Here it is... the final week of the FreeWheels Project! I also passed the 300 km mark! In a way it doesn't feel like a lot... although, I didn't have any set goal when I started this project besides using the bike to commute to work and for recreation, it kinda feels like I've done more than I actually have. Don't get me wrong... every single kilometer was worked for and has been worth it! A quick visual on Google Maps to see how far 300 kilometers is shows me that I have rode the distance from my house in Kitchener to my hometown of Leamington, Ontario! Not too shabby!
Another really interesting stat about my accomplishments throughout the FreeWheels Project is how many kilometers I have saved on our Jeep (and ultimately, how many kilometers I have saved Karl from driving during the work week) simply from cycling to work on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The reason why I cycle to work only on Tuesdays and Thursdays (and not every day) is because we are a one-vehicle family. I work in Waterloo, and Karl does as well Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays. We're lucky enough to work only a few blocks away from each other so can carpool quite easily. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Karl works at a satellite office located in Cambridge (Galt), so would drive me to & pick me up from work in Waterloo which is in the opposite direction of Cambridge. All this extra travel to take me to work adds 40 kilometers a day to his commute and to our vehicle! 40 KILOMETERS! In total, I cycled to work twelve times, so... 12 x 40 = 480 kms saved. WOW! I need to Google Map that!
A little something weird this week was experiencing an issue with my "on-board computer." I caught it a few times not working at all. Absolute blank screen, Oh, No! No speed indication, no time display, but most importantly, it wasn't calculating my mileage! Eeks! Karl helped me make the minor adjustment that was causing the problem - the sensor on the spoke had turned itself around so was unable to communicate with the other sensor. I think I may have lost up to 10 kilometers only - nothing much to worry about. However, I will be keeping a closer watch on that little tab-sensor-thingy!
I was really happy the weather has been on my side this week to be able to commute to work on both of my commuting days, Tuesday and Today, as it IS the final week of the Project. I am LOVING this cooler weather! Call me crazy, but Fall is my favourite season, and WOW does it ever feel like Fall this week. I am not so crazy that I would want to see the leaves turning colours already... they need to wait at least another month to do that. (Hear me, leaves?!)
One obvious observation riding this week is the increased amount of car traffic on the roads! I thought it could get hectic through all these past weeks, but holy cow! My commute time has increased by 5 minutes from all the time I have had to wait to cross streets along the Iron Horse trail that aren't at lighted intersections (and that's most of them.) The worst have been Queen, Glasgow, and Park streets.
As this week winds down, I am looking forward to the group ride Ziggy's Cycle has organized with all the FreeWheels Project winners. It will be nice to see everyone and do the ride from Kitchener to Cambridge and back along the Walter Bean Trail. What a fantastic way to celebrate a great summer on the Cannondale Quick 4, and the Project coming to a completion! Although, I have every intention to keep the spirit of it going in my own life and keep cycling.
Thank you Ziggy's Cycle & Cannondale for EVERYTHING!! It's been a blast!
