A little background on my health may help you understand: I have bad hips and shoulders. I need all four joints replaced. I often joke that I’m a 38-year-old woman living in an 80-year-old body. It feels that way. And it looks that way on the x-rays as well. I’ve told the story many times but the short version is this: when I was pregnant with my first son I caught a bad virus. I thought I had a cold. But this bug nearly killed me. It attacked my blood platelets. My blood wouldn’t clot. It was seeping into my skin. The only treatment was massive, crazy amounts of steroids. It took months but I finally got better. Then about a year after that scare I suffered terrible back pain, or so I thought. Several doctors and experts and MRIs later I had my diagnosis: osteonecrosis of the femoral heads. It’s a fancy way of saying my hip-joint bones are dead. I need both replaced and it’s pretty painful. The “bone death” was a rare side effect from the steroids which can cut off blood flow to the tiny veins that send blood to your joints. A year after that diagnosis we discovered the condition in my shoulders as well. I’ve been putting off surgeries and pushing through the pain every day since. It seems counterintuitive but the doctors back then told me to stay active. They said moving the joints would prevent them from locking up. They suggested I ride a bike. I went out and bought the bike I currently ride though it sat in the garage until this summer. I took up running instead and completed two marathons on those dead hips. Those races and this blog may be my way of telling my body who’s boss. In case you haven’t caught on, I’m a little stubborn. But time is catching up with me and I fear the next scans will show major progression of the arthritis and bone brittleness. I can feel it. And that brings me to my point: the last thing I need to do is fall on my hip on the ice. For me, “You’ll break a hip” is not just an expression. It’s a real fear.

Back to this morning: I made it five blocks from my house before I turned around and swapped my bike for my car. My tires and my nerves were not ready for the ice. When I got to work some fellow commuters who have years of winter riding on their resumes confirmed my fears. “Oh yeah, it can be scary. And remember when you are slipping on the icy roads, the cars may as well.” Greeeeat. That makes me feel better. They suggested I start by deflating my tires to make them squishy, a tip I’d received before but forgotten. I’ll try that this week. But I need to think long and hard about whether it’s a smart idea for a woman as damaged as I to ride on the ice. I may have to put my first-person experiences on the back burner until spring. It would be a sad, defeating end to the blog and the journey. But I need to think hard on this decision. Like many parts of this experience this fear of falling has come as a big, sobering surprise. Until now the surprises that came with commuting on a bike have been positive. But this one may break me.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

Although I’m figuring out how to dress for the weather I am not prepared for how to deal with a bike emergency on the road. Real cyclists (I’m not one) carry pumps and patches and glue and lube. And apparently there are several added factors to prepare for in case you break down in the dead of winter. Nate Molenda is the guru of all things that need cleaning, fixing, ordering and more here at WCCO-TV. He’s also our resident expert on all things about bikes. I bend his ear when I’m curious about how to tackle a bike-commuting challenge and I’m never disappointed by his insightful, honest and really entertaining advice. Sometimes his speaking-from-experience stories are more useful to me than others. He’s given me thorough tips on how to protect certain body parts from the cold… body parts I don’t even have (if you know what I’m saying). But he also told me that if I do get a flat I should put my glue in my armpit while I remove the bike tube. That way my body heat will warm it up and it will be pliable. Also, people like Nate carry rubber gloves so that the snow and ice doesn’t get their hands wet and cold while they work on a flat tire. And if a frozen flat isn’t enough to scare me from this winter riding adventure, I’m also told that in extreme conditions my chain and gear head can freeze and lock. I don’t even know what my gear head is! I guess the best thing I’ve heard regarding mechanical failures in the winter is that there’s a universal symbol for, “My bike broke down. Help!” If you ever see someone standing next to a bike flipped on its handle bars with the wheels up it means they need a hand. That’s pretty cool. But still, I really hope I don’t have any need for help this winter. I’m just praying that old man winter will have mercy on me.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

