Commuting to the Auto Shop

Today I’m discovering the freedom I have on the bike. My car needed to go in to the shop, so I made an appointment at the local mechanic’s for this morning. I load my bike into the back of my car (good thing I drive an SUV, or I’d have to purchase a bike rack too). I gear up and take off for the auto shop.

Once the car is dropped off, I pull the bike out of the back, change my shoes, fasten my helmet, pull on my gloves and off I go. I start the easy three mile commute down the access road home. I thought it was a cool morning for a ride, but I begin to realize it may be cooler, but it’s more humid after the brief rain that moved through last night.

I was in no hurry, but I didn’t make it a total leisure ride either. I made it home in just under twenty minutes. I don’t like the surface of access roads, and I really didn’t enjoy not being able to see the cars approaching behind me at 50 plus mph. I need to get one of the Wheelmen mirrors for my helmet. Time for a quick shower and then I plug in to work. I spent the day working from home. We had the pest guy and the sprinkler repair guy out to the house today and someone needed to be home. Talk about a productive day!

At 5:05 the mechanic calls to say my car is ready.

Me: “Great! What time do you close today?”
Anton (mechanic): “At 5:30”
Me: “Oh! Don’t leave! I’m jumping on my bike now, but
it’s going to take me that long to pedal there.”
Anton: “K. bye!”

I jump up, throw on my bike clothes, hop around from one foot to the other pulling on my shoes, push the bike out of the garage, and I’m off. Then I hit the access road! Sitting in the house all day, I hadn’t realized the wind had picked up. I have a good 15 mph headwind for the majority of my ride. I have to make it though. I pedal as hard as I can and just don’t stop. I try to keep my head down and just keep going. Thankfully, I’m not wearing my watch, so I’m not watching the minutes tick by, but the miles sure took awhile to achieve.

I pull in the parking lot, jump off my bike, grab my water bottle, pull the covers on my cleats and manage a quick hobble up the metal steps into the shop’s office. I take a deep breath and say, “I made it!” as I glance at the clock. It’s 5:28. Oh yeah! We talk about my car repairs, they ask about my ride, we talk about Seattle (since my license plate frame is still a Seattle frame) and the whole time I’m dripping sweat in their office. My hand shakes as I sign the credit card slip.

It may have only been a six mile ride today, and broken into two parts separated by eight hours, but it sure feels good! The freedom to drop off and pick up my car without anyone’s assistance is nice. The feeling from pushing myself in that kind of headwind and succeed at my goal is just awesome!

Goals
Today's Miles: 6.3
Total Miles Achieved: 288.4
Financial Investment: $972.39
Total Weight Loss: -0.2