The Christers of the Road

In Colorado there are the main holidays: Fourth of July, Snowy Halloween, Christmas and Easter. But, Colorado has an extra holiday, right at summer's official beginning. Bike to Work Day.

June is named Colorado's bike to work month and the final Wednesday of June is the big day. Especially in a year when everybody is hyped about the upcoming professional road race in August, there was a lot of build up. Starting in May, I started receiving information about how to get my official t-shirt and where I could stop for free breakfast. People who only break out the two-wheeler once a year to make a show at the office make sure their tires are all pumped up. It was a full 6-weeks of planning, preparing and excitement.

Wait, wait, wait ... this all sounds so familiar. People who claim to have a certain lifestyle, but only decide to act on it when it is most convenient and expected. Ah ... the Christers. You know, the people who only attend church on Christmas and Easter when it is convenient and expected. First off, I'm no saint and often fall into this religious category. But, there are just too many similarities to let this one by.

Christers live up the Christmas season just like everyone else. They go on a shopping marathon from Black Friday to Christmas Eve. They make sure their home is decorated and prepared for the holiday. They dress is the proper attire and look like they fit the part. Then, they make the semi-annual trek to their house of worship. Everyone who needs to see them there does, yes even the man upstairs. Everyone feels better about themselves and vow that this is going to be the year they make a new habit. And, as the story goes, it won't be until Easter until they make their next visit.

That brings us to Bike to Work day. People who live just outside of downtown and those who make their way from the suburbs took to the streets, side roads and bike paths, all excited to stretch their legs, don their spandex and gather complimentary Clif bars.

I commute to my jobs each day. It's just easier. I get a little workout, save money on gas and have door-to-door service never having to hunt for parking downtown. At first I thought, "Bike to Work day. I'm going to have to deal with a bunch of holligans who ride on the sideway and are always in a near collision with a car, another cyclist or themselves (trying to check their smartphone and running their bike off a curb)". But as I watched the people flood into downtown Denver on this Bike to Work day, I saw nothing but giddy smiles on their faces, the same stupid smile I have on my face when I ride in each morning.

I know that on their way home Wednesday night they vowed that commuting by bicycle would be their new habit. And, I know 98% of them drove to work on Thursday. But, at least they rode one day. Just like the way Christers at least make it to church on Christmas and Easter.

I was happy to see you Bike to Work day commuters. Maybe we should do this more often. If not, see you next year.