Last night I couldn't sleep so instead, I came up with the most awesome idea--I am going to go on a biking adventure (of some sort) each month! I already have January's planned: Big Brother and I are riding North for a biking overnight (or two or three or four)! 

Most of the trip has already been beautifully mapped out by the folks behind Central California Cycling. You may remember that we used their suggested route to go to Modesto and found it to be fabulous. I'm trusting their judgement again and we're riding to Chico. Unfortunately, Jose won't have enough time off to do something epic like this for awhile. I went back and forth about bringing anyone else into the trip and came to the conclusion that this is going to be mama and Big Brother time. The route is flat, we're breaking it up into two days up, two days back with a day of rest in the middle. It's close enough that if we have any problems, we can easily call for help. If we don't make it all the way, no worries, we're just doing our best. Big Brother is the most patient little guy I know and as long as we bring plenty of dinosaur books, he'll be happy. I'm not ready to try to bring both boys on my own yet but I'll make sure that Little Brother gets a little overnight of his own in the near future. 

My bike of choice for this ride is the Mundo, of course. I already know that I can go long distances on it (90 miles in a day!) and it can hold plenty of gear (not that we'll need a ton since we're hoping to link up with Warmshowers hosts). The deck gives Big Brother two seating options: holding on when he wants to be involved and working, tucked into the Peanut Shell when he wants a rest/read a book/eat a snack. 

We're basically set to go already (although we have some time). The only things I think we would need are another Baguette for storage and wheelskirt-like protection, finally installing a thick tube and tire liner for the front wheel (like the one already in the rear), one of these handy little Mundo multitools from Antload in Portland to deal with Mundo-specific repairs, and a quick tune-up from Tim over at Practical Cycle to make sure everything is tip top. We've already made contact with a lovely couple outside Marysville and hoping to hear back from someone in Chico to find a place to stay. It would be easier than camping in January and bringing extra gear and much cheaper than finding a little motel (although that's not out of the question, if needed). 

I am so excited! 

Not to overshadow the mini-adventures we have each day: today we went to the Sacramento Zoo and rode the marry-go-round! 

For those of you who might be curious, this is how my little guy naps in the Peanut Shell: 

I have been thinking lately that my favorite thing about biking is that it opens yourself up to all kinds of new connections with the people around you. Granted, sometimes that can be a little stressful, such as the rare person who feels the need to tell you why they think you're a horrible parent or that you shouldn't be on "their" road. However, the majority of interactions I have while riding are fantastic! Just yesterday, a woman stopped me to ask where I got my Xmas lights on the Mundo. That turned into a discussion about the new homemade Bakfiets they just bought for their baby and all the great Sacramento family bikers she needs to meet. Just a few blocks later, I heard my name and a friend I hadn't seen in ages popped out of her car window to say hello! I love that I can say "thank you" to people on the street who aren't raking their leaves into the bike lane and "go ahead" to the pedestrians in the crosswalk. I politely (usually) remind people to watch out when they swing open their doors or park (car, bike, UPS, et al.) in the middle of the bike lane. It makes my day to hear all the "awesome," "right on," "so cute!" comments that we get every day. During our Xmas tree ride, a spandex'd roadie passed me, turned back in disbelief and with a huge smile said "I would have never thought it was possible!" Just today, I came home to a message on my machine from a guy saying "I'm a biker, too, and I found your wallet in the bike lane on T st." Brilliant! I hadn't even realized it was missing. 

In a car, we're sealed off to the outside world. We've been brainwashed into thinking this is a good thing. Keep all the bad things out, lock your doors, close your windows and turn up the a/c. God forbid you are exposed to the elements! My children ride on the bike feeling like they are in a parade. They smile and wave and interact with everything and everyone they see. They feel connected and in turn, reach out to their community. I try to do the same. Smiling and waving goes a long way to getting the people around you to notice you are a person, too. It's so easy to become an isolated zombie driver. 

Every day, we meet new people and see friendly faces because we are travelling by bike. I love changing people's minds (mine included) about what they think bikes can do and who they think bikers are. In the end, I just love to be reminded that we are all human and we should act that way towards each other. 

