Video Games to Bike Commute & the Shocking Discoveries

"Where's my 3DS? I need it for the bus ride!" Words I hear almost every morning. Today, however, was NOT one of those mornings.

My youngest son, Joey, has a tendency to feed off the energy around him. Unstructured time with lots of youngsters radiating high energy is a recipe for an end of the day phone call. The bus, with all the kids crammed into a small space, and no bus monitor has always been a particular trigger point for him. To dissolve the situation, I finally thought of a solution that focused his energy elsewhere. It is not something I promote as a fix all, and I do not think kids should have their heads shoved into video games to induce socially acceptable behavior, but it helped in his case.

About a month ago, Joey asked if he could bike to school. Bike to school means no need for video games in the morning. He got my vote.

Unsure of the accommodations at the school, I went down for a visit. When I inquired about where he might store his bike, I was initially greeted with the look that made me think I must have had 3 heads.

"You want him to ride his bike to school?"

"Ummmm... Yes."

It went from, "He'll need a note." to "We don't have anywhere for kids to store bikes."

In shock, I asked how a district that promotes No Kid Left Inside, and has kids practicing their mile run for 2 months prior to whatever school physical fitness program they are trying to get acclamation from, does not promote a healthy lifestyle otherwise? Is it all just political?

I had to have the principal called down to speak with me, so I could get some answers. Thankfully, she was a bit more accommodating and allowed Joey to store his bike in her office, but how does that help promote the opportunity to others?

Guess we'll have to lead the charge to change.

Not playing video games while waiting to begin our commute.

This morning was our first commute. We set off after the buses had already picked the kids up in our neighborhood. We made our way along the farm road that cuts through to the neighborhood across from the school. Birds singing, the sun shining, ducks in the pond... What a great start to the school day.

As we entered the neighborhood, only a few minutes walk from the school, there were kids at every corner waiting for a bus to pick them up. What a shame! How do so many kids live so close to each other and the school and cannot walk to school together. There were even parents standing at the corners with the children. It's nice out. Walk with them! Ride with them!

Still stunned from the realization of corner after corner of kids so close to the school, yet waiting for a bus, we turned the corner and found no one. There was the school. There was the cross walk. There was no one. No crossing guard, no kids walking. What have we done to this generation!?

Guess we'll have to lead the charge to change.

One Size Fits... Athletes?

I recently bought a pair of Under Armour athletic underwear. While looking for my "size", I noticed the box said "One Size Fits All Athletes." Intrigued, I purchased them with high hopes. When I got home, I decided to give them the true fit test. I slid them on with no problem and they seemed to provide adequate coverage. These are athletic underwear, however, and I am going to be moving in all sorts of crazy ways. So I tested them out. Knee lifts. Run in place. Bend over, stand up. Squat down, stand up. In conclusion, the only workout I was going to get in these athletic underwear was a wedgie workout and a raw butt.

I am a woman. I do not starve myself. I do not follow the diet of the week routine. I am not a vegetarian nor a vegan, but I do not eat unhealthy. I eat salads on a daily basis, take vitamins, eat plenty of protein and drink plenty of water. I am, per my doctor, a healthy woman. I am a curvy figured woman.

Being a VERY active woman, I consider myself athletic. I am not a pro. I do not pay to compete against others. I do not train endless hours. My toughest competitor, my biggest critic, is myself. I enjoy being active. I enjoy challenging myself. I enjoy competing on a recreational/social level, even if it's just for bragging rights or Strava QOMs.  I am an athletic woman. I am an athlete.

So why, WHY does the industry try to impress upon us that if we are not a leggy, size 2, curveless female, we are not "fit" for their apparel?

I am a mountain biker. I also road ride, run, play basketball, hike... I wear a medium. I wear a size 8. Some days a 10. (It was a rough winter.) However, when it comes to finding clothes for biking... ugh.

I have been biking for several years and this has been a constant pattern.

First with the roadie clothes. Why are the jerseys so short? I have a longer torso and short legs. Even when I'm wearing an XL, because that is what the cycling industry considers my Medium sized body, the jerseys are too short.

Mountain biking clothes are the same. The other day I found some nice pair of Fox women's baggie shorts in a LBS, and they even had a pair of XL. OMG! (Nobody ever has the larger sizes in stock.) I go to try them on... I can't get them over my hips. In disbelief, I take them off and look at the tag again,it says XL. I hold out the pants in an attempt to grasp how an XL will not fit me, and then I see it. The rectangle shape of the pants. There is no room for hips in these things, and the legs are skinny too. What exactly does an XL mountain biker chic look like?

I commented to the owner of the LBS about my distress and he comforted my aggravation by informing me how "not alone" I am.

Here is a shout out to the athletic industry, One Size DOES NOT Fit All Athletes!