...a mama's story...

The bicycle has always been the main extension of myself growing up. It represented freedom; away from boredom, away from pain, away froom static routines. It was never a conscious thought, to choose the bike over a car, it was just that the bicycle was always there waiting. An external pull to the joys of a new experience that were, and still are, the quintessential reasons why I ride. There aren't ever two rides the same.

The quality of a family's day to day living was so important that, once I had a family of my own, my husband and I chose to move to the West Coast to enjoy the natural wonders at our doorstep. Now, after having lived on the prairies for so long, riding a bike all year long radically changed our world. It became a new challenge, after years of hauling kids and gear in and out and around in a car, to get groceries and piggy back chores via a bike, bike trailer and panniers. But, with the flexibility of owning our own business and pushing the work around the demands of raising kids, I began to commit to the promise that I would always bike, no matter the weather, unless it was an emergency. This was a natural migration for me, not so much for the rest of the clan. This new agenda became an irritiation to some of my family, as they did not make the choice, my choice was simply enforced...and enforced with might.

Over time, and with consistent persistence, the choice to ride a bicycle to get around in a twin town population of around 40,000, with an ocean all away around, estuaries and glacier mountains for scenery, riding a bike to get the job done started to change the way the family thought about their schedules. Now, everything planned was planned around either putting the bike on a bus or riding a bike as choices for vehicles, or both. Plus, the time allowance for the extra steps in preparation and speed of travel. (Funny enough, some days the bike was a lot quicker then driving!) This shift became the pivot with which the day was balanced. If it couldn't be done that day, maybe it didn't need to get done. Otherwise, we just geared up, sucked it up, and got on the saddle. It usually didn't take long for the joy to take over, of one's face in the sunlight, the ocean breeze, and lungs filled with pure energy. Even wet and rainy days invigorated the mind, and strengthened the soul. Cycling cleared the mind, oddly erased mental fatigue, and rejuvenated the spirit.

After a while, even what we wore did not become a hindrance to riding, as we dressed in the morning anticipating that we would have to ride at some time. And so, given that environment, our choice when purchasing clothes transferred this thought. Needless to say, we began to draw some attention from the neighors and schools or rec centers, grocery clerks etc. As a large family of seven, if we travelled together, we were not a subtle sight once on the road. Our youngest was born in the midst of this transformation, and so became an instant participant and enthusiastic fan of the bike. Speed was the name of the game, that and a direct view of an ever changing world. Who wouldn't love that?? I was encouraged along (no matter the weight of cargo or the hill in front) with the chanting of "Faster mommy...faster!!". It must have been like being in front of a large and virtual movie screen all of the time. Boredom rarely set in, and more days then not, the visiting that occurred once we were on a bike created a lot of engaging drama and excitement.

Being on a bike, life is magnified in the micro of the moment, and everything is obtainable. Traffic is not an obstacle to getting around, sceneries that enchant can be absorbed with the simplest of move, and the family discussions are always filled with stories of what happened along the way, and in what weather. Laughter always filled the room when these stories are told. As well, when the weather is bad, and the wind and rain are in our face, and your legs are tired and we still have to unhook the bikes and hang up all of our things to dry, there is nothing better then to roll into our newly refurbished shed. This is where our life has led us.

The Shed always held the bikes. It is under the back deck of our house, attached to an exterior wall which is shared by the laundry room, and was old, damp, moldy, and mostly dark. Furthermore, it was crowded with unused cabinets and garden tools we didn't use that much. Parking bikes in there meant going through the back gate, and struggling to make everything fit, and the returning to the gate to enter the house through the front door. A long process, and not without complaint when it was raining hard.

Fortunately, with a flood in the adjoining laundry room recently (who knew a flood was a good thing!), we decided to invest the insurance money in improving how and where we store our "cars", instead of paying to fix up the laundry room. We carefully thought everything through, re-used water damaged cabintets, did most of the work ourselves, and were able to spend the bulk on The Shed.

To improve the flow of a large family, we cut through the wall into the shed from the laundry room. We needed to add stairs, and cut the door down to accommodate that the house is built into the ground at the back. We had just enough room to do it. Then, we removed all the old cabinets, refaced all the walls after insulating them, scraped and leveled the cement floor and put industrial tiled linoleum down. Then, we stopped up as many leaks and drafts as possible, added pot lights and a small fan heater set at low voltage to keep all the gear dry.

Now, we begin our day with a smooth transition from getting ready to getting out the door. When seven people leave all at once, and it is raining outside and the clock is ticking and the bus is coming soon, there is usually (or always) a massive accumulation of energy that needs to find its way out the door safely, and without hiccups. Here is where The Shed is our savior. It is the main room twice a day if not more, and it has eliminated any delays and inconveniences that can occur when using a bike as transportaion 100% of the time. Travelling with a bike is not initiated out of convenience, and so, with the extra time it takes to ensure everyone is dressed, pannier packed, and helmeted up to head out into the wild west, having The Shed has made the process nearly convenient, and as close to getting into a car at the drop of a hat as possible. However, filling the "gas" tanks has never felt so good, and usually involves a stop at our local bakery to enjoy the sweet joy of earning the calories. Maybe, to some, reading this they will wonder, "why bother?", and "who cares if you ride your bike or drive?". Well, I don't ride to change anybody else, but I do ride to change myself, for the good. And, if riding as a family is an exponential movement of good, then maybe the good is growing.

As a family we have found the sweet spot, and for today's youth, that is a good place to start out. Also, we do it because, for today, we can. Maybe tomorrow we can't, maybe next week we can't, but today we can. There are far worse ways to start the day....we choose on purpose to start with a breath of fresh air, and the freeing feeling of flying down the road.