Nepal trip motivates teacher to bike

Kirk Albertson has done his commute to work on two wheels this year.

The Sisters Elementary School teacher made a trip to Nepal last summer with Ten Friends co-founders Mark Lamont and Rand Runco. Albertson walked almost everywhere he went and told The Nugget that was his biggest motivator in challenging himself to bike or walk to school this year.

"I got used to not being in a car because we walked everywhere," said Albertson. "Since I live only two miles from school I thought it was ridiculous to drive my car two miles, let it sit all day and then drive two miles home."

Albertson challenged himself to see how many days out of the year he could either bike or walk to school.

Albertson had to prepare for the varied weather conditions he would encounter. He bought Gore-Tex pants and jacket, rubber boots, and put fenders on his bike for rainy days. He dug out his snow pants, down jacket, wool hat and ski goggles for snowy days and made sure all three of his bikes, a fender Schwinn, a mountain bike, and his road bike, were in peak condition.

Albertson uses his fender Schwinn for wet days, the mountain bike for dry or icy days and the road bike when he wants to get to school quickly.

"I also bought lots of lights. I look like a Christmas tree flashing and reflecting all over," he said. "I also have an obnoxious green helmet. I'm hard to miss, and that was the idea."

Kirk has ridden or walked to school all but three days, one day due to ice; one day he had to bring a large box to school and the third he had a meeting out of town with no time to go home.

"I've got the disposition that, when I challenge myself to do something I'm something of a knucklehead, so that come hell or high water I'm going to do it, sometimes to a fault," Albertson acknowledged.

Albertson told The Nugget when he and his colleagues have meetings at the high school in the morning he will race them back.

"I've tied with them and been close many times," said Albertson. "I'm always racing and very competitive with myself. I check the time when I leave and then I pedal like crazy."

As Albertson pedals to and from school, students and parents wave and honk in greeting as they drive by.

"The exhilarating part of it all are the gorgeous mornings and evenings riding past the Pine Meadow area and seeing the beautiful sunsets," said Albertson. "I get up at five and go to the club (Sisters Athletic Club) and work out and then bike to school. By the time I get there I'm charged and ready to go."

Albertson admitted he lucked out on the weather this past winter and knows he will face more challenges in the future, as he plans to continue the tradition he's established for himself.

"I know that I will eventually have to deal with heavy snow. I'm going to go until I run up against a metaphorical brick wall, and at that time the knucklehead will give in."