Almost two years ago Toni sold her car and began life In Dallas on two wheels.  This is her 3rd update for Biking in Dallas, you can follow her story here, or catch up with her at the Tits Tuesday ride.

I can’t believe it, I have been happily CAR FREE for TWENTY MONTHS now!!  It has been a unique experience and I feel fortunate to have a lifestyle conducive to this bohemian adventure—but it hasn’t been entirely without consequence. In addition to being hit by an S.U.V. downtown last year, I’ve found myself walking home from Greenville Avenue to Downtown at 3am after a blowout for which I was ill prepared.  Earlier this year during that whole Super Bowl ice storm fiasco, mobility for me was pretty much crippled.  I couldn’t ride to work on the ice, DART wasn’t running because of the storm, and the taxi cab companies chose THAT weekend to go on strike!  That week was probably the biggest challenge so far…that and trying to show up at a party looking fresh and polished with wind-blown hair and chain grease on my calves.

It’s been a pleasure to watch and participate in the growth of the Dallas cycling community over the past two years.  I remember the early days when your best bet for a social ride was the now defunct 75208 Sunday rides.  Now there are more social rides each week than I can keep up with—practically every day of the week!  When I’m not leading a “Tits Tuesday” ride or tagging along on one of the fledgling “WedEx Wednesday” rides, I like to zone out with solitary lake laps in the sun.  I’m a big fan of the impromptu rides, too!  The text alert sounds and within an hour a group of us are pedaling toward the Amsterdam or Bishop Arts.  I’ve enjoyed incorporating the bikes into nearly all of our social activities, and I cannot even remember the last time I paid for transportation.

at the Dallas Pride Parade

We’ve ridden our bikes in the St. Patrick’s Day & Gay Pride Parades, we’ve mobilized a posse to pass out promotional material for one of my favorite bands (Captured!By Robots), we’ve drawn blood with bike jousting, and we’ve had sweat-soaked races to the pool about a thousand times over the summer.  When my friends and I hop on the bicycles, we are instantly transformed into the Peanuts Gang.  Age, money, status—none of these things matter when you’ve got that 2-wheeled equalizer carrying you away.  These bikes keep us young at heart…I think this has everything to do with the growing popularity of the social cycling movement in Dallas.

Beyond the social aspect, riding a bicycle every day allows you a freedom the gas-guzzling masses don’t realize.  Sure, running errands takes more strategy than it did when I was a driver—but it becomes like a game:

Accidents happen

outwitting the “to do” list!  Battling the traffic, the elements, and those damn texting drivers.  What is the quickest way to get there safely?  How will I carry my purchases?  What if it starts raining or a dog chases me?  Once I’m pedaling the pavement, though…my mind wanders, I become relaxed.  Stress and bike riding just don’t mix.  It’s very zen feeling the sun on your skin, the breeze touching your face, smelling cut grass, hearing the sounds of the city.  Road Rage doesn’t happen on a bike.  Commuting becomes playtime.

As I approach my two year Bikeversary I’ve got my eyes peeled for a new ride.  The Raleigh Technium has served me VERY well but I’m ready for something a little tastier!  I’ll be on the lookout for a shiny new road bike with racing components and tires that look like candy.  (I welcome any and all leads.  Seriously, if you know of a bike that fits that magical description please email or Facebook me!)  I’m also in the market for a new messenger bag as a summer of hardcore use has ravaged both of mine.  I suppose it’s high time to retire my gloves and put these little hands of mine into something new, too.  Hmmm, I think I’ve just come to the realization that it is time for a bike-life makeover…

- Toni

Just over six months ago, I gave up driving in favor of bicycle commuting.  I’d been a fan of the social rides around town since the spring of 2009, and I fancied myself a little hardcore for biking to-and-from my apartment building downtown to the bars in Exposition Park so I figured the transition would be a piece of cake…  and it HAS been, really.  There have been adjustments along the way, like wearing close-toed shoes more often and learning to negotiate traffic on Northwest Highway while lugging a bag of dresses and boots on my back.  Grocery shopping takes a bit more planning and strategy than it used to, and one day I actually rode home from work in the rain carrying a moving dolly!  With the acquisition of a souped up Raleigh Technium, a commute that formerly took me 35 minutes has now been shaved down to about 15.  I’ve never aspired to be at the apex of the Dallas bicycle hierarchy, but I AM impressed with my progress over the first half of 2010.  Rides to the F.O.E., rides to Bishop-Arts, rides to concerts, rides to parties…that bike goes with me EVERYWHERE.  I ride every day, all the time, and I’m pretty effen fast for a girl, if I do say so myself.

