Gearing up for the Heart of America.
With the experience of last year I know that one of the hardest challenges of not using a car is accommodating to the demands of the busy world. Being certain places at certain times, transporting people and materials, and being able to schedule extra time in the day to get to where you need to be at the appropriate time. I volunteer for Columbia Second Chance and I know that there are animal rescue and foster issues that I will not be able to handle successfully on a bicycle. If an important situation arises, I know that I will have to forfeit my oath to leave my car where it is parked.
Masked men on the course!
One of the hardest challenges for me this month will be the promotion and course setup for Off Track Events a series of social events (sometimes known as "races") that will begin late September and run through the middle of November. With thousands of brochures, posters and promotional material I know that I will need to think outside the box this month. To help in the success of the promotions I borrowed a friends trailer and with it built a three poster long billboard that faces the traffic behind me. A traveling advertisement that every car and pedestrian behind me will see. I once again feel the excitement creating a new daily routine without the comfort and ease of a automobile. Let the games begin.
Matt running a section of the marathon.
The Heart of America Marathon was labor day - and I was ready to return to the course the second year in a row. However, I would not be running in the event. I would be entertaining. With the help of Matt Drier and Alex Grigsby's party tandem bike, runner's were treated to a traveling aid station trailer with a cooler of water, backpack stereo and as many twizzlers as they eat. The expressions on the runner's faces were priceless as they saw two masked men on a tandem bike offering them refreshment's and encouragement. Powergels were distributed, nutty bars were eaten and even an adult magazine was brought out to inspire. What a blast!
Although, I only biked the marathon, I still felt a level of extreme fatigue for a couple days. Luckily, I work from home and was able to hide out and avoid much commuting for a couple days. Rest and recovery for the days ahead. Plenty of commuting miles to come. Thursday night I headed to my part time job as a pedicab driver (I like to tell people that I am a professional cyclist) for Shakespeare's Pizza. I have been working as a pedicab driver for a couple weeks and was a little nervous on how my first night pedicabbing a twilight festival would go. I imagined it would be a stressful night of hauling endless rowdy teenagers around the downtown area with heavy traffic cutting me off at every corner. I was wrong!
"Anybody want a free ride on the pedicab?"
Photo by: Serkan Gurbuz
A couple downtown blocks were closed down and only open for pedestrians. Bands were playing around every corner and people were everywhere. A woman asked if I could give her daughters a ride around the block. I told them to jump in! I biked up to the top of the elevated block than did a roller coaster switchback to the bottom throwing in a couple curly cues along the way. By the time I got to the bottom, there were kids lining up to take the next ride. Everybody was waving as the kids laughed and screamed (maybe from fun maybe from terror). I did rollercoaster rides for another ten minutes before the street became to busy and then returned to my loop around the downtown District. After three plus hours of a full night of pedicabbing, I was exhausted. Sleep never felt so good. Let's see what week 2 brings...
Best job ever.
Photo by: Serkan Gurbuz
1 comment:
Well said.
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