wayne on May 20, 2008
I've decided to make some changes in my daily routine that I thought would be great for me. I've decided that it's time to go back to a bicycle instead of using my truck for daily commuting to work, and general activities that aren't over a long distance.
Why? Several reasons actually.
- Gas Prices - While I can still afford filling my gas tank up as gas prices continue to rise for the time being, I've decided that I've had enough with it. I'm done paying outrageous gas prices while big corporate oil company's continue to post record setting profits. Here's a big finger in their faces, kiss my lily white ass you corporate fucks.
- Saving Money - Since I won't be paying for gas, there's a little extra money to save or spend on wine, women and song. Also since I'll be riding a bike, I probably won't be stopping at Starbucks every morning. The healthy aspects of riding will probably kill my desire for that cup of joe every morning. I'll find coffee in the office.
- Getting some cardio - I sit way too much. Sit sit sit, behind this damn keyboard writing code and doing 'stuff' every day. From 8 AM to around 11 PM I'm sitting. Programming this, fixing that. It's amazing I'm not the worlds fattest man at this point. I weigh in around 230 lbs today, so we'll see what happens after a month.
- Doing my part - With all the global warming talk it's hard to drive down the road each day without thinking of riding a bike. Just like that guy in Wisconsin who made news by simply announcing he was going to ride his bike each day. That made news? Sheesh, another slow news day I guess.
- Less Tickets - I've had a bad case of ticket fever lately. 5 in the past year...how sad. The last one was probably the catalyst I needed to decide on the bike. One of those cameras got me again crossing a bit too late.
- It will pay for itself quickly - Within the first 3 months the bike will have paid for itself with the money I'm saving on gas, coffee and smokes. Yes, I may even shoot for quitting smoking, but one thing at a time, really.
8-9 Miles to and from work everyday will be a challenge at first, but I'm shooting to push myself through it for at least 1 or 2 months. Then I'll reassess where I'm at and go from there.
I just picked up a bike from Jax Bikes in Long Beach. I bought a Trek model since some of the profits will go to 'improve cycling and the world'. It also just felt right and looked alright.
Perhaps I'll put together my old Schwinn...hmm, I may have a new-old hobby again.