Another favorite thing about biking is our friendly local bike shop, Practical Cycle. A shop so caring that Tim made sure I brought Jose's Easton in to be fixed after reading about it from my last post. Now, not only is it in tip-top shape, it is also sporting a new set of fenders and a handy kickstand--very practical! Tim found that the reason the chain was skipping so badly was because it was actually bent, probably from the massive crash Jose had last month. Instead of making us buy a new chain (one shop once told me that whenever you buy a new chain, you also need to get a new cassette!), he straightened the original out. He didn't try to sell me more than I needed but made sure we had a safe and working bike. 

We need more folks looking out for one another and I truly believe that one of the easiest ways is to get them all on bikes. 

I love the rain and the colder weather! I especially love biking in the chilly mornings and even more after dark. My mom always says "make sure you're lit up like a Christmas tree!" I take things very literally. 

This week has been so much fun. Although it was quiet at the shop, the bosses were of holding their title of one of the elite top Pedego dealers. I had the store to myself. 

(That was actually my lunch break. I was working really hard, promise, Tim!). The weather finally started clearing up today and the streets dried out again. 

This week, I also tried my hand at a little crafty project I saw online. I'd never used a chain-breaker but now I'm a total pro. It was pretty awesome to get my hands dirty and have these little guys turn out so cool. 

I think I've mentioned it once or twice but I really love biking. This week, most of our mornings looked like this: 

I would then leave the trailer at the boys' daycare provider and Jose would later jog over with the dog and run them back home (the jogging attachment was stored in the back pocket). Jose loves jogging so it's win-win! 

I can't wait for our exciting Christmas tree adventures this weekend but until then, this day-to-day stuff is keeping me blissfully happy. 

Today was a rare day that the kids had day care and I actually had the day off! I took full advantage of my freedom by doing as many things on my list that I could--free from the squirmy little guys. 

My first stop after dumping the boys, was to finally deliver a bunch of odds and ends to my mom--her tires that she left at Practical Cycle, a huge bag of yarn since she's gotten back into knitting, and a big stack of dinosaur books from the library that she and Big Brother checked out. You'll notice that I swapped out our old blue pannier set with my trusty milk crate and brand new Baguette (a half-sized Go-Getter bag from Yuba). This was its first real test and I'm already in love with it! That baby is a monster! Unfortunately, however, I do have to move the Peanut Shell again to make room for it. I had moved the seat up on the deck because Little Brother's weight was making it pretty tippy. Any time he fussed and wiggled, it would almost pitch the bike over. We'll be going back to that set up now and just have to stay extra vigilant about keeping him still. 

Next, I unloaded everything at my mom's house and together, she and I rode to Ikea! Breakfast and shopping! Again, I didn't worry once about the load thanks to my amazing bike! My mom forgot her panniers so I ended up with everything. Too bad it wasn't anything exciting like a Malm or Hemnes. 

On our way back, we stopped at Practical Cycle to replace my Planet Bike Superflash that fell off yesterday while riding and then Ace Hardware to look for battery-powered Christmas lights. No lights but I did schlep home the curtain rods my mom needed. 

Finally, just because I had a few extra hours before the kids needed to be picked up, I decided to go back home to pick up my sewing machine so my mom could teach me how to use it. We have tons of fun sewing ideas, starting with Christmas stockings for my boys. 

I was a little worried about the stability because the sewing machine was balancing on the milk crate. I would have felt better if it was strapped directly on the side-loader, but it held the whole way back to my mom's. I was pretty proud of my Mundo-skills! 

We managed to have plenty of time to figure out the machine and get some work done. Picking up the boys at dusk was lots of fun. They were super excited to head home and chatted the whole way. I was really happy to have my Superflash back. I can't wait to get extra lights when the Christmas strands come in. Be sure to check out the #ChristmasFeats hashtag on Twitter for lots of cargo bike Christmas hauling! 

Today was a blast! At least, it was after all the craziness ended. I'm glad I didn't post earlier or it might have been a very different attitude. Wednesday is my day off so I had planned on biking some errands, one of which happened to be heading over to Costco to pick up Christmas decorations for Practical Cycle. I was really excited about this adventure. 

