What a weird year, or has it been two? I know a lot of people have done two things to avoid burnout in 2020-2021: buy a bike and adopt a puppy. As someone who was saved by a stray dog, I thought my story might be important for everyone right now. But first, a little background on me.

My name is Chris and when I am not riding a bike, you can find me defending the public at the Colorado Springs Public Defender Office. I also teach yoga, rescue farm animals as a board member of Iowa Farm Sanctuary, and enjoy spending as much time as possible outdoors. My life is fairly busy and I squeeze a whole lot into very small periods of time. So where do bikes and dogs fit into my busy life? Well it all began on a warm day in August, four short years ago.

On August 8, 2017, I planned on meeting Crystal and Nick Kovacs for a short bike ride. In 2017, I had an unexpected spinal surgery due to a bike crash and I had just been cleared by my spine surgeon to resume my regular life. I was ecstatic to get back on a bike! We planned to meet on the Heritage Trail in Farley, Iowa. We also planned to follow up our get together with some vegan pizza at Junction 21. On August 8, 2017 my plans changed instantly when a stray dog came wandering out of the woods. The dog was alone, covered in ticks, and full of wounds. He panted so hard for those first few days that I worried about his heart. We called the local police chief to see what we should do. When she arrived, she asked if I could take the dog in for a short time while we searched for his home.

I drove him home and realized that I had nothing for a dog. Luckily, our bike friends Hannah Krieger Ney and Scout (@sheepdogscout), drove here in the middle of the night to help me. They brought a crate, some food, and some puppy supplies. They stayed for a few days to make sure we were okay! The next morning, we got the dog to the vet. The vet turned his wounds into scars, cleaned him up, and he was given medicine for his ailments. The dog began to heal. The next day I got a big crate from my co-worker and the friend who introduced me to ultra-cycling, Tom. With the crate, I could finally leave the stray alone, and he finally got to sleep in my room!

Over the next few weeks, we hunted for the dog’s home. We made calls, we posted to social media, we swung by the Humane Society, we exhausted all of our resources trying to find the story where this dog came from. Meanwhile, we went on walks and we began to bond. The dog came to trust me, and met my parents Nan and Jerry. A few weeks went by without us hearing anything and we realized this dog must have been a stray. So one morning after one of our many walks, I took the dog out to the backyard and told him that I wanted him to stay with me forever. We used the Internet and collectively named the dog “Farley.” He was not a stray anymore. He found his home.

I knew it wouldn’t be easy to introduce a stray dog into my life. I knew I would have to sacrifice some of the bachelor lifestyle that I’ve enjoyed for so long. I knew that I would have to sacrifice some of the long races I had done in the past, as I could not just leave a dog for multi-day events. I knew that we needed each other though. I knew he would bring me love.

As the years have past, I have slowly introduced Farley to cycling. He loves to mountain bike so we try and find trails that are off-leash dog-friendly. He also loves to run in the snow with me while I fat bike, even doing a loop of the Leadville Colorado Fat Bike trails in 2021. I am careful about the temperatures and make sure to bring him lots of water for hydration. I also do not take him on popular trails or places where it would not be appropriate to bike with a dog on or off leash. A lot more preparation goes into even short rides, but it is totally worth it.

In the last two years, we have been faced with incredible stress. I would be lying if I said that there have not been times were I have been faced with immense feelings of burnout. What has saved me is bikes and a stray dog named Farley. What has saved me is remembering the joy of cycling. The joy for me is found when I see how much fun Farley is having next to me when we ride. The joy is contagious. We do not have to go far, we just have to get out there. If you are feeling low in these incredibly difficult times, what if you tried something simple like just riding your bike? Maybe with a friend? Maybe without your devices? Maybe without keeping track of speed or distance? Who knows, maybe you too will stumble upon a stray dog that will change your life!

Ride on,

Christopher Welch, @thegraveldefender and Farley, @goodboyfarley.

Trying to figure out how to leave your car in the garage more often and spend less time behind the wheel? The answer might just be a cargo bike.

Cargo bikes have been around since the early 20th century and were originally used by tradesmen to deliver goods before the invention of the automobile. Nowadays, they are extremely popular in Europe and Asia and are used for both recreational and business purposes: taking kids to school, transporting groceries, family bike rides, and for delivering mail and packages.

Using cargo bikes can cut down on noise and air pollution. They can be quicker than using cars or delivery vans. Finding parking is also not as difficult in the city. Of course, there is also the health benefit to riding a bike. It is a great way to get in shape!

Despite their practicality, cargo bikes are less frequently used in North America, although they are slowly starting to catch on in the United States.

