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BOULDER, Colo. -
Commuting sucks, everyone agrees.
Some people, however, have figured out that biking to and from work can be an action-packed adventure that transforms that soul-crushing drudgery and wasted time into something more physically productive -- and entertaining.
Wednesday's Bike to Work Day is a great reminder that the miles between home and work can, in fact, be fun challenges -- something to look forward to, not dread.
Especially when Community Cycles is giving away free coffee and snacks, as the organization will be from 7 to 9 a.m. Wednesday at more than 40 breakfast stations around Boulder.
A large number of area workers deserve credit for saving money and staying healthy by commuting with their bicycles on RTD buses from Denver, then biking to their jobs in Boulder. And one Boulderite has even been spotted commuting on a unicycle.
But these three riders -- call them Boulder's most extreme bike commuters -- are in a class of their own:
Dave Kingsbury
Age: 45
Job: Cognitive anthropologist for Boulder ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky
Route: Nederland to Gunbarrel
Commute: 25 miles or 1.5 hours one-way (takes bus to Nederland in the evening then rides home from there)
Not a rabid environmentalist or a car-hater, Dave Kingsbury is just intense and hyper-focused. He craves the release of physical exertion and has bike commuted year-round an average of three days a week -- rain or shine -- for the last 21 years to various jobs in the Boulder area from his house near Nederland at 8,100 feet.
"People go on biking vacations to do what I get to do every day," Kingsbury said. "One of my alternate routes through Gold Hill involves 7,000 (feet) of descent before reaching Gunbarrel. That's pretty unusual.
"Bike commuting keeps me out of prison," he added. "It's a sanity thing. I have to decompress."
To cover ground faster when he reaches Boulder, he switches out his mountain bike for a single-speed cyclocross bike, which he stores in a bike locker at RTD's Walnut Street station.
Seeing the landscape change with the seasons is a draw, too.
"The animals, the flowers, the weather -- it all changes and evolves every day, even though you cross the same terrain," he said.
But Kingsbury likes to mix it up and has dozens of routes to work, including the occasional three-mile flat-water paddle across Gross Reservoir, which he's dubbed the Canute.
Chuck Gartrell
Age: 27
Job: Salesman at Full Cycle on Pearl Street
Route: Black Hawk to Boulder
Commute: 25 miles or 1.5 hours one-way (takes bus to Nederland in the evening then rides home from there)
Chuck Gatrell's standard 25-mile route from Black Hawk to Full Cycle on Pearl Street is about half dirt roads and half pavement -- including a stretch on the Boulder Creek Path.
If he has time, though, the amateur mountain-bike racer likes to divert into Golden Gate Canyon State Park and, eventually, Walker Ranch, which can turn his morning commute into a 35-mile ride of one-third single track, one-third dirt roads and one-third pavement.
"It's a privilege to ride these hills every day. I'm lucky," he said. "And it's great training for my racing."
His pride and joy is a custom-built titanium Spot with 29-inch wheels, the only bike he ever rides. It weighs a feathery 23 pounds, almost as much as his stuffed backpack, which usually contains a jug of home-brewed coffee, breakfast, lunch and a change of clothes and shoes.
"My favorite part of the ride is this one spot off Magnolia Road, where the views are indescribably beautiful," Gartrell said. "I like to stop there and have some coffee and check the weather patterns over the Continental Divide."
James Sharpe
Age: 39
Job: Service manager at Trek Store of Boulder
Route: Broomfield to Boulder
Commute: 18 miles or 52 minutes one way
James Sharpe has his commute down to a science.
"It takes me 52 minutes," he said. "No more, no less."
And he rotates five bikes, depending on the conditions: a cyclocross bike, a touring bike, a road bike, a single speed and a mountain bike.
"I probably have 30 in my collection, including a tandem, but most of those are not suited for the daily grind," Sharpe said.
He's been bike commuting in Boulder more or less full time since moving here in 1990, and has been pedaling this commute for the last four years -- an average of 40--45 weeks a year. That's about 8,100 miles in one year, which wears down nine sets of tires and five chains.
"It's still so economical to ride your bike like this," he said. "I get my workout, and it's such a nice way to de-tune."
He also pointed out that 10 percent of business at the Trek Store of Boulder (which will offer free bike tunes on Wednesday morning) is devoted to bike commuters, most of whom tend to average three-to-five miles a day.
"Commuting sucks, everyone agrees."
-----
Speak for yourself.I tend to be very comfortable in my luxury car with hand-stitched leather (or is it virgin pigskin?I can never remember!) seats, custom stereo (painstakingly assembled by a Chinese orphan, of course) and genuine wood trim (endangered hardwood, I assure you).Sometimes I rev the engine just for kicks at stoplights, because money is nothing to me and I don't mind paying for a little extra fuel if it means a little extra fun!And on a hot (slightly warm, even) day when I've got the AC crankin' and the windows cracked to let in a little breeze....LOVE!
