Month 1, 105 Total Points, No Hanging Chads

I got my new Globe bike on May 22. Last week marked the end of first month of the Bike Locally Challenge. Five more months to go. Now it’s time to report my progress. The Biggest Loser weigh-in without the tears.

The goal, per the contract (legal speak), is to log 50 miles on the bike and to accumulate 25 “other” points. Here’s my tally:

· Talk to people about my bike . . . 11 points

· Use social media to report on the challenge . . . 13 points

· Run everyday errands . . . 10 points

· Take novice riders for rides . . . 20 points

· Miles . . . 51

Total Points: 105

Contractually speaking, I am right on track. But let’s get real. I only commuted to work five times — and one of those times I missed the ferry! I took two weeks off for work and vacation. I posted just three blog entries. The only novice riders with whom I rode were my family members.

There is no need for a recount; I just need to step it up. Time to channel my inner Jillian.

One Minute of School. Free Time All Day. No Time for the Globe.

My son, Nicolas, is nine years old. I drove him to school today on the last day of the year. He likes when I drive him, because we get there early. I like to drive because we talk. Today, he told me that if he could change school, he would make it last one minute and the rest of the day would be free time. He used “field day” as an example. During the last day of the year, all the kids from First Grade to Seventh divide into teams and compete in various games and sports. I asked him what was the “one minute” of school. He was at a loss.

The past week I had almost no free time: in early to work, home after the kids were asleep, and a suit required every day. I had not one minute to ride my Globe. The last time I rode my bike was about a week ago. To burn a few more calories, I decided to ride to the Sausalito ferry. I needed to catch the 8:20; if not, the next one was at 10:55. A funny thing happened on the way to the ferry . . . I got lost. I missed the boat, called my wife, and my Globe and I sheepishly went home via SUV. At least Mark, sitting in his car seat, was happy to see me stuff my Globe into the car. I drove to the Larkspur ferry so I could put in my 8+ hours in at the office. One minute of work, all the rest free time, certainly would have helped me that day.

Law is a demanding profession. Fatherhood (with three young boys) is equally, if not more, demanding. I constantly struggle to keep the proper balance between work, family, and exercise. Last week, work won.

On Friday, I once again had a chance to ride my bike. But, Nicolas wanted me to drive. He wanted to try to beat our record of getting to school at 7:29. He wanted to tell me all about Field Day and his team. I wanted to listen. I chose to drive him and then drive to the ferry.

Work is back to normal. School is out for the summer. I have nothing but free time now. Back on the Globe next week.