There's one other person at my office who is a semi-regular bike commuter, and another person we work with lives close to her. So they arranged this morning to meet up and ride in together, so the newbie could see the best route & have some encouragement/company on her first bike commute. I talked to them this morning, and they were both pretty excited.

The newbie just got a new(-to-her) bike with clip pedals, and new shoes, so I guess last night she did some riding around in her neighborhood to get used to it. Get all the falling down out of the way, is how she put it. She was also very proudly (!) showing off the bruises on her leg from that particular little adventure. But no falling today, apparently.

I had wanted to ride in with them, as their route meets up with mine, but I forgot to ask yesterday what time they'd be leaving. Another time, perhaps. I've never ridden with anybody on my commute, and would like to try it at least once.

In any case, I'm tickled pink about the whole thing. I think it's incredibly important to provide support & encouragement to new bike commuters, to make it as easy physically and mentally as possible. It can't be a standoffish culture, with an elite attitude; biking to work has to become as ordinary as possible. If there's several people who bike, and they're not weird dorky bike people ;) then that makes it open to anybody.

That's the idea, anyway.

(Also: this morning's ride was partially in a fine mist, and it wasn't too bad with the glasses. Stopped once to wipe the lenses on the terrycloth part of my gloves. But it felt good on my face and the air smelled fresh & sweet!)