It took me awhile to get ready to go, funnier because I don't even have the kiddos to slow me down. By the time I left the house on the Mundo, it was raining. Real rain, too, like Portland. A third of the way, it began dumping. Pouring rain doesn't happen very often in Sacramento. You can tell by the number of people wearing jeans and Uggs. We don't know what to do when it rains! I was luckily wearing a pair of leggings, nylon pants, and rain pants with a rain jacket over my fleece jacket and scarf. Unfortunately, I hadn't planned my shoes very well because I was hoping to get some rain boots as one of my errands. My right sock soaked through first, my left shortly after. My gloves were useless soon, too. I love riding in the rain because eventually, you're as wet as you can get and nothing else matters. Getting off the bike, however, I started to get cold. Thankfully, Costco was nice and warm. I wandered around eating as many samples as I could to help reenergize. 

I ended up getting lots of great Christmas decorations as well as 2 lbs of cheese for my mom and a set of base-layer pants for both Jose and myself. When I got it out to the bike, I suddenly realized I had no idea what I was going to do. 

I was slightly concerned about the rain so I had asked for a sheet of plastic, thinking they could give me some of the stuff off the giant wrapped pallets. Instead, they gave me a few feet of plastic wrap. Not very helpful but there was a little window of clear weather that I was hoping would last. 

This is when I started freaking out. The Peanut Shell was in the way, my panniers weren't big enough, I didn't have enough bungees or tie-downs. The dang wreath was not going to work. It was windy and I getting really worried. I even called Jose (who had taken his parents' car to school this morning) and told him I was giving up. I begged him to come get the wreath. I kept working at the bike and twittering my frustration. Dorie and Kath were cheering me on. So many people were walking by, shaking their heads, asking me if I really was going to do this. I told them no. I was getting picked up. I was done. Jose got out of class to save me. 

Then, I finally wrenched the wreath out of the giant box. 

Woo hooo! I called Jose, twittered my success, and off I went! The wind was gusty but the rain held off. I was navigating around fallen branches and slippery leaves. It was beautiful! 

Amazingly, the wreath made it in one piece! 

You have no idea how happy I was! Poor Jose got yelled at by his teacher for running out to get me, what a sweet guy. I keep wondering what I would have done if he hadn't happened to have been available. My parents weren't even in town for them to come save me. Tim would have ridden out to help. Dorie told me to run back into Costco and buy more bungees. She and Kath were the ones who kept encouraging me to try even though I was giving up. They were the ones sending hints and ideas and general positive thoughts. 

After getting home, changing out of my soaked clothes, and resting a bit, I hopped on the BionX and rode off to do some home visits for my exchange student program. The BionX was a great relief to have a nice, relaxing ride after today's craziness. It also has the best lights. Another crisp, dry night ride--my favorite! The fun light displays made it even better. 

Our first foggy morning! A beautiful day after a full night's sleep sans kids. Refreshing! 

Another fun day of work at Practical Cycle. 

A fun date with Jose going to Tower Cafe followed by Perks Of A Wallflower at Tower Theater. A crisp ride home with the hubby. 

Today started with a drive to the dentist. I went back and forth and back and forth and back again about biking. We had driven there once, decided it was, in fact, bikeable but today I second-guessed myself. It was raining, but about to stop. It was far, but not super far. Big Brother was getting cavities filled, I didn't know how he was going to react afterwards. I had another bike ride trip in the evening as well. I hinged. 

The boys and I rode the Mundo over to my folks, dropped Little Brother off and drove to the dentist. I watched that bike lane the whole trip and vowed never to drive there again. It's fine except for a little sidewalk (actually signed as the "bike route") riding. I don't think I'd try taking the trailer with the kids since the lane is narrow and speed limit is 50 mph. Therefore, BionX without kids, Mundo with. 

Waiting for the dentist, the receptionist casually said "I hope no one has to go on highway 80, they just shut it down on both sides. Massive accident." No. More. Driving... cars are so dangerous! 

By the way, my kid is the most awesome dental patient in the world! No wiggles, no screams, no whining, ended with a smile and a thank you. I love that boy! Three cavities, no pain killer. More brushing, I promise. 

Since I had driven this morning, I promised myself I would make my evening trip a bike ride. To be sure I didn't talk myself out of it, we rode back from my parent's house without the car. I mapped out the route, eight miles even. The BionX Breezer was fully charged, extra set of lights, warm jacket plus extra layers, neon pannier cover, and reflective vest to top it all off. 

The way there was surprisingly easy. I planned for about 45 minutes going about 15-17 mph on level three. I tend to get lost easily so that would give me extra time and not feel rushed or get too sweaty. I had scheduled the visit so that it would at least be light for the way there since I hadn't ridden there before. 

