Some quick updates to
all those waiting with baited breath to know how the GGLO Bike Challenge is
going:
- GGLOers have clocked in a staggering 595 trips as
of the latest tallying
- Those trips total over 3,200 miles ridden
as of May 1st!
- Adding these figures up, GGLO riders have avoided the
release of over 2,800 lbs of CO2 into our air.
Beth Dwyer is our winner for the
Bike Month Challenge Week #2! We caught up with her and she shared some wise
words with us on what it is like biking from West Seattle (spoiler: it involves
baby ducklings!)
What type
of bike do you ride?
I am in the process of deciding
what kind of new bike I want. I actually have a cool Schwinn cruiser but
it’s really heavy to commute with. I was promised a new road bike for
Mother’s Day so for right now I am using my neighbor’s Raleigh.
How many miles is your daily
commute?
It depends on the route,
it can range from 16 miles to 24 miles. Some days I go along Alki and
under the West Seattle Bridge. Other days I might go along Fauntleroy and grab
the Water Taxi. I often will do anything to avoid riding up Avalon Way
hill (although I have done it nonstop twice this month!!!)
How many trips have you made on
your bike this month and the distance?
I have only done 3 averaging
about 22 miles each trip. This is due to work schedule.
Did you ride your bike before
Bike Month this year, and will you keep it up?
Yes on
occasions. I will try and keep it up through the daylight months, however I
have no desire to ride next to the 18 wheelers in the dark..
What is the most interesting
thing that you've seen riding your bike in Seattle?
I have shared space with a baby
duckling, a few homeless camps, and a group of protesters. I also love the bike
trip counter under the WS Bridge– I think it’s cool that I can contribute to
“how many bike trips per year”.
Have you learned anything from
biking to work?
I have learned to appreciate
the diversity of my surroundings. I love riding along Me-Kwa-Mooks park and
Alki watching the seals in the water. The smell of the beach roses along the
path under the West Seattle Bridge is so heavenly. It completely counter
balances the deep bass of the teenagers cars on Alki and the diesel of the 18
wheelers along Alaskan Way as they whip by me.
Have any handy tips for other
riders?
Don’t forget to bring your
clothes for work. It can be really awkward to attend a meeting in spandex.
Biking is, admittedly, a pretty big deal at the GGLO office. Our firm has been an enthusiastic participant in Bike to Work Month (now Bike Month) for many years. We even invested in our own branded bike fleet. Always up for a bit of friendly competition, our staff is currently in the thick of the Bike Month Challenge where participants challenge themselves and others to ride as much as they can in the month of May.
 |
| We... really like bikes (if you couldn't tell) |
When May rolls around, the GGLO biking community splits into several different teams who compete with each other to see who can ride the most miles, with the most trips and commutes. Our esteemed teams for Bike Month 2015 are...
- Veloci-cycles
- Berserk Hurtin' Hustlers
- Wheelvel Knievels
- Pancake Promised Peddlers
- The Wheady Milers
The competition is in full swing with the teams above all vying for the top spot. Nearly half of our staff is participating in the Bike Month Challenge and as of yesterday our staff has ridden 372 trips totaling 2137 miles. That is equivalent to the release of 1,875 lbs of CO2 into the air avoided (when compared to a traditional car) and is also equivalent to 100,000 calories burned. Way to go guys!
For the remaining weeks of Bike Month we will be shining a spotlight on our office's weekly ride winners as well. Michael Lipko won our first week's prize, and he has shared with us some insight into his riding:
What type of bike do
you ride?
2014 Jamis Bosanova
touring bike with two wheels. That’s just how I roll.
How many miles is your daily commute?
8
miles to the gnat’s rear-end. West Seattle via the Harbor Island Bridge to
downtown. Some days I catch the water taxi back to stop at MARINATION and bask in the beer
and view.
How many trips have you made on your bike this month and the distance?
22 trips of which 16
are round trip commutes. 106 miles and counting…..
Did you ride your bike before Bike Month this year, and will you keep it up?
No and yes.
Before my schedule was too early and too late and I do enjoy the bus ride
except now it’s getting a bit crowded. I’m enjoying the freedom of riding
in and riding home.
What is the most interesting thing that you've seen riding your bike in Seattle?
Locks Park in
Ballard. It’s fascinating watching this mechanism raise and lower
boats. I could imagine a car bridge (or bike) lot doing the same
thing.
Have you learned anything from biking to work?
Diesel fumes are
abundant along the waterfront. Also, it takes a bit more time to get
ready for the day but you have some exercise already in the books.
Have any handy tips for other riders?
