I began riding a bicycle seriously on the very first Earth Day in 1970. My primary motivation for cycling, aside from the fact that it's simply fun, has always been caring for creation. In each of the four places we've lived, I've intentionally chosen a home within cycling distance of my workplace.
Here in Williamsburg, nearly all of my errands, appointments, and destinations are within a five-mile radius. Even in retirement, I leave the car in the garage most days. (Someday I'll tell you about the time I had to jump-start the battery because I hadn't driven the car in so long!)
These days, in addition to running errands, I ride two or three times a week to the Bicycle Co-Op of Williamsburg, which several of us helped launch more than four years ago. Imagine the impact we could have if hundreds of people regularly chose bicycles for commuting and errands. Think of how much we could do to help creation recover from the damage we've caused.
As a college graduation gift, my parents gave me enough money to fly to London with my bicycle for a month-long adventure through England, France, and Switzerland, camping and staying in youth hostels along the way. I was hooked.
Then came marriage and children, and for many years my cycling was limited mostly to commuting and errands. Over the past 25 years, however, I've been able to enjoy regular bicycle camping trips with friends in the Shenandoah Valley, along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and on trails such as the Greenbrier River Trail, the Virginia Creeper Trail, and the C&O Canal Towpath. As I write this, I'm preparing for a five-day cycling and camping trip on the C&O with my 15-year-old grandson. Truth be told, I think I sleep better in a tent than I do at home!
I also enjoy day trips with friends on the gravel roads around Charlottesville.
For the first six years I lived in Williamsburg, my regular fitness route included four or five miles on Route 5. When our section of the Virginia Capital Trail was completed in 2007, in time for the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, it was a tremendous relief to leave behind the dump trucks and traffic and enjoy a dedicated trail instead. Out of gratitude for this wonderful resource, I became a Trail Ambassador as soon as retirement gave me the time to do so.
If you see me on the Trail, chances are I'll be riding my favorite road bike: the now 53-year-old bicycle that carried me across Europe after college.
I've also enjoyed supporting Virginia Capital Trail Foundation programming, helping lead introductory bicycle-camping workshops and overnight trips for people who have experience either cycling or camping, but have never combined the two. These gatherings have been a great deal of fun and a wonderful way to introduce others to bicycle camping.
More recently, I've come to appreciate the Trail as a powerful tool for building community. Inspired by the informal weekly social rides in Richmond and Norfolk, I've helped organize Co-Op Friends Social Rides on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday evenings from the Jamestown Trailhead.
We typically ride 10 to 15 miles at what I like to call a rolling conversation pace. I'd love for you to join us. There's no need to sign up. Just show up!
