May is bike month.  Did you know that? It’s also one of the few months in Florida where the weather can be PERFECT for bike riding.

For years I’ve debated biking to work.  But as a working mom, there are many factors to consider:

• Do I need to pick up kids from school? Most days the answer is yes.
• Do I have work meetings that require driving?
• Will it rain on my ride home? It’s Florida – anything is possible!
• Is it too humid? That tends to bother my asthma.
• Do I have to get kids to sports practice? Have an after work event? Have dinner plans?
• Will my work schedule allow this? For years I worked at 3am – just not an option to ride to work!

Finally, I did it!!

This morning I left my house around 6:15 a.m. right as the sun was starting to rise….and rode, and rode and rode to Downtown Orlando.

The sun is starting to rise in Orlando. This was a rest stop atop the Semoran Bike Bridge.

For me, most of the route involved the bike trails.  I take the Cross Seminole Trail to the Cady Way Trail.  Once I hit the Fashion Square Mall I stick to sidewalks to make it into the center of downtown.  I know I should be riding on the street – but that’s just not going to happen if there is a perfectly good and empty sidewalk.

Early morning on the Cady Way Trail.

I also finally noticed the new bike markers along the Cady Way Trail.  Here’s a story the fabulous Amanda Evans did a few weeks back on the new markers installed by Orange County.  I used this as an opportunity to take a picture…and a break :

New markers installed by Orange County along the Cady Way Trail.

Overall, it wasn’t that bad of a ride.  I forget how BIG Baldwin Park is.  I kept thinking – oh good…here’s Baldwin Park..so close! But 20 minutes later I was still in Baldwin Park!

I was very happy to lock up the bike and head in to the office.

Final destination! Bike locked and muscles sore!

Overall, it took a lot longer than I thought it would, and in the end I didn’t go that far.  Am I just slow? Maybe I need a road bike…yeah – that’s it.

This is basically my route.  I’ve edited it so you stalkers out there can’t come find my house 😉

And OMG….now I have to do this again tonight?? I didn’t really think this through…

My route from home to work.

Do you often bike to work? Anything crazy ever happen?