This mornings traffic jam brought to you by ducks.

I have been wanting a road bike for quite some time.  At the beginning of summer 2014 I finally broke down and dropped the cash.  I really really debated about whether this would be worth it or not.  We sold our truck and I really wanted to get something that I would have for a long time to replace it.  Long story short when my Grandad passed away my Dad gave us each a bit of inheritance.  Since we were in desperate need of a second vehicle at the time and my Dad had an extra one he gave that to me.  So I always kind of looked at that truck as something from my Grandad.  This is why I wanted to buy something specific with at least part of the sale money.

With that being said it was still a lot of money to spend on a two wheel bicycle.  My plan was to start riding my bike to work.  So into the store I went and when the sales guy approached me I was very up front with him and told him I was looked for something on the cheap end but decent quality.  I explained I was a runner and really only looking to bike to work.  So I wanted something entry level to get me started.  Frankly I really didn't know whether I would even enjoy the bike commute.

Before I knew it I was driving home with my shiny new bike.

A few weeks later I finally began my morning commutes.  I hooked up with another lady at my work.  She had been wanting to do the bike commutes for awhile but didn't want to go alone.  Works out since she lives about the same distance south of work as I do, but farther west.

                                      One of my first commutes, complete with bug stuck on face.

       I would never get to enjoy views like this for long in my car.

We rode through crazy rain,wind, blistering hot for 2-4 days per week for the whole of the summer and it was freaking AWESOME!!  While the sticker shock was tough when I walked out of the store, I have never regretted buying my bike for a minute.

I went a long time at first without any flat tires and then towards the end of the season I had 7 days of CRAZY.  Started with 1 flat tire in the morning one day.  This was my biggest fear.  I was counting on YouTube getting me through it.

That one flat was quickly followed a couple days later by another flat tire in the morning, I had someone at work fix it.  Then on my way home I got ANOTHER flat tire the SAME day.  That's when I got real friendly with YouTube and I changed my tire!  It was pretty empowering.

Then the next day I had a low speed tip over and that shit hurt.  I was turning a tight corner and there was a morning frost.  I was on the ground in the blink of an eye.  Ouch.

After the double flats my friends husband hooked me up with specific instructions on some better tires.  I only rode on them once before we were done for the season. However, I did completely change the tires and tubes all on my own one Saturday morning.  Finished feeling pretty bad ASS if I do say so myself.

       Within a week of starting I switched my pedals out to clipless.  Scary, but worked out fine.

       When I arrive at work I haul my bike upstairs to my office where it hangs out all day.

       Damn thorns!

I LOVE LOVE that I'm able to do this.  It's 9 miles each way and takes about 40 minutes.  Last season I felt like I didn't get a very good work out with my riding partner because she pedaled a bit slower than I would have liked.  However, this year she has upped the anti and bought herself an electric assist bike.  So she gets some motor help as we pedal.  That means she's MUCH faster this year and I'm already getting quite the workout and it feels AWESOME!