About three weeks ago when it really started getting dark early I had to make a change. It’s funny, really. When I set out to become a bike commuter the only thing people wondered about was how I would do it in the cold. And people actually think it’s too cold for biking right now. But the cold (so far) isn’t the issue. In fact after about five minutes on the ride I’m perfectly toasty. It’s all about layering. The real problem for me right now is darkness. Until you’re out there on a bike in the pitch dark with only a tiny beam from your headlight you really don’t realize how treacherous it can be. I’m like a hawk watching for drivers who may not see me. All the while trying to steer clear of potholes and road debris. And so I no longer feel comfortable lugging my sweet boys around behind me. Hey, I know they say you can’t choose your family and those little men have a piece of work for a mother, but there’s no need to drag them along for the truly crazy part of this journey. Until the sunshine comes back in the spring I’ll have to take the bus or drive on the two days a week I need to get to daycare in the evenings. I hope I’m not disappointing the purists out there. After all, this is an experiment to see what it takes to work bike commuting into a real life, hiccups and all. Now if anyone out there could help me figure out how to squeeze a few more hours out of a day, that’d be great.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

But this week there’s one teachable moment that’s sticking with me for all the right reasons. I taught Keegan to be supportive and the funny thing is, I wasn’t even trying to “teach” him anything. I was just being honest. It all started on a bike ride home after work one night. I’d stopped to pick up Wyatt from his preschool near Washburn High School in Minneapolis. Wyatt and I then crept up Nicollet Avenue to pick up Keegan from Hwa Rang Do. It’s about a 6-block ride UP HILL almost the entire way. Then we rode west on Diamond Lake Road toward home… another long, steady incline that always tests my will to stick with this commuter challenge. I’m not kidding. It’s got to be a mile of riding in a stand-up position. My thighs quiver. My lungs burn. And my ego is totally blown. I feel defeated and out of shape every time I make this trip. On this night Keegan was in a mood. He was complaining about everything, especially how slow I was going. “We must be in a traffic jam, Wyatt, because we are going reaaallly slow,” he said in a mocking manner to his brother. “Mom, can I just get out and walk, I want to walk. MOM?!” I’m thinking, “Seriously kid, BACK OFF!”

You should know there have been times, in the car, when I’ve lost it on my children in a screaming fit. I have been known to stoop to their level and try to yell louder and make idle threats to get them to behave or stop disrespecting me. As I write this I know how ridiculous that is. But in the moment, well, I know there are parents out there who understand.

Back on the hellacious hill: I wanted to tell Keegan to kiss off… in a PG way, of course. Really. But I couldn’t because I had no air in my lungs. I managed to choke out a simple response to his complaints and taunts, “Keegan: this… is… really… hard work. (pause) Maybe you… could be… supportive. Cheer me on?” He didn’t respond. He usually doesn’t. But he always hears me. That night he filed away my comments in the part of his brain he likes to use when he wants to be sweet. And when he’s sweet I fall in love with him all over again.

On Wednesday night the hills were coupled with a strong head wind. I’m loving this October weather but the wind has been a joke. Wait until it’s paired with snow. Ugh. That’s a blog for another day. As I lugged Keegan and Wyatt up Diamond Lake road I hit the slope where my quads usually give out and I have to stand up to tap into the calves and glutes. I’m pumping at a heave-ho, jerky pace. It feels like we’re hardly moving when suddenly Keegan starts to yell from behind, “You can do it mom! Nice work! I believe in you, mom! Wyatt, mom’s working really hard. Good job mom! I’m a believer, mom!” I had the hugest grin on my face. I yelled back, “Are you cheering me on?! Do you believe!?” And we kept rallying back and forth the whole way. A man on his bike passed us. He was wearing headphones but he could hear Keegan. The man turned and laughed and with a big smile yelled, “That’s awesome! I could use some of that!”

Keegan’s cheers of support maybe lasted five minutes. A tiny fraction of one day. But those moments were deep. Do you know what I mean? Those brief but impactful experiences that are so meaningful you actually block out the world to take it in and your inner voice says, “Oh my God life is wonderful. These children are the best gift I’ll ever know. Please don’t let me forget this moment.” I learned a great lesson on the road this week. Send your children the right messages and you could be rewarded immensely… when you least expect it.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

When I was young we never owned a home. I lived in 9 houses by the time I turned 16. Girard, Fremont, Blaisdell, Newton: these avenues are littered with images from my life. It’s been a bittersweet trip down memory lane this past month or so. Aldrich Avenue alone can blow my mind on some mornings. There’s the house with the clothesline where I did swings and flips for an entire summer. The place where I remember Easter because it’s the day I got Madonna’s Like A Virgin record. Yes – as an Easter present. I ride down the block where I spent a winter going door to door to shovel for money and I haven’t forgotten the one house where a creepy dude said he’d give me gum but I’d have to come inside to get it. I had street smarts enough to tell him where to shove his double bubble. Painter Park on Lyndale Avenue is where another jerk in his car stopped to ask me, a third grader, for directions. He wasn’t wearing pants. He wanted to ride on the slide with me for $5. I took off on my bike. I’ve never pedaled so fast. There’s the friend’s house where we’d sunbathe by day and break the rules at night. We quietly rolled her mom’s car out of the driveway and cruised all night. I was 13.

