Man commutes to work; encourages others to try it

There are a lot of reasons Jeff Moser rides his bike to work. It's good exercise. It's better for the environment. Gas is so expensive.

But there's one that keeps him motivated day after day.

"The main reason is I think it's fun," he said. "I can't get enough."

After graduating from Carson High School in 1989, Moser moved to Reno then Gardnerville, where he had a 32-mile commute round-trip to his job at the State Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation in Carson City. He wished he could ride his bike to work more often, but the distance and traffic made it difficult. When he moved back to the capital in November, he was two miles from work.

"I made it a quest to ride to work every single day," he said. "And I haven't missed a day."

Even in the coldest, snowiest days of winter, he pedaled.

"I was never once cold, even in 10 degrees," he said. "I've got a nice jacket, I dress warm. You get a little body heat going. Most of the time I was too hot by the time I got to work."

This summer, he said, has been an easy commute as well. He leaves his Northridge home just before 8 a.m. and sticks mostly to back roads to avoid the traffic on main streets. It takes about eight minutes to get to work.

"I think everybody would agree it can be frustrating to sit in traffic," he said. "I actually enjoy my commute, getting on my bike and going to work. You re-learn your community. You say 'hi' to people you pass. You hear the birds sing, smell the air. In the car, you feel removed from everything."

In addition to biking to work, Moser also bikes for pleasure.

He and his wife are trying to make it a point to travel more by bicycle and often bike together for recreation. He and his 7-year-old son recently rode the Flume Trail on a tandem bike.

Almost every day, he joins a group of friends during their lunch hour to mountain bike in Ash Canyon.

"We ride the dirt trails, and there's that thrill of the descent," he explained.

But more than ride for his own pleasure, Moser is also a cycling advocate. His blog, bikecarson.com, serves as forum for other enthusiasts and promotes biking events. He is also a board member of Muscle Powered, a community group dedicated to promoting walking and bicycling in Carson City.

Getting started

Moser said he is willing to speak with anyone who is considering a bike commute and is looking for advice.

He said it is a good way to save money and even time.

"A lot of people are looking for ways to fit in time to work out," he said. "If you add exercise to your commute, it saves you that time."

He suggested commuters ride slow and easy on the way to work, save the hard riding for the way home.

"If you sweat going home, there's a shower waiting for you and a change of clothes so it's not really an issue."

He said it can be a difficult transition at first.

"People use their cars as a little rolling warehouse where they can keep all their stuff," he said. "It took me a while to figure out what stuff to leave at the office and what to carry with me every day. It just takes a few weeks to learn."

He said he dresses fairly casual for work, so he bikes in his work clothes. He carries with him a lunch, water, his iPod, keys and clothes to mountain bike in over lunch.

He said some people choose to drive some days, and on those days bring all the changes of clothes and other supplies they'll need for the week.

Despite the challenges, he encouraged everyone to try to get around more by bike.

"Carson City is such a small city you can get anywhere almost as quickly on a bike as in a car," he said. "You build the community you want to live in."

••••

Bike movie and two-mile challenge coming to Carson

One of the events Jeff Moser is promoting on his Web site is the Clif Bar 2-Mile Challenge.

Representatives of Clif Bar will be at the Carson City Community Center at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 13 to promote riding bikes within two miles of home.

The bus will be in the parking lot of the community center, and will be open until a cycling film begins at 7 p.m.

Proceeds from admission to the movie will go to Muscle Powered.

In a press release about the event, Clif Bar wrote:

"Did you know 40 percent of U.S. urban travel is two miles or less? Ride your bike to fight global warming. The biodiesel-powered Clif Bar 2MC bus will be onsite to help educate everyone on the benefits of riding your bike within two miles of your home or work to conduct errands versus driving. Those participating in the two- mile challenge will help all of us cut down on our carbon footprints. Be sure to stop by and check out the bus and for your chance to win some prizes. While you're here don't forget to grab your Clif Bar sample to fuel up with."

For more information

For more information visit: www.2milechallenge.com