Since a little before the New Year, I've been biking regularly. I guess it really started when we lived in NYC last summer and I bought a Citibike membership (a bike share program) and biked to work and back. So, when we got back to Florida, I wanted to get a bike. I started small 3-4 mile rides. Then found a nice 10 mile loop I liked. Then a bit longer...

For the most part, I'm what I'd call a "purpose oriented rider". I like to bike for a purpose. To commute to work, bike to the cafe, go to dinner, etc. I started to stretch beyond my 10 mile loop in my neighborhood and started biking to dinner. On the weekends I would ride to my Mom's house or a bigger loop. But, what really started to kick things into high gear was when I challenged myself to a "no car week". I biked for everything. I biked to work everyday (about 9 miles each way). I grocery shopped on my bike. I went out for entertainment on my bike.

To end this "no car week", I challenged myself to a loop around the south side of Jacksonville. It was about 60 miles in total. Again, as a purpose oriented biker... I had objectives along the way. I stopped for breakfast. I hit the bike shop for their annual customer appreciation sale (didn't buy anything). Grabbed lunch at The Town Center. Pedaled out to the beach for a bit. That's where the real fun started.... MAJOR headwind as I headed south down the coast. Just about took the life out of me. But I made it. You can see my loop in the pictures. I will challenge myself to do this again, soon!