UPS, which started in Seattle in 1907 as a bicycle messenger company, announced last year that it would start using electric cargo bicycles to deliver packages in Pike Place Market and downtown Seattle in order to reduce congestion.

Denverite Melissa Colonno is a huge fan of cargo bikes and bought hers in October 2017. While living in Seattle from 2008-2012, Melissa and her husband biked a lot and remember seeing several longtail cargo bikes. Around the time their first child arrived in 2012, Melissa started seeing Madsen (a US brand) “bucket bikes” on social media and immediately wanted one.

As her family grew, Melissa tried out various ways to transport her children.

“When our first child was around one year old, we bought a Yepp bike seat to bike with her around Denver. This worked well. Then, when we were about to have our second child, we bought a Chariot stroller that could also be a bike trailer. We used this frequently to bike with our two kids.” Melissa has always been intrigued by cargo bikes and once she was pregnant with her third child, she became even more resolved to get one!

When it came time to buy a cargo bike, Melissa and her husband did more research and decided they wanted a tricycle with the cargo box in the front.

She wanted to feel very stable while riding and stopping and wanted to be able to see her kids without having to turn around.
Melissa ordered a Nihola 4.0 with a BionX e-assist from a bike shop in Sacramento, California called from Practical Cycles. They import Niholas from Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Nihola is unique among trikes in that the steering is independent of the cargo, meaning that you do not have to move the weight of the cargo to steer; Melissa adds that is not difficult to ride or steer. It maneuvers very much like a “regular” bike. However, it might not have quite the same speed and maneuverability as an inline (two wheeled) cargo bike. People who are used to high-speed road bikes may prefer an inline cargo bike to a trike. Since her cargo bike has an electric assist, she can go plenty fast if necessary, but usually she goes slower to stay safe and enjoy the ride.

The Nihola 4.0 has two bench seats which easily fit four children. The maximum load of the cargo box is 265 pounds. There are two Y-harnesses and a lap belt. Both benches are removable, so they currently have one bench removed so that their youngest can sit in a car seat for extra support.

Why choose a cargo bike over a trailer? Melissa says that a trailer worked well enough for transporting her kids. However, a cargo bike is far superior in her opinion. The bike is always ready to go since you do not have to deal with hooking the trailer to the bike. In a cargo bike, the kids are closer to the rider, and usually have a better view of the things around them, which makes the riding experience more enjoyable. Also, trailers get very heavy to pull as the weight of your children increases.

Owning a cargo bike has dramatically affected her car use. She is driving significantly less since purchasing her cargo bike. Her goal is to bike anywhere within a three-mile radius unless the roads are too icy, or there is another safety concern. Since Melissa and her family live near downtown Denver, they can get to many things by bike!

Melissa uses her cargo bike regularly to transport her two oldest kids to and from school, but they use it for many other purposes, too! She frequently uses the cargo bike to run errands; it fits all her family’s groceries! She uses the bike anytime they go somewhere that is just a bit too far to walk. If Melissa and her husband are going to the park for a picnic, they will take the cargo bike, so they can transport their food and lawn chairs. Basically, they use it for carrying all kinds of cargo!

She’s often amazed that biking to places does not take that much longer than driving, and you rarely have to worry about parking! Most importantly, biking makes for a much more enjoyable journey.

Generally, people are really excited when they see the cargo bike according to Melissa. They get a lot of stares and some comments; almost always positive. People often say things like “nice set-up!” or “can I get a ride?” Occasionally, people will ask more specifics about where they got it or what the brand is. Melissa tries to “sell” one to everyone who is interested!

In her opinion, so many people would benefit from replacing some of their driving with biking. “Getting outside and being physical has such a positive impact on your quality of life. We live in such a car-centric society, but it hasn’t always been that way and it isn’t in many parts of the world. People sometimes question the safety of my bike set up, but I’m quick to point out that driving is not without risks.”

If you are interested in buying a cargo bike, you should definitely do your research. There are many websites, Facebook groups, and bike shops that can provide advice. Depending on how you plan to use your bike and what type of cargo you want to carry, there are many options from utility bikes to cargo tricycles to electric cargo bikes. New bikes are coming out all the time, so there is definitely a good option for everyone. A cargo bike is a financial investment; but much cheaper than a car!

Melissa Colonno is the author of DELIBERATE.LESS. She provides day-to-day tips on reducing household waste and creating a life that strives to be less hectic. Melissa is passionate about decreasing her family’s waste and environmental footprint by making informed and intentional choices. Melissa holds educational sessions about reducing household waste to individuals, school groups, and professionals.