Bike to Work Day, Ringo Style

I have a confession to make.

I have not ridden my bike to work in three weeks.

I know.

As you may be aware, I usually ride my bike to work in the winter, regardless of how shitty the weather is. And believe me, it is often shitty. Right now, the weather is lovely, or at least that’s how it appears from behind the windshield of a Subaru Outback.

The reason behind this heinous first world injustice is this:
IMG_5067Meet Ringo, the latest addition to Team CycleChick. Sure, he’s cute  – but he’s also seriously cramping my style. I have to admit to feeling a certain amount of shame in driving to work, to the point that if I see someone I recognize I turn my head in hopes they won’t see me. Some days, I wear a fake moustache, just to be safe.

Today is Bike to Work Day in Winnipeg. I was going to ride if it killed me. And Ringo.

I’ve been trying to figure out a safe and practical way to get me, Ringo, as well as all of our necessary accoutrements (which are plentiful to say the least) to work. A baby chariot seemed a reasonable solution – and it just so happened my friends Donna and Gianni had one they had purchased for their dog, who was unabashedly dissatisfied with that (and most) mode of transportation. They kindly offered it up for us to give it a go.

IMG_5202Our test ride did not go well. I tethered Ringo to the inside of the chariot with his leash  and ventured out for a ride to the local 7-11, a place a often frequent at ungodly hours of the morning to buy milk and $50 packages of bologna. By the time we returned home, he had managed to hog tie himself and was crying like he was caught in a bear trap.

Against my better judgement, for the trip to work I had no choice but to ditch the leash and Team CycleChick hit the road.IMG_5196IMG_5199IMG_5203IMG_5204

And it was good.

I am very pleased to report that the commute was without incident and if Ringo could talk I’m sure he would say it was super awesome in spite of having to look at my butt for twenty minutes.

When we got to work I immediately took him for a walk and a pee. He ate some gross stuff off the sidewalk, as is his custom, and settled into the office for his morning nap.IMG_5210

Ah, the life of a dog.