Posted by I thankfully looked at my Apple Watch today and saw something I haven’t seen in some time, even during our recent trip to San Diego. It was 70 degrees Fahrenheit outside, and I could not wait to finish work and hop on my bike for the commute home.
The trails that minimize my on-road activities are finally clear of their icy baselines. And while flooding inevitably takes their place, we Upstate New York cyclists still call this a win.
Seeing the deer and turkeys again on the Highland Crossing Trail, watching the sun rise over the lagoon in Brighton Town Park, passing by the historic Erie Canal… even racing traffic from light-to-light on East Henrietta Road for the last mile… all of it was a delight I had missed for so long.
Much respect to the hardcore cyclists who stay with bike commuting all year long. I see you, with your metal-studded tires and your harsh determination to claw your way through the brutal Rochester winters. Nothing but respect, you are the true warriors of sustainable transportation. But as I have said before, I took some really nasty falls on ice a few years ago, which I still feel in my shoulder and my right side every day. In my middle age, I decided that I can’t put myself or my wife in a position where I can’t do the things I need to do every day. So while I have no problem braving the cold, I typically wait until the snow and ice melts to get on a bike or a scooter these days.
I can’t express how the last two days have felt because of my bike commute. After a winter in which I felt a level of “season malaise,” I felt a surge of energy when I arrived at work to which there is no compromise. Not that I’ve been unhappy, but the joy and exercise of biking has rejuvenated my zest for life. In sum, I forgot how good this feels.
During the winter, a brisk walk to the bus stop can really get your body moving quickly in the morning, but there is just nothing like riding to the beat of the rising sun on a 70-degree day. And while Rochester’s weather will surely punish us with many more cold days before spring, I am looking forward to my next sustainable commute. Hope to see you out there!
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