Jul 24, 2009
A Radish A Day - Challenge Summary
Jessy Clonts, our neighbor in the Bay Area, test rode a Radish for 30-days this spring. This is a journal about her expectations, experiences and feedback. Enjoy!
Challenge Summary
My quest to drastically alter my lifestyle in 30 days by riding an Xtracycle instead of driving a car was predictably challenging. I expected to have a tough time sticking to this goal, but made up for it with a strong conviction not to give up.
Yes, I suffered a few lapses by driving bikeable distances, and while I expected to be able to ride to Indian Rock with climbing gear, I did not make it (although the bike is very well suited to carry said gear, including a 2’ x 3’ crash pad).
But what I learned and came to appreciate about the challenge was my gradual default to the bike over the car. Any time I can hop on two wheels instead of four, whether to save time in traffic, money in parking expenses, or the environment in cutting down on my emissions, I do. And that’s a start.
I keep trying to invent a reason why I don’t need this bike; I’m a young(ish), (almost) married person with no kids, I don’t shop for groceries more than three times a month, and can carry most of my necessities in a small purse. Maybe I don’t need the Radish, but it sure has made my life healthier, more convenient, and more fun. And who couldn’t use more of that in their lives?
Whereas I used to ride my bike for leisurely rolls with friends, now I ride my bike with more of a sense of purpose. And the greatest thing about this gradual default is that it wasn’t contrived. I don’t tell myself to hop on the bike. I just do it.
And I guess that’s what this challenge was all about: teaching a person on the fringe of the bike culture to embrace the lifestyle not just for the novelty and the political correctness, but for its truly redeeming rewards.
Well, I’m sadly disappointed. The xtracycle is a marvellous addition to any bike. Had the challenge been doggedly chased, readers of this blog could had seen that cycling 2.5miles up a hill was almost easier than walking. That, with a little determination, cycling in the rain is more fun than cycling in the sun. (it’s cooler for sure)… that going to gym to exercise on an elliptical machine is no longer necessary. (just go pump some iron and cycle home, job done).
The xtracycle is not the fringe of bike culture, it quite possibly is a future, and demonstrating how easy to do shopping, pick up some beer, and chill is the park seemed to me to be the main point of this challenge, how terrible is that. Challenges are not easy. Sitting on the couch is… Jumping in the car is. But jumping on your bike is easier and bring way more smiles. ‘
The people at xtracyle do a sterling job of championing being a good butterfly, and i I applaud them… let’s hope they have more support from future promotions in showing how an xtracycle can be used day in, day out and bring a better quality of life to an owner. This challenge was not about your ability, but how others could apply the xtracyle to their lives, not yours. That decision was yours to make after the challenge to use an xtracyle. Your challenge was to show the interested what they might expect. I’m just left disappointed.