The year of 2008 is coming to a close and with it beings some quiet reflection before relatives come to the house for the holidays. There were some ups, a number of downs, but overall the ups kept the family going. One of the binding features to our family this year was our attention to living with bikes.

 

We have brought our experiment of living with bikes as a primary mode of transportation full circle. We started off tentative and over planned, and now we just pick up our bikes and go for there is no travel that is impossible. We even took on some of the snow this season.

A few years ago my slightly commuter-converted mountain bike was stolen from my garage; no big deal as the bike was in such bad shape (bent head tube, unreliable gears) that the only reason I rode it was that I had it. With the loss of this bike, I switched over to my 1976 Schwinn cruiser, done up with a few modifications: 144 spoke rims, fresh baby blue paint, crushed velvet seat with dingle-balls and monogram, and a great deal of chrome. This bike is a tank, but got me where I wanted to go. I still use it on summer days. However, I was really able to consistently travel by bike when I purchased my used Jamis from Community Cycle Center and my bakfiets from Clever Cycles.

Image: Courtesy Sara Cross

With these two bikes, I can go anywhere I need, and haul anything I want. My family has had many good times on the bakfiets, traveling to and from school or on weekend rides; the time we spent together enjoying the neighborhoods and urban centers of Portland is priceless. I will cherish that time with my kids. I hope they reflect fondly on that time as well when they are older.

 

My youngest son now has a Scuut that he rides around with wild abandonment, my middle son is ready to remove his training wheels, and my oldest is asking to do more of our travel by bike and a wear reflective vest (see reflective vests are cool). To me, the future looks bright and filled with bikeyness.

Over the year and a half since we started our family experiment it has become clear that a bicycle is a viable form of transportation and one that can be used in numerous situations without giving up too much. A warm thank you to all of the bike shops that shared their knowledge; to the bicyclists who freely gave tips and expertise; and to the many bike organizations in Portland who keep the spirit strong. I appreciate what you have created for it is due to your pioneering that we may follow.

 

From all of us at The Wheel American Family, wishing you the best!

 

Travis, Tana, Kael, Soren, & Asa Wittwer

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