Things That Can Be Carried On A Bike (#115)...and a few other comments

A canvas bag containing, among other things, 4 books, 2 DVDs, a datebook, a notebook, and a scarf.
A bottle of red wine.
A small loaf of whole wheat bread.
An extra long cable lock.


Tonight while I was pedaling home with the chilly winter-like air on my face I was admiring the full moon and thinking about my day and how I accomplished so much without starting my motorized vehicle. It's so easy, I thought, to get by most days without a car if you live in an urban environment (though I still rarely ride in the rain). And the benefits I receive are far greater than just saving gas money or burning it into the ozone...it is as much a benefit to my mental and emotional health as it is my physical health and the environment in which I currently occupy. For me, riding is as much about enjoyment as it is functionality...getting from point A to Point B.

Here's an example of my day:

Ride to-and-from work: about a mile each way.
To the bookstore after work and then home: about 2.25 miles each way.
To-and-from the health club: about a mile each way.
To-and-from a meditation meeting this evening:about 2 miles each way.

All-in-all it only tallies up to be a little over 10 miles throughout the day...but in those ten miles I was outside in the elements and using my own energy to propel myself. I haven't moved my gas-powered vehicle in about 4 or 5 days, it sits with snow on it as I type these words, but I've pedaled myself through the city everyday. In short, I ride my bike(s) because I enjoy riding my bikes...all the other benefits (health, economic, and environmental) are simply bi-products.

A few months ago I posted the below video but thought I'd post it again...It could be me narrating it (it's not). It's less than a minute long...you'll probably watch it more than once.