bikes

I am a bike girl and have been since I was pretty young. It was one of the things that my sisters and I would do with my dad on a Sunday when mum was busy doing whatever mums of three girls do in their rare hour off!   During my Uni days my bike was my only alternative to walking and it got me to work, to swimming training, to friends and many other places. I loved my bike!

I am still a big bike fan although in the last few years I have only managed a housewifely  like attempt at training, riding and racing.  Usually at the starting line of a race everyone is weighing each other up and talking about their “lack of training” having only rode 50-100Km that week. I smile and nod safe in the knowledge that I have barely managed one wheel rotation since the last race due to either work, family or health restrictions. Still, I love my bike and I enjoy every minute I get to ride it.

As I go along on my path of carbon reduction I plan to see more of my bike. I am thinking that I may have to get a cheaper and more road orientated bike for my commutes and subsequent tieing to a lamp post jaunts. My current bike is far too precious to leave out in public!  I am sure that we have an old trusty down in the shed, let me go and have a look…… 

 

The Commuter

I am feeling a that I have done another little thing for my carbon footprint today by taking public transport to an from work. Ok I know that I don’t deserve a medal and plenty of people do it but usually, I take the easy option and drive!   I am a casual Science presenter for Fizzics Education (www.fizzicsecucation.com.au) which involves travelling around to various sites in Sydney and presenting science stuff. The job is fun and the kids are great – it is quite satisfying to see kids having fun while learning, especially when you can’t get rid of them at the end of a session. Anyway, today I had to take the train to work…

From my house I have to leave two hours for the trip (which by car takes 40 mins). This is fine provided waking up at 5.30 and walking outside in the freezing cold and the rain doesn’t phase you. At least there was really no point in blow drying my hair today  (more carbon saved   The train ride into Sydney is shared sardine like with lots of other groggy Monday morning commuters all wishing that something amazing would happen to take them away from their monotonous routines. I am fine as I find it easy to drift off into my own little mind (benefits of being blonde!).

Returning from work was more of the same. I do feel a little victorious about saving the planet a tiny fraction today but it does come at an immediate personal cost. My commute today took 4 hours and involved some walking, waiting and staring into space, trying to find my happy place and not stare at the other passengers.  I know that we have to think of the greater good on days like this and I am going to stick  with public transport for as many trips as I can.  I console myself about the “lost time” by thinking about how many calories I may have burned off by walking a few Kilometers (dam, I probably didn’t burn off that chocolate!). Anyway, I get it that this is a good thing so I will do more of it!

I hope that Monday was kind to you!