30 Days of Biking - Day One

For the second year in a row I've signed up to do 30 Days of Biking (30DOB) in April. An event begun in 2010 by a group of enthusiasts in Minneapolis, 30 Days of Biking is a pledge to ride your bike every day in April — any distance, any destination — and share your adventures online. People from all over the world have signed up and, as of 10:00 p.m. Central time this evening, 7,441 people have pledged to ride. For every 30 pledges, the group is working to donate one bike to Free Bikes 4 Kidz.

Last year, riding every day in April turned out to be a challenge because of the weather--a number of stormy days with a deluge of snow. So far, if this March is any indication, the weather has been more spring-like and there is virtually no snow on the ground, even though many of the lakes still have ice on them.

Today's ride began in Cable, with a group that meets every Wednesday throughout the year to either ski, hike or ride together. Eleven of us rode a loop out of Cable while a few others did a hike. Afterward, we all met for lunch at the Brick House Cafe.

This year, I've spread the word and a number of others in the Hayward/Cable area as well as some friends in other parts of the country (like Fargo, ND) have pledged to ride.

My friend, Iras, who has also signed up for 30DOB, rode with us in Cable today and then braved rain and thunder to ride to the local library for a meeting.

I made up some 30DOB laminated cards to give out for people to put in their spokes to spread the word.