2 Wheels Maybe

May 1 is downright magical here at the Mesquite Hugger desk. It's an anniversary. Joining the National Bike Challenge on May 1, 2014 was my start to bicycle commuting. You can read the post here . So here I am seven years later in a very different life and still thrilled to have the month and the challenge roll around again. Honestly, I was scared to start. I had a sedentary lifestyle and a body shape to match. And I viewed Lubbock traffic as a suicide run for anyone not in a car. But I was overweight, high blood-pressured, and wanting to save the world. And the bicycle seemed like a great tool for tackling all those issues. So I got up the nerve to try it. And I'm truly thankful I did. I've learned that life is better on a bike. I'm in much better shape than I was seven years ago. I like the town I live in better and I've discovered a lot of beauty I had not noticed. I have more stamina. I look forward to going places for the ride as much as the desti...

[Happy first day of the National Bike Challenge ! May you pedal healthily and joyfully, and may your bike haul all you need!] When I think of cargo bikes, two brands automatically pop into my brain - Xtracycle and Yuba. These are the two companies that have been there designing and selling longtail cargo bikes for several years and they have stayed focused specifically on cargo bikes and cargo-bike kits. In my mind, these two are the cargo-bike kings of the hill. For the last few years I've had my eye on one model - the Yuba Mundo Classic. At $999, it has continually been the best bang for the buck if you want high quality and low price. While it's not as high-tech (or light) as the more expensive Mundos, it's a beast that's capable of hauling 440 pounds and has a reputation for lasting year after year. If you're cheap like me, you know this is a great way into cargo biking. The page for saving 20% on the Mundo Classic I had not been on the Yuba s...

Woohoo! It's that time of year again! nationalbikechallenge.org The National Bike Challenge begins next Wednesday, so this weekend is a great time to dust off the old bike, borrow a bike, buy a bike, or create a really clever disguise for your car. What's that? You're not planning to join? Oh come on! Haven't you been saying you need more exercise, more sunshine, more optimism, more stamina, and nicer legs? Haven't you been complaining about the rising cost of gasoline? Didn't I hear you say you don't want to pay for a gym membership? (Oh, come on - surely something in there struck a chord for you.) So, let's talk about the challenge's virtues: It's free to join. You can win prizes. It can truly pedal you to a healthier place. There's no minimum or maximum - it's encouragement to get out and ride. You don't have to ride every day (but you can.) If you are competitive, it's a great place to find people...

Lots of good stuff, indeed! I spent a week in the Metroplex where it was green and luscious and rainy, and there was lots of good stuff, but it is good to be home with the people I love and the dogs (and on a lesser scale) it's good to be back on a bike. It's funny - there's a buildup I feel when I don't ride, when I don't write, when I don't spend some time outside. And this week it was worse. The first four days of this year's National Bike Challenge I spent in a motel with no bike. More Bike Goodness from the League But this morning, I hopped on the old black bike and pedaled away, and things felt right. And I saw squirrels, sparrows, dove, starlings, grackles, robins, and even a pair of house finches. And there was no rush of traffic. And I pulled up to a big, empty bike rack. And it's good to be home. Don't forget the challenge Man, it's good to be home! May you know the feeling and may May be good to you!

Learn more at  www.lovetoride.net Tomorrow, May 1, is a big deal around here the Mesquite Hugger / 2Wheels Maybe corporate offices – the National Bike Challenge begins. The NBC is a big motivator for me. It is a daily reason to ride. It’s actually what helped me take a big leap to become a bicycle commuter rather than an occasional cyclist. And I have to say, life is better on a bike. What do I mean by better? Find it here Personally: My body is skinnier, my stamina exists, I smile more, I save money, I enjoy and look forward to my commute to work. I reduce my risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. Most of all, my spirit is healthier and more hopeful when I ride. Find it here Environmentally: This one’s pretty easy – no air pollution or noise pollution. The bicycle doesn’t burn coal or natural gas or gasoline or diesel, which leads to less habitat destruction and less war. Find it here Communitarily: (I may have m...