But of all the offbeat snapshots from my childhood, the strange shoes in the front window of a 4-plex keep nagging at me. I remember 1985 like it was yesterday. I was in 6th grade. As I said, I shoveled sidewalks to make money. I worked my butt off that winter. I vividly remember walking up to that 4-plex to see if anyone was willing to pay me $10 to clear the snow. I saw a pair of shoes in the front windows of the building and my pursuit of work was done. The shoes stopped me in my tracks. They were wedged between 2 panes of glass, each in its own window that flanked the front door. The windows were sealed up. You couldn’t touch the shoes. They were only there to be seen. I pressed my face to the glass to get a closer look. They were like nothing I’d ever seen. High heels with a little tree and house carved inside each heel. They had fabric straps over the toes and silky ties that would wrap around your ankles. Those shoes had a story and I was desperate to hear it. Who put them there? Where did they come from? I sat down on the cold stoop and daydreamed about those shoes. I was 11-years-old. I had nowhere to be. I imagined a young woman wore those shoes in an exotic place where she met the man of her dreams and he broke her heart. Those shoes reminded her of the heartbreak so she placed them in the windows of her apartment the day she moved away. Yes, this is actually how my little brain worked and still works. I have always gotten swept away by my imagination and the triggers are usually the simplest of things.

(credit: CBS)

For weeks I’ve breezed up and down Aldrich wondering if those shoes were still there. Finally I decided to hop off my bike and give in to my burning curiosity. I walked up the stairs and I could not believe my eyes. There they were exactly as I had remembered. Frozen in time. They’ve aged a little. Condensation from decades of sitting in the warm and cold seasons have left water marks on the fabric. But there they sat. I was amazed. You may be thinking, “It’s just a pair of shoes.” But I get swept up in the idea that countless people have walked by those shoes for 26 years and no one has touched them. I think of all the things in my life that have come and gone since I was 11-years-old and I find it comforting to know that some things do stay the same. But more than anything I’m thankful that the curious, imaginative little girl inside of me is still there.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

When we were discussing the green bike lanes during our morning editorial meeting the conversation suddenly spiraled into a debate about the pet peeves some people have over sharing the roads with cyclists. Someone (who shall remain nameless) complained about people who bike on the road around the lakes in Minneapolis instead of on the path. “But they are one-way,” I screeched. “I’d have to go miles out of my way if I were to take the lake bike paths from my home to work,” I argued. The person didn’t empathize and I think we just agreed to disagree. But it got me fired up about the one-way paths. When riding your bike becomes more about getting from point A to point B and less about a leisurely trip with the kids, the one-way, clockwise loops are simply annoying. I poked around online today to see if others are on my side and I found a small Facebook group that wants Lake Calhoun to convert to a two-way path. I know there are probably several reasons the paths are one-way. Safety, consistency and cost come to mind. Or maybe I’m simply in the minority and more people believe the lake paths should be preserved for pleasure rides and not be taken over by two-wheeled commuters. What do you think?

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

Mayor Chris Coleman says the city has made substantial efforts to improve the cycling experience throughout the city. It hired a sustainable transportation planner. And it has invested in infrastructure through its Complete Streets policy.

