No Car Week: 9/29-10/5
Buds and I are committed to Reconnect Rochester's "Week Without Driving" as best we can be. It started today, and my plan is to journal all the bike rides we'll take. I don't see us taking the bus, but never say never.
TL;DR: 68 miles biked/walked for the week.
Day 1: Monday, September 29, 2025
7 CrossFit+ 4 Aldi + 7 Costco + 8 Aldi = 26 miles
We started the day with 7:15 CrossFit. We often bike there, so not a big deal.
I did have a decision to make for later in the morning though. We needed to get groceries, and the friends we get groceries for also needed a fair number of items. All together, this was going to be more than I could carry in one bike load. After discussing with Buds, we agreed I would get friend groceries in the morning, then Buds and I would bike over to get our family groceries tonight after work.
My grocery outing was lovely this morning, except that I forgot to take a quarter to get a cart at Aldi's, and the friends needed both bottled water and paper towels; bulky and/or heavy items. Since I also forgot to take bungie cords, which are part of the well-appointed grocery-biking run, I had to be strategic.
To get a quarter for a cart, I went to ask the cashier in the store if he could lend me one. The lovely gentleman who checked out right before me was still putting away his change when I asked, and he extended his hand with his change from his grocery purchase, and gifted me a quarter. I was so thankful.
For the groceries to fit, I packed carefully, and made sure the heaviest item was in close to my body. The bike still had a definite lean, but I quickly got used to it.
The Costco run was easy, except that I ended up tailing a dude on his non-electric bike. The fellow in his spandex biker shorts and shirt worked so hard to not have me pass him, I made sure to stay back.
Only 3 things to get at Costco, but when one of them is bottled water and another is eggs, you are really grateful for those big milk crates on the back.
Day 2: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
7 CrossFit
7:15 CrossFit, done and dusted. Biking there is such a lovely way to kick off the day.
Day 3: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
7 CrossFit + 4 Cottage + 3 Wegmans=14 miles
7:15 CrossFit, once again.
Biking over to the cottage for clipping and trimming, which meant strapping the hedge trimmer to the back.
In the afternoon I needed to pick up a prescription from Wegmans. I forgot that they also sell gorgeous mums (or gnomes, if you are a long-time reader.) I've been wanting to get some to finish off our porch for Autumn, and today was the perfect day.
I'm pretty sure I looked like this biking home:
I know I felt like I was Meg Ryan in a rom-com as I biked along with my flowers in the baskets. Like this, but with mums:
They look gorgeous out front.
Day 4: Thursday, October 2, 2025
1 Grassfed
Today was a work day for Gin, so a walk to work to start the day, then a walk home and back for my break, and my final walk home at the end of the day. I would never drive to work, so not sure this really counts, but I'm putting it in anyway.
Day 5: Friday, October 3, 2025
7 CrossFit + 1 Grassfed + 8 Aldi= 16 miles
7:15 a.m. CrossFit, per usual. Gin worked today, but did not walk home for her break, instead, Buds walked down to be with her.
Buds and Monkey biked to Aldi to get some groceries for our weekend ahead. Once again, we were without a quarter, but Monkey talked her way into a cart (these friendly genes!).
Day 6: Saturday, October 4, 2025
7 CrossFit + 7 Hardware store and Wegmans=14 miles
Fun morning at CrossFit with a Baby bump workout to celebrate 3 pregnant friends.
This evening we are headed to a friend's 70th birthday party where we will (ducks head) drive. It's a 40 minute bike ride, and we'll be coming home well after dark, so this seems like a safe decision.
PLUS...
Tomorrow, Buds has another 100 mile adventure planned but that story will come under another heading. Putting in 100 miles seems like a fair trade for the 7 miles we'll be driving tonight.
This has been an easy week to be biker dudes since the weather has been so gorgeous. We'll work to keep the trend alive until really tough weather gets here.
