I almost didn't do it. I woke up with the alarm and decided it was too early to be up yet and reset it for another half hour. Only I forgot to turn it back on. So when I did wake up -- 40 minutes later -- my first thought was "Oh well -- it's too late now." I stumbled my way into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Still undecided. It was a quick shower -- either way I had to leave soon. I got out of the shower, went over to the window and looked outside. Right then my mind was made up.

10 minutes later I was out on the road feeling the bumps in the pavement -- the little defects that aren't ever noticed by the rumbling beasts flying past me -- the patterns of the steamrollers that are only noticed by tires pumped to over 100psi.

I pass a school. The kids are walking up to it -- chatting amongst themselves. Carrying their paper-sack lunches and backpacks full of books and todays homework. I get some strange looks. It's cold out -- and I'm wearing my typical cold weather riding outfit. Long underwear top and bottom, long sleave bicycling jersey, bicycling shorts, and ugly orange gore-windstopper fleece and gloves. A lightweight hat under my helmet -- mostly to keep my ears warm. I dislike cold ears. They burn and ache and it's just not any fun.

Most of the city goes by before I hit a red light. It's rather nice. The cold air is refreshing. While stopped, I look around. I'm on the outskirts of the city -- almost to the country side. I notice two lizards sitting side by side. Soaking in the heat of the early morning sun. One is missing it's tail and I wonder what happened to it -- was it a cat? A bird? A human? They seem content just sitting there and my light turned green so I'm back off.

As I bike through the country side to the next town I enjoy the green hills. I see horses running around -- keeping warm in the chill of the early morning. And cows -- slowly walking towards their feeders. I pass a dead skunk -- wrinkling my nose as I get downwind of the carcass. I cross a small creek and notice a crane walking through the water on it's tall skinny legs.

I look around just enjoying it and realize something. The people on their morning commute, in their cars, suv's, pick-em-up-trucks or whatever other vehicle they are driving... with their windows rolled all the way up, heaters blowing, cell-phones buzzing, sound systems blaring... with their coffee glued to their hands, hair care products spraying away, toothbrush in mouth and the millions of other things people do on their way to work... they're trapped in their metal boxes. It might be faster. It might be warmer. It might be lots of things. But riding my bicycle will always be my favorite way to get to work.

Why? So many reasons. The sights. The smells. The animals you get to see. The way you feel once you get to work -- all relaxed without a worry. Watching the sun come up over the hills. Watching how the seasons change the landscape. The feeling of being free.