Cities must apply to be considered for recognition from The League of American Bicyclists. They’re awarded at different levels that allow for cities to boost their status as they make future improvements. So, while St. Paul is celebrating being a new designee at the Bronze level, Minneapolis has been a “Bike Friendly City” since 2008 and now boasts the Gold status. And Rochester was awarded the Bronze in 2010. The honor comes with some perks but from where I sit it’s a cool confirmation that a city is doing the right thing to evolve our transportation systems and make cycling safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

Late last week I was starting to feel a little bored on my rides. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I just wanted to be there already! Basically I was growing impatient. So I hopped back in the saddle this week and tried to shake it off. A friend offered last-minute tickets to the Twins game on Tuesday night. It was a beautiful evening to sit outside and enjoy a beer, despite the team’s performance. I left my bike at work that evening and hitched a ride home. Wednesday was a big day of early and late meetings that didn’t leave the time for biking so I pulled out the keys and hopped into the VW. I flew up I-35W at 6am with no traffic and arrived at work in 10 minutes.. all the way enjoying a heated seat and good tunes on the radio. I won’t lie. It was pleasurable. By Thursday I bused into work so that I could ride my bike (which was still sitting at work) home that evening. It was a beautiful ride and that’s when it hit me that I have grown to like biking to work. In fact I prefer it. That’s a great mind shift from the person I was a few months ago.

When I went in to my commuter challenge log today to count my miles I felt pretty proud. Since August 1, I have biked 304 miles on my weekday commutes to work. I’ve saved 15 gallons of gasoline. Think of that. 15 gallons at $3.79 is more than $56! And I’ve reduced my carbon footprint by 236 pounds. It’s really motivating to see how these basic changes to my day are making a positive impact on my wallet and the environment. I’ve also started logging my miles on a new program called Fire Up Your Feet. It’s meant to get more kids to walk and bike to school. You can log miles for your child’s school and the school with the most trips wins cash. Walking and biking to school: what a concept?! Especially here in the state that actually began the first-ever school crossing guard program.

So that’s been my week. I got a little off task but learned a few good lessons along the way. Before I go, I’ll share some things I saw on the bike lane up First Avenue in Minneapolis (which is awesome, by the way!)… a man riding a Lark scooter. I passed him. And I passed a man pushing a shopping cart. I know they both have wheels, but really? Also I’ve discovered I’ve been doing this long enough to share an etiquette tip: riding a bike is just like driving a car. Stop checking your phone at red lights and then Facebooking/tweeting/texting so long you aren’t ready for the green. I was stuck behind a guy doing that for almost a mile last night. Annoying. Whew, glad I got that off my chest.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

I actually berated myself for much of the ride. I find I have these inside conversations with myself more on my bike than anywhere else. Maybe it’s because I don’t have a car radio or a phone call filling up my brain space. The conversations with myself are sometimes helpful. I think through ideas about projects at work. I create to-do lists. But most of the time I just make random observations and give a running commentary. Today my brain was all over the place. I went from yelling at myself about being a weather wimp to, “OOOhhh pretty yard. Is he carrying a dolly and boxes on the back of his bike? He is. That woman’s kinda creepy. Ew, smoker’s cough. I want soy sauce for dinner. Salt. I’ll be dehydrated tomorrow. Huh, I think I have more cellulite than last summer. That sucks. Wine. I deserve wine for riding in the rain. Birds. Too many at once are scary. My neck hurts. I wish I could stop thinking.”

I really do wish I could stop thinking sometimes. It is the blessing and curse that come with my rides. The solitude can get old on those days when you find yourself really annoying, like today. At least I actually listened to myself and stopped for wine on the way home.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

The Transitway shoots you right onto Como Avenue. I’m sure there’s a less congested way to get to one of the 3 bike parking lots at the fair but I just went with the flow. I parked my bike in the corral at Gate 6. It’s free to park your bike and the corral was packed. As I walked to the WCCO booth I felt really proud and really gross. Thankfully I brought a spare outfit. There’s a restroom in our booth for WCCO employees where I was able to freshen up a little. And I rewarded myself with an $8 London broil sandwich. It was delish!

After a few hours of showing moral support for all the people who worked much harder on the show than I, it was time for my commute home. I hoped on Cyclopath.org. It’s a geowiki: an editable map where anyone can share notes about roads and trails, enter tags about special locations and fix map problems – like missing trails. In a nutshell, it’s awesome. It suggested the best way home to south Minneapolis was to back-track the way I came in. I was sure there was a more scenic route along the river to the creek but I was way too tired to explore. I got turned around again at TCF Bank Stadium but eventually I found my way to the Stone Arch Bridge. As @CharlieQuimby told me, “Cyclists don’t get lost. They just find another way.” Ain’t it the truth, Charlie. As I’ve said before, I’m a girl who doesn’t like to hit the road without a game plan. Yesterday’s plans didn’t work as I’d hoped but, hey, I made it! Sometimes that’s all that counts.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

