Giving up retirement for... Bike to Work Day!

My former coworkers would be proud of me. I actually was up at the crack of dawn (well almost...) to join the 21,000+ registered cyclists for this year’s Denver Bike To Work Day. A beautiful cool morning made for a spectacular trip downtown but the forecast is for it to get a tad warm so I’ll support my fellow riders on the way home in spirit. By the time I got back to my starting point it already was turning into a sweat fest. This year I saw signs indicating there would be aid stations this afternoon as well. For the 25+ times I participated as an actual commuter my only complaint was that there was plenty of aid stations for the ride INTO work but none on the way home so kudos for the organizers of this year’s event to coax or cajole volunteers to man (or woman) the aid stations again in close to 100 degree heat.

Heat can be a killer to cyclists especially if they fail to stay hydrated. It was obvious that some of the riders out this morning are only occasional cyclists and if they spend their work day in cool air conditioned comfort they’ll be paying a hefty price on the way home. 

Of course the real test for the organizers of Bike to Work Day is how many of these occasional cyclists make the effort (and effort it takes) to ride not just today but on subsequent days this summer.  By the way I was feeling (and sweating) by the end of my ride the thought crossed my mind that Denver’s organizers might have to give some thought to moving Bike to Work Day earlier in the year. The month of May is actually Bike to Work Month nationally and it would definitely be cooler although in Denver May, especially early May, can still bring the threat of not just cool but downright cold weather so there’s no right answer.

So kudos to all those intrepid riders who took part today. And to those on the e-bikes (battery assisted bikes which are apparently becoming more and more popular) who zipped by me I’m not jealous. Nah, not the least bit...