How to Survive Massachusetts Drivers and Global Warming on a Fixed Gear Bike

At the beginning of the summer I was noticing my pants were tighter than I'd prefer and the gym was a place I wanted no part of anymore. Additionally, gas prices were well over $4 a gallon at this point and the economics and ecologist in me wanted to use less fossil fuels whenever possible. Living only 5 miles away from work I decided to buy a bike and pedal my way to work as often as possible. Originally I wished to not spend much money and wanted to find a relatively nice used bike. I was even thinking of going vintage and restoring an old cruiser. But, I was smitten when I saw this purrty little thing at the Harris Bicycle shop in West Newton.

I obviously caved and bought it for over $600.00. I was told that between gas prices and the durability of this particular bike (Redline, fixed gear) I would make my money back if I earnestly used it for approximately two summers. So, I opted not to dawn the spandex and hit the road to work in cargo shorts or rolled up chinos in the summer heat. The muscle soreness and soaked shirts were something to get used to, but after a solid stretching regimen and breathable shirts were discovered, I managed to integrate my bike into my daily commute quite well.

The only time I took my car was if I need to be somewhere at lunch or immediately after work. Otherwise I surprisingly rode my bike approximately 80% of the time. It started getting quite rainy and unpleasant. I faced the fact that I was not a hardcore biker yet. I'm pretty much recreational in anything I do except writing, reading and eating.

It's nearing the end of September and the weather has taken a turn for the cold. As much as sweating right through a shirt sucks, being sweaty and having cold wind blowing on you sucks way more! I may get some cold weather gear, but if I'm living in Worcester I can't commute on my bike to Watertown. So, maybe I'll do bike rides on the local trails.

Looking back over the commute and other rides I've taken into and through Boston, I can very well see why Boston is one of the most un-friendly biker cities in the United States. The roads are narrow and drivers are aggressive. I've had a handful of "close calls" where people swerve or people pull out without looking. I always wear a helmet, but it is distressing when I think of how fragile the human body is up against a several thousand pound car. I've managed to avoid most dangerous situations and want to continue to learn the rules of the road from a cyclist's perspective.

Living in the Northeast where the weather can be volatile, I am keeping my Toyota Yaris handy for certain trips as it's great on gas and relatively inexpensive to own and run. Otherwise I plan on keeping my bike in good condition and riding it weather permitting until it's paid for itself and then some. Regardless of the financial aspects of owning and using a bike, the health and enjoyment were easily worth the investment.

Listed are some great ideas and inspiration for getting started in riding a bike on your daily commute. Just do it!