I packed a breakfast for the boys last night knowing the morning ride would eat into our time. The ride to dad’s took just under an hour. They munched on PB & Js, squealed as we zipped down the slopes and poked fun at me as I slowly pumped up the hills along the way. For some reason my 6-year-old doesn’t have sympathy for the fact that I’m dragging 80 pounds (them!) behind me. The mom teasing aside, it was a pleasant way to spend a morning with my children and much more enjoyable than any hour-long commute we’ve taken in a car. I have been pleasantly surprised by how much more patient and obedient my boys are when packed into a bike trailer as opposed to riding comfortably in a car. They are literally smushed together and there are some “stop touching me” moments but for the most part they love it.

After the drop I was off to work via my first ride on the Midtown Greenway. I can’t believe I moved back to Minnesota from Boston eight years ago and I’ve never used the greenway. It is a beautiful thing. For those of you who don’t live here or haven’t seen it, the greenway can best be described as a bike highway. And it is true evidence that if you build it, they will ride. That puppy is busy. As a girl who grew up in Uptown I vividly remember when the greenway was nothing more than shady train tracks where the homeless and punks got drunk. It was no place for a decent girl, or in my case semi-decent. What a cool transformation. I look forward to checking it out for a longer weekend ride soon. In the meantime, I’ve logged some serious commuter miles today. 13 so far and I still need to ride to meet a friend for dinner tonight at Wise Acre in the Tangletown neighborhood. She’s going to meet me on her bike. It’s turned nearly 90 degrees right now and steamy. I’m sure we’ll be the hottest girls in the joint.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

Tad Salyards and Family (credit: Tad Salyards)

That brings us to today. There I was chugging along on my heavy mountain bike with the Burley in tow, mentally clicking through my Monday morning to-do list when I spotted a man carrying a boy on a Bakfeit. He was riding in front of me at a leisurely pace, wearing his work clothes and enjoying the ride. I pedaled faster to get a better look. I thought to myself, “That’s the guy! That has to be the guy who blogged about the slow ride.” When I got to work I tracked down the Bakfeit blogger’s email address and sent him a note, “Hello: I feel a little bit like a commuter stalker but I was biking into work today… and I saw a man with his son in a front cargo bike…was it you?” Within an hour I had my answer: yes it was! Tad was taking his son to daycare. Not only did he reply with a nice kudos for my biking effort, he also offered to let me give the Bakfeit a test drive. That’s a very kind gesture considering I’d have to go to Chicago or Seattle to find a store that has them in stock and ready to ride. I am very tempted to make a trip to see family in Chicago and check out the Dutch Bike shop. But first, I look forward to meeting Tad and hearing his stories about being a working father who’s found a way to enjoy the journey everyday.

August 23 Update: Thanks to @CharlieQuimby I discovered that Varsity Bikes sells a similar cargo bike called the Babboe City for $2500. Hey, it’s cheaper than some cars.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

(credit: cyclechic.co.uk)

Legwarmers with reflective fabric woven in?! Who knew they could be cool again.

(credit: cyclechic.co.uk)

Kitschy oilcloth panniers that become a cute bag when they pop off your bike rack.

(credit: cyclechic.co.uk)

And this is my favorite: Is it a hat or a helmet? It’s both! You can buy other hats to change it up. That’s what I call a shut-the-front-door, cool idea!

Things as pretty as these just make biking seem more enjoyable. And I just realized there’s a sister store in the states called The Bicycle Muse. Oh boy. Guess who’s going shopping…

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

(credit: CBS)

Let’s face it: riding your bike to work isn’t pretty. The most common questions I get when people hear that I ride 6+ miles to work involve the nitty-gritty on sweat, wrinkled clothes and bad hair days. Riding to work does involve all three every day. But I am fortunate. WCCO-TV has a co-ed shower with a lock on the door that’s as clean as my YMCA gym shower. I have a locker with the basics (soap, towel, shower flip flops). I carry my clothes to work each day carefully rolled and tucked into the 3 compartments of my $100 Bontrager panniers. I leave my makeup, my flat iron (ladies will understand) and my hair dryer at my desk. I hardly need it on the weekends at home right now because I’m renovating my house and taking care of two children. Looking fancy isn’t a high priority. I’m also fortunate that my employer offers free bike parking in the basement of our building. There are two racks like these and often they are full. But parking your bike in downtown Minneapolis is easy. And for $100 a year you can rent a bike parking space that includes access to a shower in downtown Minneapolis.