In less than 3 weeks, a handful of bike buddies and I are venturing from Dallas

Red Dirt Ride

to the Winstar Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma on what we’ve dubbed “THE RED DIRT RIDE”.  Taking the safest bike-friendly route possible, we anticipate a ride of approximately 90miles.  According to the Farmers’ Almanac, the weather on September 25^th should be comfortable, with average highs around 88 degrees.  As for the wind and changes in elevation, well….I’m basically just going to wish REALLY hard that those aspects are in our favor as well.  I’ve put the word out via facebook that we need volunteers to drive SAG vehicles and help out in the event of injury, mechanical difficulty, and of course for moral support.  In my mind, I imagine us hauling ass up through North Texas in a blaze of glory and throwing our hands up with victory howls as we cross over the Red River…but I realize that it’s going to be an ambitious endeavor and the sweaty mass of us will likely crumble into a salt stained heap as soon as we plod into our destination.  Hopefully, we can rally with a quick shower and hit the blackjack tables before succumbing to lactic acid disaster.  I am determined to reward myself with a few yanks of the slot machine after a ride like that, and I’m NOT afraid to ask security to carry me back to my room if I can’t make my legs work.

Red Riders

Just when I start to feel like a dynamo for riding my bike so often, so far, so fast—it’s time for another “Saturday Morning Slaughter” training ride with the boys.  These rides are murder on my ego (and my legs…and my lady bits).  The RED DIRT RIDE was my idea and I am so pleased to see that the others are on board and share my enthusiasm…but SERIOUSLY, these guys are in an entirely different class of bike enthusiast.  When we started a couple of months ago, I rolled up in some running shorts and a tank top with my one water bottle filled and a walkman on my arm (yes, a walkman…I’m ghetto like that).  My companions were gussied up in spandex and helmets with all the latest gizmos and gadgets.  I didn’t even have an air pump and these guys were hauling GPS devices and energizing gel snacks!  After what I was certain was 1,000miles I asked one of my companions how far we had ridden:  9ish miles.  By the end of our first practice run (probably less than 30miles), I literally ROLLED on the ground screaming and asking them to throw bananas into my gaping mouth.  It really only took a couple of weeks of training before I began entertaining the idea of secretly slipping into bike shorts under my regular workout gear (a decision I have NEVER regretted).  There have been many other lessons along the way…like not getting a bikini wax the morning of a 50mile practice ride, making sure my bike is appropriately fitted to my height (an inappropriate seat height spells EXCRUTIATING knee pain on long rides like our’s), carrying multiple bottle cages AND a camel back, and the OH SO SWEET relief of simply wearing riding gloves.  Those gadgety boys have taught me a thing or two along the way, and every week I pick up some new tip or tidbit of inspiration.  Fortunately, fellow riders like Josh “Squirrel” Kalina and Extreme Susan have outfitted me with many of the essentials I now cannot imagine riding without.  I am proud to say that last Saturday’s ride to the Franconia Brewery in McKinney, TX was my first RED DIRT RIDE training session that I didn’t cry at some point!

Riding along side my buddy Clayton a couple of weeks ago, blistering up Cockrell Hill in West Dallas in 100+ degree heat and direct sunlight, he casually mentioned doing the Hotter’N Hell 100 and the RED DIRT RIDE as training for the upcoming 200+mile ACHell ride to Austin.  Naturally, I thought Clayton was/is insane.  Seriously, 100 miles is TRAINING to him??????   I cannot believe I’ve gone from 5 mile booze cruises a couple of times a week (in heels and a dress, no less) to riding all over North Texas with masochists like these RED DIRT RIDErs.  Every single time I ride with these bicycle phenom’s I find myself wondering, “whaaaaat have I gotten myself into???”  Just when I think I cannot take it for one more second, I look at Josh and Clay and Ian and they’re not even breaking a visible sweat.

Seriously…what have I gotten myself into?