Some days I wished I lived *further* from town, just so I could drive two hours each way instead of one.
FreeThinker
6/22/2009 12:01:19 AM
Cool story. Props to these three riders!
(FreeThinker: Let me guess, you're ... fat.)
KR
6/22/2009 6:29:49 AM
Very interesting article...
You three men have within yourselves a "do whatever it takes" commitment to match your athletic stamina.
Whenever I see extreme bicyclists, I wonder how you began and built up to the distances and climbs.
(...and I thought that I was athletic because I've ridden from north Boulder to Lyons and back for breakfast.)
InMyHumbleOpinion
6/22/2009 6:33:06 AM
To free-thinkier: I've been a cycling commuter with every job I've had since 1975, when I lived in northern Indiana. I've lived in Colorado since 1984, and my current commute is 8 miles each way, which takes me about 30 minutes. There isn't a single day that I can say I regretted riding my bike to and from work, but I've had many days that I wished I'd ridden my bike instead of taking the car or the bus. And - it takes me far LESS time to get to work by bike than it does by car or bus, when you include the time it takes to park the car or walk from the nearest bus station. In the past five years, I've saved enough money riding my bike to buy a very nice new one. And I have added years to the life of my vehicle, since I almost never use it to get to work.
mgood84wis5@hotmail.com
6/22/2009 6:55:23 AM
that Kingsbury guy sounds pretty crazy to me.
allmtn
6/22/2009 7:21:57 AM
FreeThinker,
You're an obvious troll.
Dick_Tater
6/22/2009 7:43:46 AM
Life is too short to sit in a metal and glass bubble surrounded by agro people.
I pay the extra and live by my job.. I get on my bike and take some nice side streets and bike paths.
Dr_Hal
6/22/2009 7:49:51 AM
Kudos to everyone who bike commutes.These guys wouldn't consider themselves "Extreme" at all I don't think...to them, it's a privilege and something they look forward to.
I remember when I didn't have a car for a year, I rode everywhere I needed to and then some.I was dirt poor but also the healthiest and happiest I've ever been.It really doesn't take much..a little planning, a bike (you don't need a fancy xx-speed: anything with 2 wheels and pedals will do), and a will to try it out.Most likely you'll end up doing it too!
Teledude
6/22/2009 7:51:45 AM
I wish I could ride my bike to work every day ... but I can't afford to live close enough (i.e., within reasonable biking distance) to Boulder.
Yerba
6/22/2009 8:01:05 AM
"that Kingsbury guy sounds pretty crazy to me."
Something about the whole "prison" thing makes a guy a bit nervous.
But. I guess "Cognitive Anthropologists" usually are a bit 'extreme', simply drawing from my own experiences.
joe_cyclist
6/22/2009 8:04:14 AM
Suddenly, my daily bike commute down Folsom doesn't sound so exciting.
gsegiet@flash.net
6/22/2009 8:23:52 AM
that Kingsbury guy sounds pretty crazy to me.
REAL_ALL_MTN
6/22/2009 8:37:40 AM
Where's the Trek Store in Boulder?
respectsnothing@msn.com
6/22/2009 8:42:48 AM
what's so extreme about riding downhill?
bouldermeister
6/22/2009 8:45:29 AM
I would like the DC to survey and honor the cyclists who have been bike commuting to work the most number of years. I know someone who is close to 75 years old and has been bike commuting (even home for lunch)for over 30 years.
mainstreet
6/22/2009 8:49:52 AM
great job guys-
D.C., Thanks!
t.pull@hotmail.com
6/22/2009 9:02:55 AM
I'd love to bike to work, but then i'd be sweaty all day. I mean, how many people have jobs where they can either shower or stay gross all day?
kazooie112
6/22/2009 9:45:36 AM
Posted by mainstreet-"I would like the DC to survey and honor the cyclists who have been bike commuting to work the most number of years. I know someone who is close to 75 years old and has been bike commuting (even home for lunch)for over 30 years"
****
Back in those days only extreme alcoholics that had more then 7 or 8 DUIs rode bikes to work.
Dr_Hal
6/22/2009 10:02:26 AM
kazooie112 - I bike almost every day to work. In the morning it is typically cool enough that when I ride at a casual pace I don't get sweaty. I can shower at work if necessary, but the need is rare. On average, riding my bike takes less time than driving my car. There are no stop lights on the bike paths.
pm
6/22/2009 10:09:59 AM
Awesome story.