(credit: CBS)

When it comes to bike commuting, like most things in life, a little planning goes a long way. And for some reason that seems to be the biggest challenge for me. I’m not the type who gets my outfit ready the night before. Crazy, rushed, scrambled mornings are more my speed. But those mornings don’t work well in my new bike life. My time is more pressed. So every night I pack my bag and two bags for my sons. It’s about a 20-minute chore that I dread. I’m looking forward to the day when it’s such an auto-pilot activity that I don’t even realize I do it. Don’t they say it takes three weeks to form a new habit? I’m in the middle of week three and I really hope that’s true.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

My poorly laid plans of biking home at the end of each day and walking two blocks to school to pick up my children are out the window. Now there will likely be short, 1-mile round trip drives from my house to the daycares to get my children in the winter. But this fall, I hope to do a few daycare commutes with the Burley. A kid would have to think it’s cool to see their mom pull up on a bike, right? If there’s one thing I’ve learned about being a bike commuter so far — it’s a heck of a lot easier than being a parent.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

State Representative Phyllis Khan introduced a bill this year that would’ve required helmets for riders 16 and younger but it didn’t go far. So for now, Minnesota is one of 29 states (map here) with no laws requiring bike helmets. The only rule I broke by not wearing a helmet was what I call an “It’s the right thing to do” law… as in don’t smoke, eat your veggies and drink in moderation. Yeah. We’re all so good at following those rules.

Do you even remember what it felt like to fly down the street on your bike with the wind blowing through your hair? It’s about as close to feeling like a kid as I’ve come in my 30s. For a few days I enjoyed feeling a little wreckless and I lived to tell about it. And as I was writing my confession in this blog a friend named Raul walked into my office to chat about how enjoyable it was to ride in today’s cool weather. I said, “Yeah and I got to feel the breeze without a helmet!” He quickly scolded me and reminded me that he got a little lax about his helmet use a few years ago until he got smoked by a car on a downtown street. His brain is as in tact as it ever was, thank goodness. But boy is Raul a buzz kill.

There is actually a small movement out there of people who believe the societal pressure to wear a bike helmet has sucked the fun out of it and is, in part, ruining the effort to get more people back on their bikes. I’m not about to join the movement. I just wanted to feel like a kid again, if only for a few days. Tomorrow I swear I’ll ride by the “rules.”

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

What’s different about me is that when I turn to “talk” to my boys in the car it’s usually because I’ve reached my wit’s end with their behavior. Wyatt and Keegan are four and six and they act their age. I’m the mom who’s often distracted behind the wheel as I try to stop them from touching each other. I’m the one yelling their first and middle names, reminding them that I nearly died giving them life and making threats I dread I’ll have to make good on… instead of watching the road. What sane person acts this way while carrying such precious cargo? And how about all the innocent drivers, cyclists and pedestrians around me who can’t control my mom rage? I’m convinced that our cars make us somehow feel invincible. But there’s nothing like riding a bike in traffic to change your perspective.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

Metro Transit’s gotten creative over the years to entice people to hop on. They have a really cool way for you to log your commutes and track how your no-car mileage decreases your carbon footprint and saves you money on gas. The Commuter Challenge is all about getting you to walk, bike or bus. And you can win prizes. Then there’s the Ride to Rewards program. It gives you points for riding which you can then spend at stores and restaurants. Miss your bus or train because you had to work late? The Guaranteed Ride Home service will reimburse you up to $100 a year for cabs or other backup transit. Sign up and you’ll also be mailed two passes for free Metro Transit rides. And it’s easy to take advantage of the free bus services to annual events. The Art Pass will let you hop free rides between the Uptown, Loring and Powderhorn Art Fairs this weekend. Second Saturday Rides get you a free trip to the Children’s Museum in St. Paul and a discount on museum admission. And of course, the bus can be a low hassle way to get to the State Fair. Buy your Express Ride ticket before August 25 and you’ll save $1.

