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Tuesday, December 1, 2009

The Cold and Radio Report

Today was cold!!! I think I heard it was 29 degrees. Did I ride? Yes! Now, at one time, the answer could have been no. I used to be more of a weather wienie. When I started biking as a commuter 8 years ago, it was to be fun. So any day that didn't promise fun, I didn't ride.


I still feel that way. It is just my definition of fun has greatly expanded. And cold no longer gives me the chills, so to speak. I have lightened my bundling (though there are those who say I still wear too much) and now love the feeling of exhilaration that only exercise in the cold can give. It is nice arriving at work with no sweat and that high feeling. I once recommended new riders to start in the warm weather but I might be changing that to recommending the cold.

The Walnut Street Bridge was beautiful as always on cold days. It takes on a layer of so much frost, that it looks almost like snow. In extreme weather conditions, only the most die hard bridge users are out. At the moment that I took this picture, there was no one to be seen.



This picture does not capture the beauty that I was seeing very well:



As I continued on, there were other users-the very regulars that I see everyday. This is the true morning bridge community that has become so familiar to me.



I took today to do my first bike report. Pulse News WLPZ-95.3FM has started to do bike reports. How cool is that? During the morning drive time, Denise Galloway, Louis Lee, Dale Deason and Chris Taylor of Pulse News will be taking reports from cyclists about the daily riding conditions. I wonder if this is a first in radio? It goes without saying that it is a first here. The goal is to normalize bike riding. Listeners hearing on a regular basis from cyclists as a normal thing. will eventually start thinking of cycling as a normal thing. This is such a good idea I am committed to try doing my part.



So today, I called about the cold and the bridge was my first report. It was recorded so I don't know when it played or if it did play. I don't listen to the radio at work. I don't know how often I will do these reports. Most days my ride is uneventful. But I will be on the lookout for interesting things to report. Listen for me!

2 comments:

Louis Lee said...

Thanks for listening and participating in our show.

It is not a first for radio, but is a first for Chattanooga. We are committed to promoting bicycling as a valid mode of transportation ... not just for kids and exercise nuts.

Our reports are aired every weekday morning at around 6:45 ... that's kind of early, but cyclists have to get an early start. Anyone with traffic information is encouraged to call 423-702-9111 or email us at news@chattanoogapulse.com before that time and we can get your info out there.

Louis Lee

Anonymous said...

Wow. How neat. I haven't been to you blog in awhile. I just found out about RSS and how it works. Maybe I'll have your blog come to me and then I can keep abreast of more neat things happening in our cool city.