Rode to Sacramento State, onto the American River Parkway. While I was taking an awesome picture of my bike on the bridge, a roadie passed me up wearing full spandex and carrying nothing but a pump in his back jersey pocket. After I got a few photos in, I starting thinking that it would be fun to catch him. I'm competitive. Off I go! Go, go, go! Even with the BionX, it's not easy. I was working hard to keep it up at 19 mph but it was awesome! Flying down the bike path, I caught up to my roadie, drafted off him, even had to coast a bit to stay behind. Once the path was clear, I dropped him! Woot! "On your left!" never sounded so awesome. I watched him fall back through my mirror.

A short while later, I exited the trail at Watt Ave. Up Watt for a bit, the last two blocks riding on the sidewalk as instructed by my common sense and the sign that said "bikes use sidewalk." Another mile in residential neighborhoods and I was there. 

By the time I left, it was pitch black so I donned my stylish reflective vest, turned on all the lights to the obnoxious setting, cranked up my tunes, and backtracked to the trail. The ride down Watt Ave. had been my only concern but by that point, I felt comfortable enough to take it on. Being extra careful, I used the crosswalks to get across, sidewalk where the crazy merges happened, extra caution at the onramps, then it was over and I was back on the ARP. 

I love riding in the dark more than any other time. There is something so empowering about cruising along, little light shining your way, silence, peaceful, beautiful. The bike trail was amazing. There was the occasional Bike Blinder with their highbeams on and a few Bike Ninjas without any lights, wearing black. Other than them, I was perfectly alone. Of course my brain had to interrupt my calm thoughts with zombie meth-addict scenarios. Luckily, my BionX power was a nice comfort. I can outrun anyone, especially chainsaw wielding roadies! No worries for me! 

I love being able to break through my mental barriers of riding alone, in the dark, longer distances, for work... I can do it all, by bike, even! I love this feeling! Thank you BionX night-ride! 

Tomorrow is the Appetite Enhancement Ride, 25th annual! Fill up on Two River's hard cider and let the thankfulness begin! On Saturday, join us for an "unofficial" Kidical Mass ride. Meet at Old Soul on Broadway at 9:30am to ride over to Southside Park, stopping at Doughbot on the way. 

Also, although I am totally against Black Friday, you should still come down to Practical Cycle and spend your money. Support your local bike shop, rent a bike and burn off some of those gravy calories, and find a new bike that you totally love and will use. You don't even have to spend the night in front of the store or get trampled on the way in. Score! 

So, we have the opportunity to add to our fleet (yes, again). We're not spending as much these days without the car to weigh us down so we have to make up for it somehow (spending it at my local, favorite bike shop sounds good). One option: Practical Cycle has a used rental Breezer Uptown, step-through frame WITH BIONX!!! It is a 36v, long-range battery with new warranty. The bike just happens to be my size, too. Kismet? Yes. Another option: buy another cargo bike. Jose would love, love, love a black Mundo. We already know that bike works for our family and it'd be great to cut out the trailer trading we have to do right now for kid pick-ups. However, we do have a cargo trike in mind to help my mom do more kid-runs, made by our favorite local cargo truck maker--John Lucas. 

I took the Breezer home today (perk of knowing the owner) and let the BionX rip. I cruised home at about 17mph. It was pretty amazing to get home so quickly and not be tired. It was still light enough to get Jose on the bike. He's original attitude was "I don't need electric. It's not necessary. I like pedaling. Etc. Etc." My thoughts are: There are going to be days that we are sick/tired/not able to ride as fast or as far as we need to. We might need to get somewhere looking like we didn't just bike there. Jose wouldn't budge. 

I heard him ride off down the driveway. "Woooooah!"

I knew he was sold. 

Sure enough, he came back about 15 minutes later and said "I'm sold."

The next thing to ensure is that we would actually be able to get the trailer attached to the bike. Chariot trailers use a skewer hitch. A BionX hub doesn't work that way. If we can get the ball socket onto the axle, we're good. If it can't carry the trailer, that doesn't help us much. 

Jose's already asked if he can take the bike with him to work tomorrow morning. Tim, I don't think you're getting it back. We might have to start cleaning out our shed now, too.