A beginning

Three facts you should know about me: I'm a girl. I live in Seattle. I bike. The first fact is important because the ratio of Seattle bike commuters makes me a minority; more men ride to work then women by a ratio of 3:1. The 2nd fact is important because my daily biking adventures happen in Seattle, it's a city I love, and as a biker, the city loves me back more than almost any other city in the US. The last fact is why I wanted to blog in the first place. To convince others that if I can bike, then seriously, anyone else can too.

I biked a lot as a kid, some in junior high, but once I got my driver's license I let my bike sit in the garage never to be used again. Fast forward 10 years. My husband bought a bike last February, and I fixed up my sister's road bike to try riding too. I started bike commuting when my sister came for a visit in April, and quickly showed me that biking in traffic is not as terrifying as it seems, and that even the most intimidating hills can be tackled if you have a high tolerance for pain.

Since May I've biked about 2,000 miles, lost 50 pounds, and completely fallen in love with my bike. The freedom to get around without relying on a car or bus or any other type of vehicle is entirely liberating and exhilarating. Yes, biking can be scary, yes, driver's can be mean, yes, the rain and cold weather can make it hard, but nothing compares to the feeling of flying down a hill, the wind in your hair, the fresh air, and the grin on your face.

With this blog I plan to track my daily commutes, discuss the greatest and worst things about bike commuting, hopefully meet fellow bikers, and convince others that leaving the car at home and getting on a bike is one of the best decisions you'll ever make.