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Surprise bicycle ride

I had no intentions to get on my bike today. Some much-needed rain fell in the St. Louis metropolitan area, and the temperatures barely were reaching the 40s. Besides, I was on my way to Godfrey, Ill., to celebrate the 14th birthday of my niece, Lauren.

I decided to go to Mass at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Relgious Center before going to my sister's house. I left Belleville late and forgot to fill my gas tank, but I figured I could get to Edwardsville before I had to fill up. I made it to the Interstate 270-Interstate 255 intersection when the fuel light came on. In the past, that meant that I had one gallon in the tank and could go several more miles before I had to get gas. But I found out the hard way that isn't the case any more.

I was doing fine until I got to the hill leading up to the SIUE campus. Suddenly the car started sputtering and then died. I was hoping there were a few more drops in the gas tank to get to the main campus, but there weren't. I briefly thought about my options when I realized I had my road bike in the back of the car.

I figured a cold, wet bike ride would take less time than a cold, wet walk to the nearest gas station, on Illinois Route 157, so up the hill I went. I didn't have my bicycling shoes with me, but I managed to keep my casual dress shoes on my clipless pedals. I missed Mass, but at least I got some gas to get the car moving.

I'm hoping my adventure today will encourage me to do more bicycle commuting to work. I normally don't do that because I get off work in the vicinity of midnight and worry too much about drunken Belleville drivers. But after today's adventure, that commute doesn't sound too bad.

Roger 0 comments 8:25 PM