Before coming to Spokane to start my service year in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, I made the decision to commit to commuting to work by bicycle for as many days as Mother Nature would allow. There were a bunch of mountain bikes stored in our garage upon our arrival, many of which needed TLC. For the first couple weeks I rode a 90s Schwinn mountain bike, cruising to and from the House of Charity. I had further aspirations of learning how to ride a fixed gear bike, something I observed many in Boston doing and took a liking to it.
My search began. I needed to find a two wheeled whip that I was content with and that was easy on the pocket of a recent college grad and aspiring volunteer. As mentioned before, a dude set my up with the '73 fixed gear Motobecane that now totes my around Spokane's city streets [and sidewalks, unfortunately]. Aside from the few icy/snowy days in winter and the times where it just needed a rest in the garage, the Motobecane has traveled well over 500 miles to work and back. In what seems to be an endless marathon of commuting, I've come close to a few bumpers and have met the pavement a couple times under black ice. Through it all, I've come to respect the simple machine that is the bicycle and have learned its parts and functions. I have been humbled by its maintainence, attuned to its many noises and needs. Grease under my fingernails, dirt on my back, and countless soaked sets of clothing keep my coming back to spin again and again.
The 3.73 roundtrip commute to work is more complicated than I initially perceived. As the roads change due to climate and construction, I can never take for granted the path well trodden. One moment I can be riding without thinking of where I'm going, the next I have to reconsider my path because half of the street is dug up. Most days my commute is active - I am always aware of my surroundings, always considering my outfit for the weather, always expecting the route to change for whatever reason. This activity prepares me for the day, allows me to come down to earth, or up to earth, depending on what time it is. I wake up to sun on my face, audio to get a solid head-nod going, and the movement of my legs to get the blood flowing. In the evening, the cycle home is calming as darkness surrounds and silence pervades. I am able to refocus in the rhythm of the pedal stroke, something that fixies guarantee.
Before coming to the Northwest I rode a Specialized roady. I knew little to nothing about how to maintain it, relying on local bike shops and mechanics to change flats, investigate noises and give tune-ups. I look forward to putting in long miles when I return at the end of this summer, but I'll come home with a deeper appreciation of the machine and knowledge to tend to it properly. I think every cyclist should get to know their bike more - time spent with the bike while off the bike is more valuable than I'd imagined. A deeper relationship is formed, a symbiosis if you will. You become more wise and most likely a better cyclist, a master of your machine.
The subtleties of the bike commute are what make it one of the best parts of my day. I become a full observer of the people and landscapes I pass, moving along but exposed to all that is around. I am not shut up behind the windshield of a car. This allows me to interact with my surroundings, engaging my senses. I can stop to watch the sun set on the big sky, veer of my usual route to check out new sights and sounds, often times just to exercise my curiousity. I can simply lock up downtown, with no parking spot to find and no meter to pay. I have freedom to roam, freedom to crush the pedals in a cinematic sprint, or take it easy and cruise. For the urban dweller, I really see no reason why not to be a fellow of two wheel transit.
My service term is almost to a close and I have realized this - I have not covered more miles in my life, by foot or by bike, than I have this year. By calculating the number of hours I have worked, subtracting days of inclement weather, bike repair and time away from Spokane, I estimate that I've covered roughly 900 miles in this year of bike commuting. I never really thought about it - just a simple 3.73 miles a day, sometimes more depending on the circumstances. But when it all adds up, it's quite something. The Motobecane has held up very well, and still rolls on. If you haven't considered it yet, do now. You'll get fitter and happier riding a bike, whether you're toting around town/campus, going on joy rides or cycling to work. It'll be one of the best things you'll ever do.
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