So, I know it's not nearly as badass as most of the cyclists here, but I'm well pleased with what I accomplished over the weekend.
I have a very non-mustachian commute, 53 miles one-way (after we get out of this hair-on-fire debt emergency, I'll be able to change that, but for now I'm stuck with it). On the way home from work last Friday, I hit some road debris on the highway. I planned to put the spare on myself, but discovered that I had *two* flat tires, so I had to have the car towed to the tire shop. No cost to me, thanks to my USAA roadside assistance ($24 a year, money well spent).
I had a full hazard warranty on the tires, or I would have plugged them myself.
So there was only the matter of getting from home to the tire shop, which is in the next town, on Saturday when the repairs were finished. I thought to toss my bike rack in the trunk of the car before the tow truck arrived. Saturday morning, I rode the 12 miles on a divided four-lane highway on my mountain bike.
I was so nervous before I set out. I just got the bike in May, and hubby and I have gone for a few recreational rides on the local greenways. But I haven't ridden it anywhere that cars are allowed to go - let alone cars doing 60MPH on a road with narrow shoulders! The route has a few steep uphill climbs as well.
Needless to say, I felt like a major badass when I rolled into the tire shop after the hour and a half ride.
Total cost:
$0.75 for air in my bike tires
$1.07 for a bottled water (I know, but I forgot my nice chilled water bottle on the counter in my anxious state)
Also, on that ride I rode past my preferred local grocery store (plus 4 other chains), Lowe's, Home Depot, Target, Wal-Mart, AutoZone, Napa Auto Parts, all the major pharmacy chains (plus 2 local pharmacies), and Petco. All of those shops just became 100% bike-able now that I've biked right past them!