Welcome to the sixth and final installment of my month-long series about me and the 30 days of biking challenge.  Over the month of April, I will take my bike out for at least a short ride every day.  I’m also hoping to reduce my car use and perhaps even shed a pound or two.  You might want to read my first, second, third, fourth and fifth installment if you haven’t already.

Day 29: Thursday.  Another beautiful, car-free day.  Ride to work, ride to daycare, bring Clara home for a Princess-Tea-Party-Playdate with our neighbor’s daughter.  On the way home, we admire the fabulous flamingo display along Redd and stop to cluck to the chickens a little further on.  We chat for a minute with some stroller-pushing neighbors who also have little ones who want to visit the chickens.  Again, this is one of my favorite things about cycling; it’s so easy to just stop and have a friendly chat.

When we get home, Clara drapes herself in a multitude of princess accessories and we walk a few houses down for her tea party.  Later that afternoon, Elliott picks up Miles in the cargo bike and stops by to retrieve “Her Majesty” from her playdate.  As always, the cargo bike draws a lot of interest, admiration, and questions.  ”Wow, that’s a cool bike!” is pretty much the standard reaction.  All the kids clamor for a ride.

Day 30: Friday.  My fabulous mother-in-law Andrea arrives in town today, and Elliott drives out to the airport to get her.  I wonder, will Austin EVER have a way to get to the airport that does not involve a car?  I’ve heard talk of  light rail going out to the airport, but I hope you’ll forgive me if I don’t have the greatest faith in Austin when it comes to alternative transportation.

Anyway, my ride for the day is my usual to and from work commute on a perfect spring day… cool morning, sunny warm afternoon.  On the way home, current and former students of mine, jumping on trampolines or shooting hoops in their driveways, holler and wave as I go past.

BONUS! Day 31: Saturday.  So this is the day I’ve been looking forward to all month: the Pampered Pedal.  The sitter arrives and I head to my friend Alice’s place.  Alice is not only my friend and colleague, she’s also my son’s teacher, and today’s ride is my Teacher Appreciation Week gift to her.  She is riding on the back of my Xtracycle, where the kids usually ride.  (Fortunately for me and my quads she is a petite little thing.) We head towards downtown along South Congress, and although I’m accustomed to the heavy traffic, Alice is not.  I remember how I felt a few years ago when I first started riding my bike around town; my first trip down South Congress was absolutely terrifying.  She tells me that she owns a bike but she’s been too scared to ride it on Austin streets.   However, once we’re on the ride… well-organized with experience ride leaders guiding us safely along well-chosen routes… this ride, she says, would make her feel safe enough to get on her bike in downtown Austin.

The ride is fabulous: we shop, we snack, we are massaged, we sip champagne.  The Pampered Pedal itself is only about 6 miles, but since I’m riding there and back, my total for the day is somewhere near 16 miles.  By the end of the day my quads are screaming (my granniest gear on my Xtracycle is not granny enough for the climb up South Congress on my trip home) but I’m relaxed and happy.  A perfect grand finale to my 30 days of bike.

30 Days of Bike: Reflections, one week later.  So other than a few days of being deathly ill, I did it.  I rode my bike (almost) every day for 30 days.  Since then I’ve ridden every day for another week, and hope to continue doing so indefinitely.  This month showed me that with a bike, a little creative thinking, and maybe some bus fare in your pocket, you CAN do a lot of the things you want to do in Austin without a car.

So how did I do on my goals?  Did I reduce my car use?  Definitely.  There were probably 3 or 4 trips a week that I previously would have used the car that I instead chose to ride my bike or take the bus.  But more importantly, this month has gotten me into the habit of asking myself, “Is there any way I can get this done without using the car?”  That is a question that more people need to get in the habit of asking.

Did I lose any weight?  I’d love to say “Yes!” but honestly, I couldn’t say.  My scale broke some months ago, and like any chocolate-loving girl I’ve been in no real hurry to replace it.  But I can feel muscles that have grown stronger, and what’s really amazing, I never once this entire month hated the fact that I was out on my bike “exercising.”  Because I wasn’t doing it to exercise.  I was riding my bike so I could get from point A to point B and have fun doing so.

How has the 30 day challenge affected me as a cyclist?  as a parent?  as a citizen?  As a cyclist, I’m stronger, both physically and mentally.  I’m willing to try distances that I wouldn’t have tried before, and my legs are more able to handle the hills I may encounter along the way.  As a parent, I want to do even more to be a good role model for my kids, and I know that the more often we take the bike, the more they will grow up understanding that the car is only one option among many.  As a citizen, I’m frustrated.  Austin has done a few things to make our city more bikeable, but there is so much more that can and should be done.

How will this experience affect me long-term?  I’m not sure yet.  But here are a few things I’ve learned: A late-night cruise is a great way to unwind.  Kids like to wave to their neighbors and they love to yell “Wheeee!” on a fast downhill.  Drivers seem to be friendlier when you smile, wave, and sport handlebar streamers.  A beautiful sunset looks even better when you can stop, take a deep breath, and admire it from the middle of the Congress Avenue bridge.  And life is pretty darn good when you’re 1 mom, with 2 kids, and 30 days of bike.

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