One of the real joys I have had this summer is the amount of time I have been able to spend on two wheels. This is my commuter bike. I originally purchased this F400 Cannondale mountain bike in September 2001. After my car crash I really didn’t have the confidence to bike much. There are a lot of quick decisions that have to be made and I was not sure I could make them happen. A friend of mine really pushed me to ride again. I had a leg built for biking but I was not at all confident on it. Well after several spills I learned to ride again. I first started riding a road bike on long rides along the foothills. I had built some confidence on it, made a few changes to the mountain bike (tires, pedals, brakes, and handle bar extensions) and am riding it around with no problem. I actually think that with the bike and the bus I can get around Denver or Boulder faster than in a vehicle. I also save time and $$$ on parking. It is really a superior method of transportation.

The other day a friend of mine and I started down the Ralston Creek trail here in Arvada and rode to downtown Denver. A path virtually from my house to downtown Denver. We had to cross a road a couple of times but that part of the trip was insignificant compared to riding along Ralston Creek and South Platte river. It is truly a wilderness in a city.

This is a map of all of the major bike trail systems in the Denver area. As you can see there is no problem getting anywhere in this city on a bike. Below is the map for the Boulder area. I personally think that the Boulder Creek trail is one of the best in the area. You can ride from “The Hill” to Pearl Street really easily and it is no problem to get from Pearl st. to the 28th Street mall. This was important to me because the Apple store is over there. The one thing about riding around Boulder is that you will probably have to ride on the road at some point. Fortunately, there are wide bike paths on almost every street. Drivers in Boulder also seem to me more aware of bikers (for the most part) and typically give enough room while passing.

I could go on about the health benefits of biking and how awesome it is just to get fresh air on whatever commute you have for a long time. You save on gas and parking. The benefits outweigh the consequences.

I was truly disappointed when the Republican candidate for Governor of Colorado, Dan Maes “warn(ed) voters that Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s policies, particularly his efforts to boost bike riding, are “converting Denver into a United Nations community.” Here is a link to the story.

This is troubling to me on several levels. First there is enough trouble in this state that you should have bigger fish to fry. Second, realize that there are a large number of us who have made this lifestyle choice because of the benefits of it to ourselves and the environment. We like riding. I am confident that the only state in the United States which has an obesity rating under 20% has that for a reason. The citizens of this state demanded the bike trails and have them because we really do hold the power. We should hold the power this year as well. Tell Dan Maes his anti-biking policy is not welcome in Colorado and send him home in November. Dan, your idea’s are as you say “Kooky.”
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