Biking in the Merry Month of May

It's May and that can only mean one thing - you're going to see a lot more cyclists on the road because it's National Ride Your Bike to Work Month!  Yes, its official and me and my people, we even have our own logo, uhhh, poster, uhhh on-line graphic;

As you can see from the above, we have a Bike to work week (the 14th to the 18th), a day (May 18th) and for the kinder  (pronounced as the first part of the grade you are in before first grade) among us, a ride to school day (May 9)!  Now there is an organization that is really behind this called PeopleforBikes.org and they have some exciting ways that we can make the most of this month.  To wit (I guess that mean "towards getting smarter"?);

1) Go for a type of bike ride that you normally wouldn’t: If you’re a road rider, try a mountain bike ride. If you’ve never ridden your bike to work, give bike commuting a shot. And if the ride to work isn’t something you can tackle this year, ride your bike to run an errand you would normally do by car, even if it’s just a trip to the coffee shop or ice cream parlor. Remember—forty percent of trips Americans take are two miles or less, an easy bicycling distance.

2) Introduce one other person to bicycling. Whether it’s your partner, a coworker, a family member, or just a friend, help someone find a bike and go for a fun ride. Bicycling is a pretty amazing thing, right? Why not encourage someone else to discover the activity that brings you so much happiness.

3) Participate in one or more National Bike Month events. A list of community rides can be found at the League of American Bicyclists.
Now I tend to do much of this (much to my wife's chagrin on number 2) and I've even signed up on Endomondo for the New York Bike Challenge.  All of this (hopefully) means that a lot more people will be out there doing what I do many (if not every) day of the week - especially since this has been an incredibly mild winter.  As a matter of fact, I kicked off the month by riding on May 1st, despite the fact that it was coming down in buckets and I felt a bit like this guy;

(Yay - riding in the rain!)

In all seriousness, it was pretty much like this. 

(Riding in the rain, just riding in the rain, What a glorious feeling....)

And because I'm trying to train for any weather conditions I took the long way to work which was 15.2 miles as opposed to the short route which would have gotten me there 10 minutes faster. I just figured since I was squishy already, I might as well go the full distance.  Speaking of "Squishy", here is one of my favorite clips from Finding Nemo;



And I was certainly feeling surrounded by water by the time I finally arrived at school.

But there's nothing like the feeling of starting the month of May (National Bicycling Month) by riding to work!  And add to that the fact that I'm really gaining the added benefit of training for the Ride Across America it makes it even more enjoyable.  So far I've managed to log in 1372 commuting miles since the beginning of January and I've probably added another 250 or so in "pleasure miles", that is rides I've done on the weekend just to get in some more mileage.  My goal is to try to get well over 2000 miles before we leave in June.

So you will see lots of us out on the road this month - I just hope you remember that we're not targets and you don't extra points for hitting us as this mtotist in Californaia apparently thought;



I have to say it makes me extremely nervous about riding in California - good thing I'll be taking a camera with me - I just may have to keep it rolling the entire time I'm in the state.  Hopefully, since it IS Ride Your Bike to Work Month, someone will put out a PSA about NOT hitting cyclists so we'll have an opportunity to live longer.

And just on the hopeful chance I DO survive riding through the bottom part of California and you, dear reader, feel compelled to congratulate me on my death defying act by donating to the children of Sunrise Day Camp you can click on the above linke (that's Old English for a connection) or just click  here if scrolling up is to taxing right now.

And speaking of taxing and Old English, there is a wonderful little song celebrating the month of May from a little musical called Camelot.  You may recognize a young Vanessa Redgrave in the role of Guenevere;



But, aside from riding our bicycles fearlessly, there are many ways to be "lusty" in the month of May as the group Culann's Hounds can attest to in their punked up version of "Rocky Road to Dublin";



You know what - that's it, I'm too fired up now to do anything else - I'm going for a lusty ride.  Anyone want to join me?  And if you haven't already, feel free to "like" us on facebook and follow more of our lusty cycling adventures this merry month of May!

Stay well and I'll see you (lustfully) on the road!