Although there are many factors that influence your impact on the earth, what and how you eat, and your transportation options and choices, are two big players. Food and transportation choices also contribute to health, or lack thereof.
Over the past several weeks, I’ve realized that two topics really inspire the posts around here: food and bicycles. To that end, I’m pondering changing the name of this blog to better reflect the content.
I’ve brainstormed some good title possibilities, I’m just on the fence about whether or not to actually take the plunge.
So, what do you think? Good idea? Bad idea? Neutral?
I recently did a guest interview for Simply Bike’s “Biking While Pregnant” series — you can read it here.
People often express surprise at the weather conditions we bike in, which include some pretty extreme temps (hot and cold), rain, wind, and snow. For us (though much less so for me, at the moment), these conditions are just part of using a bicycle for transportation.
As a general rule, there are two conditions in which we don’t bike: ice on the road and lightning storms. Late Friday afternoon, freezing rain coated area roads just in time for rush hour. After a failed attempt to fit his bike in a coworker’s car, followed by narrowly missing a bus, Matthew decided to chance the icy streets rather than wait 20-30 minutes for the next bus.
He made it to within a few blocks of our apartment and then went down on some black ice on a side street. Fortunately, he escaped with just a few bruises and aches. (His bike is also fine.) After making it to the sidewalk (he said the street was so slippery he could barely stand up!), he opted to walk the remaining blocks.
The next day, when I suggested biking to an afternoon apartment appointment, he was understandably hesitant. With the roads still icy in the morning, I reluctantly agreed to the car. When the time came, I walked outside and proclaimed, “We totally could have biked.”
Our destination was less than two miles away, the kind of trip that can really almost be reached by bicycle as fast as by car, and we had fifteen minutes, so we headed to the basement for the bikes, quickly donned cold weather riding gear, and pedaled down the road.
As it turned out, the apartment was a total flop. I would have been really annoyed if we had driven, but the bike ride turned it into a nice afternoon outing — so glad we reassessed road conditions, and that Matthew was willing to get back in the [bike] saddle.
Strangely enough, I’ve done more biking in the past 3 1/2 weeks (late December and early January), than in all of September, October, and November combined. The rides themselves have been relatively short (3-4 miles), running errands here and there, but just getting out somewhat regularly feels great.
On Saturday morning, I ran a couple of errands by car, due to some remaining ice from the mid-week snow. Once off of our tiny street, I realized conditions were bikeable. When I arrived at the library and found no [car] parking spaces, I really wished I’d chosen two wheels instead of four — lesson learned!
While out and about, I stopped by the winter farmers’ market. Some beautiful cabbage, along with a few bags of frozen green bell peppers, a couple of fresh sweet red peppers, and a few pears made the trip well worth it. I bought enough cabbage that we might do a new round of sauerkraut, though we’ve really been enjoying the cabbage cooked in various ways, and I want to get around to making a slaw/salad with some of it. Cold weather cabbage tastes so sweet and delicious!
Speaking of sauerkraut, and deliciousness, we made reubens over the weekend — so messy and so good! The kitchen’s been a busy place lately, and I have a couple of fun new recipes to share soon, one for a nice, warm soup and the other for an amazing bread — very high quality bike fuel 🙂
When I looked at the forecast for New Year’s weekend and saw temperatures in the 60s, I knew it was time for Gabriel’s inaugural bicycle [trailer] ride. My parents gave us the baby supporter accessory for Christmas, so we were ready for action.
Friday morning, after his first nap, we strapped The Dude into the trailer and rode our bikes to Tower Grove Park.
Ready to roll
I’d debated using the trip to run an errand but ultimately decided to keep it all pleasure, so we biked the outer loop road in the park, and then headed back home. Apparently The Dude was pretty comfortable — he looked around for a bit at first, and, shortly after we entered the park, he fell asleep for the rest of the ride.
My biking boys
Suffice it to say that after a year of research and planning on how we would include a baby in our preferred form of transportation, actually taking a bike ride with him was wonderful! That, combined with the fresh air, sunshine, and physical activity really lifted my spirits 🙂
Parting shot
I plan to eventually post the entire birth story here (or at least an abridged version, as it was quite the saga), but for now, you’ll have to accept bits and pieces, in no particular order. The end is a decent place to start.
Under the knife
Two weeks ago today I underwent major surgery . . . for a tummy tuck and a boob job. Okay, not exactly, but it kind of looks like it. Here’s what really happened . . . .
Bicycle dreams
I continued processing the idea, and a few moments later, reality cut through the sleep-deprivation and Percocet-induced haze, and I thought to myself, “Self, you just had major abdominal surgery three days ago, I don’t really think you’ll be riding your bicycle anytime soon.”
A slow return to active transportation
Thursday, at six-and-a-half weeks post-op, I rode my bike for the first time since the surgery. Those weeks of limited mobility gave me time to think about the limits of active transportation.
Psst, psst: The EC update
Reading about Elimination Communication (EC) midway through pregnancy activated my green radar — baby peeing and pooping in the toilet (or in a little potty or other receptacle) equals less dirty diapers to wash. Less washing means less water and energy used — what wasn’t to love. I read Diaper Free Baby by Christine Gross-Loh, and it all seemed pretty straight forward. And then I had a baby . . . .
When baby’s away, Mama plays
My to-do list included picking up a fifty pound bag of whole wheat pastry flour from Local Harvest — not exactly something I could toss in the milk crate on the back of my bike. I was resigned to driving the car for the 1-mile trip when I remembered . . . the new bike trailer!
Blue green mama
Yet, when my blues set in 2-3 weeks postpartum, my initial reaction was denial . . . . Gabriel’s smiles finally snapped me out of my denial. He started smiling around nine weeks, this adorable little grin, yet I found myself so emotionally drained that I often couldn’t return those smiles, and that made me feel even worse.
Two’s company
My rationale going in was, sure, we’re adding an additional person, but a very small person, and we’re committed to minimizing stuff for that person, so it will be no big deal, right? Not exactly.
Her Green Life 