Ernesto The Biker
Recently we got an email from a reader who described himself as a nutcase and suggested we write about him. How could we pass that up? Below is a short interview with Ernesto The Biker.
You describe yourself as “that nutcase that rides his bike to work at 5:45 am from Oconomowoc to Sussex…and back” can you elaborate on that a bit…?
Sure, we only own one car, and Sarah (wife) needs it more than me since she works in Wauwatosa. Me, being the bike freak that I am, I much rather ride. Kill two birds with one stone that way: I get where I am going, and I exercise in my commute.
Do you not own a car?
Yes, a Jeep Liberty. Does what it does for our small family. Sarah only works in Tosa three times a week, then the other two days and on weekends, the Jeep stays put on the driveway. Saves gas and car maintenance. Simplicity is key when one already own a lot of bikes.
Do you prefer to bike for environmental reasons? As a protest against high gas prices? Are you an athlete?
Yes, yes, and yes.
I see the single driver, one car…one car made on the average for five people. it is a waste if you ask me. Being raised in Latin America, cars are more of a luxury than a necessity. Our lack of descent public transportation forces one to think indiscriminantly about not seeking other options. Me, as a bike freak, opt to use what I already have, knowledge of bikes, and the drive to get up at the crack of dawn to ride the bike to Sussex.
I see gas prices go up and down when I ride. There’s the gas station on HWY K in North Lake. I glance at the price and shrug. There’s nothing we can really do. Even if there’s a “drive out” for a day, the oil companies won’t budge. Supply and demand dictates price. We demand, they supply, and the gas goes up. There’s too many humans on earth, and eventually, when we hit oil shortages, I hope people opt to ride their dusty bikes…or bring back the horse and carriage.
As for being an athlete, I do an event here and there. I stopped riding in mountain bike races last year. After racing since 1993, I saw no glory and no bragging rights among my peers. I’m in my 30’s now, and I much rather save the money that I would otherwise spend on a bike race (travel, lodging, food, etc…it all adds up).
I’ve qualified for the IronMan triathlon twice, that’s when I was racing triathlons very seriously in the 90’s, then I switched to mountain bike racing, then to 24 hour mountain bike racing (only moment of glory on that was winning the 2004 race in Wausau).
My focus this year is to ride for fun other than riding for transportation. I am going to do two triathlons back to back in July, but other than that, I much rather just relax. I ride all the time, and I really don’t want to race and travel far anymore. Sometimes, I do feel old. Being on the saddle makes me feel better though.
How long have you been doing this?
I’ve been commuting to and from work since 1996. I’ve lived in several cities in the US, and most often than not, I’ve commuted to work on my bike.
Do you live in Oconomowoc and work in Sussex?
Live in Oconomowoc, yes, and work in Sussex for a very cool company that accepts the fact that I ride all the time. I inspire people to get out and ride.
What route do you take?
It varies. In the morning, I always take 64 up to HWY K and head east. Some times I mix it up and even go as far as Holy Hill to make the ride longer.
How do you handle the rain, snow, heat?
Proper gear in snow and rain, that’s the way to describe it. I rode when we had sub-zero temps, and I would get to work all sweaty. Why? proper layers. its all about proper gear and being comfortable. I do wear a mask when it dips to the single digits since my lungs can only take in so much cold air.
How long does the ride take?
On the average, it takes me one hour to get from Oconomowoc to Sussex. I’ve gotten flats here and there, prolonging the ride, but what the heck, its part of riding.
How many miles is it?
From my front door to work, 17 miles.
Do you know anyone else who rides long distances daily like you do?
I have a friend in town who just got into riding and is doing long distance races. This summer we’re riding from Oconomowoc to Gleason, WI. Should take us two days.
Any crazy stories about riding, or anything else you’d like to share?
When I lived in California, the 1st week there, I went out for a ride. Some guy in a truck threw a beer bottle at me. I ducked and they missed. The week we were to move back to Wisconsin, same thing happened. It was like the welcoming committee or something. Also, when I commuted from Hartland to Milwaukee’s 3rd Ward, I’d get yelled at by impatient drivers. I follow traffic rules on the road when I am on a bike, but a lot of drivers don’t, so with their impatience, I’d get honked at, yelled at, etc.
Thanks for answering all the questions Ernesto!
If you know of any interesting people in Oconomowoc, let us know…
May 18th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Commuting to work has so many benifits. I can’t see why more people don’t do it. My days are unvariably better when I ride rather than drive. I feel better, have more energy, and, in general, am in a better mood.