But I think the coolest evolution of our mass transit system since I was a kid is that it embraces the bike commuter. Every bus and train has a bike rack. And if you’re like me, a person who worries about fumbling to load my bike on the first attempt and angering the load of impatient passengers, just practice. Metro Transit has practice racks at four locations in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Whew. I’ll have to get ready for bike-bus commuting soon. It’s comforting to know there will be a safe harbor for me and my bike if I wuss out come February.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

The ride to the grocery store from my house is almost four miles but I swear it was uphill the entire way. Isn’t it funny how you don’t really notice most hills unless you’re on foot or a bike? Boy did I feel them this time. As I was wheezing my way up a steep side street trying to push through the burning sensation in my thighs my son Keegan yelled, “Go faster mom! This is boring.” I whispered pathetically, “Are you kidding me?!” I didn’t even have the strength to shoot him the stink eye.

When we pulled into the parking lot I was a dripping hot mess. Mine was the only bike on the lonely rack at the Edina Cub Foods. I unhooked my Bontrager saddle bags and held my head high, trying not to focus too much on how gross I looked nevermind smelled. A tip: if you’re looking to find a date in the produce aisle, you may not want to ride your bike to the store. Good thing I was only at the store to pick up dinner.

My list was relatively short: brats, buns, mustard, milk and charcoal. But you know how everyone swears you can’t get out of Target without spending $100? I have that experience every time I go to any grocery store. And it was about to happen again despite the fact that I left my car’s trunk at home. For some reason I thought a gigantic watermelon would be a good dinner fruit. Why not grapes? Because I’m crazy. It was hard to miss the people looking at us in awe as I pushed my full grocery cart up to my bike. Even I began to think I may have overdone it. But I didn’t have a choice. I packed that Burley trailer and basket like I was headed to the airport with only a carry-on and we were off. As we coasted downhill toward home I was grateful for the pull of gravity. And Keegan, kicking back with a smile on his face asked, “Mom can we do this again?” I giggled to myself. If only he knew.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

Duh! Right there above my head was a beautiful bike path that carefully guides you over Lyndale Avenue without every having to encounter a single car. It’s been there for years. I’ve driven along side it on I-94 a bazillion times but I never really saw it because I didn’t need it. Maybe I should spend a little more time checking out all the cool interactive maps of bike lanes and routes the city has on their website. The bridge I stumbled upon today is clearly listed on the map. But hey, this is a learning process, right?

Today I shot up Aldrich Avenue across Franklin Avenue right onto my newfound bridge over troubled traffic and in an instant I had a pinch-me moment. I was cruising past dozens of cars that were on a slow crawl off Hennepin Avenue onto the I-94 ramp. I wonder what they felt like getting smoked by a girl on a bike with a big white basket?

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

Today I rolled out of the garage with a knot in my stomach. I’ve been debating for weeks which route I should ride. If you are one of those people who plans everything in life then you understand my angst. I dread uncertainty. I truly had no idea which road I would take this morning. And I worried I’d be late to work if I took the scenic route. But I remembered a photojournalist and avid bike commuter tell me, “Lyndale Avenue is horrible. Avoid it.” So I stayed a few blocks west, bouncing between Aldrich and Bryant Avenues. I was practically alone out there at 7am! It was terrific. The car commute that usually takes about 20 minutes to drive up 35W and park in a lot took me 40 minutes door-to-door on my bike.

So I guess, for now, I’ve chosen a different kind of scenic route. I get to check out people’s gardens. And I can still take a lake path when I’m not in a rush. But the serious bike commuters I’ve been talking to say winter will throw a whole slew of wrenches in my plan. You know how often the side streets get plowed. Imagine trying to navigate them on a bike. I’m already very concerned about how this will work out come February. Apparently there’s a heated debate over which bike tires to use in the winter. I’ll fill you in down the road. But for now I’ll share the winter cycling advice given to me by WCCO-TV photojournalist Jose Pascual, “You just need to learn how to fall.” Oh boy. This could get ugly.

Angela Keegan Benson is the Assistant News Director at WCCO-TV and a mother of two. On August 1, 2011 she began her quest to live one full year as a bike commuter. Follow along as she figures out how to mesh the cycling culture with the demands of parenthood and an affinity for 4-inch heels. And yes, she’s committed to sticking it out through February storms. For more Cycling In The Cities, follow @Angela_Keegan on Twitter.

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