Hi everyone! My name is Michaela. I’m a recent resident of Boston, and I’ve found that running and biking the streets of the city introduces me to a place in a unique way. I can’t wait to connect with a great group of people, raise money for a cause I am passionate about, and learn a new bike route while I’m at it!
I love biking. Not for all of the normal reasons, though. My bike has been a trusty companion through the past few years, and especially dependable during the global pandemic. To me, biking is way more than a form of exercise.
Biking...
...is a reliable source of transportation. Back home in Harrisonburg and now in Boston, it’s been a joy building my lifestyle around biking as my main form of transportation.
...provided me with an income. Working for a bike messenger service (Check out GiddyUP! Courier Services in Harrisonburg, VA) was the sweetest gig ever. I got to know all the nooks and crannies of town, connect with the cycling community of Harrisonburg, and prove my fitness and persistence every single shift (especially in the winter months, eek).
...allows me to act upon my values. How cool is it that I can get to and from work with the power of my own body? That I can deliver food to customers across Harrisonburg with the same efficiency as a car? On a bike, I feel like myself, showing respect to my body, taking care of the global community and earth we live on, and acting on my hopes and dreams for a more just and hospitable world.
...is grounding. So much of my life is spent exerting myself mentally and emotionally. I think for work, think to socialize, think during free time. Sometimes my mind is running a mile a minute and I need to move, leaving the thoughts on the pavement behind me.
...is a point of connection. There was one time when I punctured my tire in the middle of a work shift. I just happened to be right next to a bike shop. The owner helped me out, quickly putting a new tire and tube on, and sending me along with a very small bill and encouragement for the road. I made it to the restaurant before the food order was even ready. I've found this type of community around biking again and again.
...teaches me to practice gratitude. Every breath of fresh air is a gift. The view from atop a mountain is a million times more beautiful when I’ve reached it by bike.
Movement is a privilege - body mobility, access to transportation, the freedom to travel - and it’s one I don’t take lightly. By joining the bike-a-thon, I hope to support an organization that is acting upon the connection between inclusion and freedom of movement, justice and accessibility to transportation, and empowerment and independence. This is a cool thing! I hope you’ll support my ride, and through it, the mission of Bikes Not Bombs.
