brian's blog

I still don't own a car, since commuting via the bus + a bike has been much less of a hassle than I originally thought it would be. It also means no traffic stress, gets me exercise, and gives me the ability to get things done while commuting. The big downside is the lack of convenient mobility on the weekends. (At least I'll be able to partially fix that in 2 months with a Flexcar, which I'm currently unable to get due to, erm, problems on my driving history...)

Thanks to my commute, I've also realized that I really enjoy cycling. Since I need more past-times and hobbies besides working, I've decided to get into recreational cycling this year. The big goal will be to raise money to take part in the MS 150 Bike Tour, a 150 mile long, 2 day charity ride for multiple sclerosis. I'll also aim to do the Tour de Cure and the just-for-fun Flying Wheels Summer Century rides.

So I've been stocking up on cycling gear over the past few weeks to prepare. Here's all the stuff I've picked up:

• Short sleeved cycling shirt
• Cycling shorts
• Shimano shoes (though I don't have any cleats, since my bike has old-timey toe clip pedals)
• Sunglasses (with different lenses for different conditions)
• A patch kit
• Spare tube
• Tire levers
• A Swiss Army-like multifunction bike tool
• A new front tire (I've already replaced the original back tire and the front one is starting to show tears)

Hooray for a hobby!