Day 8 :: Commuter Geek

I grew up on bikes, as so many of us do -- utilizing them as an enjoyable form of transportation. I remember racing my sister's banana seat Schwinn down the hill of our childhood street, gleefully using my foot brakes to screech to a satisfying, skidding stop. For a few years in elementary school I commuted with an alto sax precariously balanced on my handlebars, wobbling left and right as I attempted to maintain balance by counter weighting each wobble with all of my tiny strength. I spent my teens and early twenties on cruiser bikes, (sadly helmet-free) and didn't purchase my first entry level road bike until the age of 23. I remember stating that I would never wear a chamois like the bike-dorks I'd seen. That resolution lasted exactly until my first twenty mile ride at which point I promptly took my aching butt to the nearest bike shop and purchased a pair of mountain bike shorts with a built-in chamois. I figured if I had to go diaper butt, at least I'd go baggy.

Twelve years later I lust after $300 chamois and wear matching kits on lunch rides. I've got winter riding clothes, summer riding clothes, road jerseys, mountain bike jerseys, five different types of gloves, four different types of helmets, road shoes, mountain bike shoes, commuting shoes, racks and panniers and bells and lights. Nerd = me.

The latest and greatest obsession as I've moved into 60 days Car Free is wool socks. WOOL SOCKS I LOVE THEE. Socks that I can commute in and work in and wear all day? A godsend. I've started sock stalking - shopping for sales in the early morning hours, reading sock reviews online (seriously? sock reviews?). Yes. That's me. Wool socks.

God knows what's next? Commuter capris?

Oh, Sierra Trading Post, You do get me.