black beans, and whatever else I’m in the mood for at the time. Oh, and only two cloves of garlic? I’d recommend most of a bulb, which could explain why I’m single.
See the original arcticle here.
May 21st, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I started out commuting one day per week on my old MtB. Then I got some slick tires for it and upped the frequency to two days per week. Then I bought a road bike and upped it to three days per week. Then I decided that my SUV (which is great for hauling all the MtB/Scuba/Camping/Kayaking/etc. gear, so I don’t think I’ll be getting rid of it soon) was too much of a economic and environmental liability to commute solo, so I upped my bike commute to four days per week on most weeks.
I have the benefit of a shower at work and a big refrigerator/freezer. On Mondays I bring food and clothes for the week. The facilities people were more then helpful in finding a place where I can hang my rinsed out clothing to dry.
There are two added benefits to commuting by bike for me: First, it’s so much fun to zoom past all the cars stopped on Coast Highway here in northern San Diego county that I’m encouraged to push myself a bit harder. The second benefit, and really the most interesting, is that riding my bike saves me time. Here’s why. If I drive, and in a best case scenario there is no traffic and I can zoom both to and from work, it’s 40 minutes round trip. Then, another 20 minutes round trip from my house to the gym. Then, an hour of boring cardio workout, either on a treadmill or a spin class. Total time: 2 Hours. Riding my bike the 22.2km each way takes me about 45-50 minutes in the morning and 40-45 minutes in the afternoon. Total commute/cardio workout time totals about 1.5 hours. That means I burn less carbon and more calories and can eat a serving of those enchiladas with easy mole sauce and still not gain weight
May 27th, 2008 at 7:55 am
I’ve been trying to commute 2 days/week. What I have noticed lately, is that more drivers are rubbernecking, thinking, ‘hey, maybe I should ride MY bike to work, too!’…Anyone else notice that?
Is the bogus price of oil gonna be what it takes for people to notice bikes? Cars will never go away, but maybe bikes will get a new respect from all that……and prices of everything are going way up, even the price of a new bike :-((
May 27th, 2008 at 8:11 am
I’ve been commuting daily for a few years now and do all I can to encourage everyone I know to do the same. One thing that I try hard to clarify is that I don’t HAVE to ride my bike to work… I GET to go for a nice ride before I start work and I GET to take a nice ride after work. Lucky me!
May 27th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
I have started riding to work a week ago. I should have done this years ago, hence the real brain fart!
I hav to wear a tie and dressier clothes so I am making a deep bookcase into a small wardrobe for my cubicle. The roads through Shreveport suck, but there is little traffic. The weather sucks even worse. It will soon be 80 degrees and 100 percent humidity at 7:00 am. And there isn’t really a shower accessible at work. Good thing it is only 3.2 miles.
I ride with a group of guys earlier so I already have a great ride before work every day. This one is not so great, but I pass right by the gas station and don’t have to stop.
Some auto drivers do not know how to handle a bicyclist. I really appreciate those who use their turn signals and give you a little extra room. Haven’t noticed any strange glaring, but I am sure it is there.
May 27th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I’d like to commute, but w/ a 20 mile bike route and no showers at work, I don’t know how well it would work…
May 29th, 2008 at 3:03 am
looks like dirtsurfer needs a new job! ha ha….while it may not be realistic for everyone to ride their bikes to work, those who are lucky enough to do so should encourage cyclist we encounter with a friendly word, wave or nod. one word of advice I have for everyone is to make eye contact with motorist when at an intersection or anywhere else that could turn your good commute into a bad day quickly. I don’t commute everyday, but I do find when I drive I am always filled with remorse that I should have ridden. keep up the commuting everyone! I also find if I switch up my routes and my bikes it makes my commute all that more fun. One day I’ll ride my road bike another it will be my fixie, or my 29er mtb..
June 16th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I have been a regular bike commuter since my days at REI in Northville, MI when I rode 7 miles each way. It was a great way to both start and finish the days. I rode rain or shine but not in the snowy weather mainly due to the fact that I had to share the road with vehicles. Snowy roads are just too dangerous to ride with vehicular traffic.
I now ride back and forth to work in Grayling, MI rain, snow, shine, whatever the ‘ol weather man gives me. There are hardly any vehicles I need to worry about because I ride on subdivision streets to and from my work in the Emergency Department where I stow my bike in the Hazmat shower.
With the gas now at over $4.00 per gallon, I am noticing more and more people riding around town with bags, apparently holding their clothes or other personal posessions. Hopefully these folks are commuting also. We have an awsome 27 or so paved, non-motorized bike path that is open all year long except in the winter when it is actually blocked off to prevent snowmobile access, that goes from the State Park, down to the high school, through neighborhoods and into downtown Grayling.
Hopefully it will be clogged with bicyclists commuting back and forth to work or school very soon.