รข Jose
joecyclist
6/22/2009 10:21:11 AM
Unscented baby wipes can do a lot for a light sweat. And, as stated above, most people ride in in the morning when it's typically cool enough that you can pedal easy and get to work fairly dry.
The main thing to remember is that you don't have to do it EVERY day. If everybody rode in just one day a week, that could cut commuter traffic by 20 percent.
So start with one or two days a week and see how it feels. It gets easier every time.
thenewguy
6/22/2009 10:29:41 AM
It takes ALL types.
Kudos.
The_Merry_Prankster
6/22/2009 10:53:52 AM
bikers should stay on bike trail , not on the paved roadways ,
not on rtd
ride the bike on a bike trail
stay otta my way
Honk!!!!
dmc714
6/22/2009 11:03:32 AM
Nice story - Great inspiration!
spunky
6/22/2009 11:06:05 AM
oh and if you gonna ride to work take a shower with soap!!
yes with soap!!
cus you stink
damn hippies in boulder , i don't want to smell you stinky bastards!
use soap
yes you guys at Cameron-Cole stink!!
dmc714
6/22/2009 11:07:44 AM
Loved the story, DC. Thanks.
@kazooie112
I'll echo what @pm said. Except for a few days in deepest summer I don't get sweaty on the way to work. I get plenty sweaty on the way home, but that's easier to deal with. You could also try an ebike. It cuts the amount of work considerably, but is still way better than a car.
dave@thewils.net
6/22/2009 11:14:39 AM
boulder commuter
sleep in till 7:50
get my bike stuff ready,
ride to work , get there bye 8:45,
rinse off , no shower , change into clotes i keep behind my office door(i dont smell)just my clothes do,..
warm up some oats, talk about my ride to co-workers,check facebook page ,update facebook look at friends
look at climbing hiking web pages
hhhmm its almost 11:00
almost time to get ready for a jog at lunch get ready for jog, leave at 11:40
mabee no one will notice, 20 min run
back to shower , no soap again , then leave for lunch cus every one else left at 12:00 errands to run ,back at 1:30
im so busy,.... need to leave at 3:00
today
the life of a lazy hippie in boulder
dmc714
6/22/2009 11:22:24 AM
Great to read about how far people will go on their bikes. I ride to work just about every day and it's 30-35 minutes each way, basically Table Mesa to North Boulder, and I just change when I get here, but I also work in a casual environment, so sweaty or not isn't a big deal. Also, I have ridden next to cars that follow the same route and they don't make it to where they're going any faster. I love to ride and hope that more cities will follow the great example Boulder has set.
fairplay
6/22/2009 12:32:29 PM
hey fairplay
"I also work in a casual environment, so sweaty or not isn't a big deal."
but you still stink!!!
i bet you a vegan too!!
dmc714
6/22/2009 12:36:04 PM
Wow...a cognitive anthropologist for CP+B.
**
"Cognitive anthropologists study how people understand and organize the material objects, events, and experiences that make up their world as the people they study perceive it. It is an approach that stresses how people make sense of reality according to their own indigenous cognitive categories, not those of the anthropologist."
**
I would pay money to hear a cognitive anthropologist explain to a client why the image of a man in a rubber Whopper costume will stir ancient memes and trigger a subconscious desire to taste beef tallow and mayonnaise.
donwrege
6/22/2009 2:39:43 PM
Have lived in or around Boulder for 25 or more years. 15 of those years I rode a bike to and from work and where ever I had to go, put lots of miles on the bike. Used to fly down LeftHand Canyon when I lived up there, to go to work back in the day, guess that wouldn't be prudent now, someone would be trying to block me or run me off the road now??? Good for the people who are in this article and all the others who try to do their part. Just remember though, there are some deranged idiots who might take you out with his/her vehicle, so be constantly aware.
mcyeats
6/22/2009 3:37:46 PM
"I would pay money to hear a cognitive anthropologist explain to a client why the image of a man in a rubber Whopper costume will stir ancient memes and trigger a subconscious desire to taste beef tallow and mayonnaise."
ROFL!
BiggieSmalls
6/22/2009 8:51:01 PM
Very impressive people; diversity is key to any healthy community; really liked all of this story.
Buzz
6/23/2009 6:32:37 AM
Wooh. This is EXTREME. I've been commuting 1 hour by car for 20 years and recently decided to mix it up with a bit of cycling. I'm not about to ride 60 miles to and from work every day so I picked up a folding SwissBike (www.swissbike.com) Not sure if they have a boulder dealer. I drive the majority of the way in to work and pull the bike out the trunk and ride the rest. Small steps!
Fagelberry
6/26/2009 11:05:58 AM