I met Toni Youngblood at a Thursday night Hawaiian theme ride hosted by the Richardson Urban Bike Club.  This was my first time there and didn’t know anyone.  The whole group was very friendly and approachable, and Toni was one of the first people that I sat an visited with.  I’ve since crossed paths with her on numerous other group rides and she always brings a great energy to any event.  She also picks the coolest costumes for themed rides.  Her car-free experiment started today and we’re excited to have her share that experience with us and our readers.  – Chris Curnutt

Toni Youngblood

I ride my bicycle.  Regularly.  Social rides, pub crawls, down the street to the liquor store when I don’t feel like getting my car out of valet and fighting over meters on Main Street.  Sometimes around White Rock lake for exercise, sometimes I’ll just text a few friends and we’ll zip around downtown and catch up on the latest gossip.  Beginning March 1, however, I will be surrendering my overpriced Pontiac Solstice and going strictly 2-wheeled for the duration of 2010.

I’ve been toying with the idea of ditching my car and all the ridiculous expenses related to it for awhile now.  I recently left my career in real estate (it was killing my soul) and I’ve been trying to squeeze every penny out of my now measly budget.  The idea of saving $430 a month  on the car loan, $150 on full-coverage insurance, the $100 that is rolled into my rent for valet parking at my parking building, gas, oil changes, XM Satellite Radio, OnStar, etc. is ENTIRELY appealing…but I know this is going to mean a dramatic change in lifestyle.

At the Halloween Ride on her Green Machine

Allow me to backtrack a bit and tell you how I became engrossed in the Dallas bike culture to begin with.  I’ve had bikes before, sure, as many of you do.  Mine mostly sat on my porch when I lived in Lakewood, collecting dust until it was stolen while I sat in my living room one afternoon.  A longtime friend and AVID bicycle enthusiast, Colin Clarke, offered to sell me a replacement cruiser super cheap and I eventually accepted.  Colin, as anyone in the scene knows, is an Oak Cliff native and basically eats, sleeps, and breathes all things with wheels.  He created a group he dubbed 75208 which meets each week on his turf and mixes casual riding with socializing, drinking, and the occasional swim.  Having recently been dumped, I was super depressed and shamefully lonely—and my buddy persistently invited me to join he and the fellas for their weekly rides.  One week in April, he told me that he had painted canned beers to look like Easter Eggs and that his ride would include a festive little “Easter Beer Hunt” in a nearby grassy area overlooking downtown.  EASTER BEER HUNT???  Are you kidding me???  That was my induction into the 75208.  With the exception of one or two Sundays when even 4 pairs of pants wouldn’t keep me warm, I have been on every Sunday ride since that day.

There were a number of aspects of the 75208 rides that continually seduced me—the extra exercise, the interesting new characters I met each week, exploring unfamiliar neighborhoods and watering holes.  More than anything, though, this weekly date gave me something to look forward to.  No matter how boring, abysmal, and lonely the workweek was, I knew that come Sunday I would be smiling in the sun with my new bicycle buddies in Oak Cliff.  I met Becky, who introduced me to Autumn and Havi.  I met Cristy Cruiser and Jay, who led me to Kizzle and Matt Daddy and Rodney and Josh.  Darrin and Kristian, Jonathan and Lee… I met Carl and Bama which soon led me to John and Major Tom and a WHOLE NEW WORLD of bike rides in Richardson.  Soon I was not only a devout member of 75208, I was also attending weekly rides with a group up north called “Richardson Urban Bike Club”).  These Thursday rides were mind-blowing!  Costumes and weekly themes, surprise destinations, carnivals, and bars you can still smoke in!!  My obnoxious little convertible didn’t have a bike rack, so I was forced to face my fears of public transportation and conquer the DART Rail.  This newfound DART savvy is going to come in verrrrrrry handy in the near future….

February 2010..Toni Youngblood goes carless in Dallas

Back to the here & now:   It’s nearly Spring and although one of my New Year’s Resolutions was to rid myself of the expense of my stupid Solstice, I’m a total wuss about cold weather so I have postponed my liberation until the days of 60 degree high temps.  I’m nervous.  How am I going to get my groceries home on the bike??  What about when it’s 110 out there and I want to look cute, rather than arrive at my destination a sweaty mess with wind-wrecked locks?  What about my beloved roadtrips—how the hell is that going to happen now??  Venturing home from Henderson at 2:30am, flying solo with nothing but a nog light and old roller derby helmet between me and all the last call dynamos??  OMG, what have I set myself up for?

Today, February 22, at nine in the morning….my car was officially relinquished.  The fear has set in.