My Family’s Money

Today I began the bike commuting era, and it has been a long time coming. I have been thinking about it for months now – 5 months ago today, to be exact (Bike Commuting: Is it for me?) – and today I have finally taken the first pedals on my journey to cycling ~24 miles a day, 120 miles a week. I am a little sweaty, but no worse for the wear.

My first ride consisted of a 1.7 mile joy ride in the cool San Diego morning to the bus stop. Then I hopped aboard my normal ride to within 1.4 miles of work. My total cycling for the morning was only 3.1 miles, a mere quarter of what my normal one-way route would be. I’m still toying with the idea of riding all the way home from the office this afternoon, but I’ll probably make a game time decision on that one. I don’t want to tenderize my tush ont he first day. That would be terrible.

As part of my commuting plan I am cooking my breakfast for the week on Sunday – 4 3/4 cups of oatmeal and 10 hard boiled eggs – and packing it in easily transported containers. This is a pretty frugal breakfast. I’m not exactly sure what it breaks down to, but I’m sure it is. Once I go shopping again I’ll get the specifics.

This month I won’t see any savings on bus fares. After paying out of pocket all last month for fares “expecting” to bike commute by the end of the month I’ve learned my lesson and played it safe. this way if something terrible happens (think hemorrhoids). I won’t worry about wasting money. Once I stop riding the bus I am expecting that I will be able to pocket the $64 a month I spend on fares and turn it into sweet, sweet savings.¹

But bike commuting is something I am doing only partly because it seems wise financially. The other reason is it sounds like a challenge. I’ve always been pretty athletic and for a large part of my life participating in competitive athletics was a year round deal. That all ended when I left the college where I wrestled a few years ago. I’ve since lost weight² and I’d probably gas before my muscles give in – the surrest sign I’m out of shape. I’m hoping that riding to work will at least improve my vascular system and maybe being sweaty when I get home will help me thug it up³ and actually build some muscles.

Then I can look like this:

Image Credit: irene nobrega

… just … like … that.

1. Or bike repairs as the case might be – I at least epect to keep $32 a month [↩]
2. Where has all that muscle gone? [↩]
3. A weightless workout that any poor thug could do at a local park – here it is Thug Workout, Vol. 1 [↩]