"Dealing with the baggage" by Eco-challenge / LJWorld.com

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Dealing with the baggage

The cup of coffee fit perfectly in the bottle holder of my road bike. Even better, most of it remained inside the cup as I pedaled from one side of downtown to the other.I know, it's a small achievement. But after being drenched on my walk to work Monday, I chalked this trip up as a major victory of my no-car week.Today, I decided to test the bike commute. My challenge was finding a way to get a laptop, a change of clothes, my shoes, my lunch, enough bagels to feed 10 hungry reporters and - most important of all - a cup of coffee to work using a bike. Clearly, my stylish blue leather satchel wasn't going to get the job done.I left the house with the bag crammed to the max, barely fitting over my shoulder. On the cruise down 7th Street, I kept glancing behind me to make sure a wayward shoe hadn't fallen to the pavement. My first stop downtown was the [News Center][1] where I dropped off my laptop, clothes, shoes and lunch. Then I headed to the far end of downtown to pick-up [the all-important bagels.][2]And that is where I was greeted with my triumph. The coffee I ordered fit snugly into the bottle holder and barely bubbled over the top when I headed back to the News Center. Yes, I was slightly sweaty and the notes I left inside my bag were badly crumpled, but this biking-to-work thing seemed easy enough. And, it didn't take much longer than driving. I do have a confession. On my way home from work tonight, I just may swing by [Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop][3] to check out those fancy looking messenger bags I spotted at the [Sidewalk Sale][4].I have this sneaking suspicion, however, that the purchase would negate the money I am saving on gas this week. [1]: http://www.kpalliance.org/images/2004/LawrencePO.jpg [2]: http://www.einsteinbros.com/ [3]: http://sunfloweroutdoorandbike.com/ [4]: http://www2.ljworld.com/photos/galleries/2008/jul/17/scenes_lawrence_sidewalk_sale/

By Christine Metz

July 29, 2008

Eco-challenge