In Colorado Springs, winter and spring can make commuting interesting. Some mornings are cold, sometimes the roads are wet, and sometimes you end up riding through snow, slush, or wind when you were hoping for sunshine. It is not always fun, but it does make the warmer days feel a lot better.

Now that summer is getting closer, the ride starts to change. The mornings are brighter, the air feels warmer, and getting on the bike before work feels a little easier. The ride home is even better, especially with the sun setting later in the day.

For me, bike commuting is not about trying to make every ride a workout. Some days it is just transportation. Some days it is a good way to clear my head after work. Other days, the ride home turns into a few extra miles because the weather is too nice to go straight home.

That is one of the best parts about commuting by bike. It turns a normal workday into a chance to ride.

After getting through the colder months, summer commuting feels like a reward. Fewer layers, drier roads, and longer evenings make the whole routine feel easier. You still have to plan a little, what to wear, what to pack, and how to deal with changing weather; but that is part of it.

Bike commuting does not have to be perfect. You don't have to ride every day. You don't need to be fast. You just need to start where you are and make it work for your life.

Sometimes the best rides aren't the big ones, sometimes they are just the miles between home and work.

Ride Wild. Be Free. Ride Petolintu.