VIDEO/PHOTOS: May 15 was “Bike to Work Day,” an annual event to promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. We met a firefighter who rides from Fountain Hills Fire Station #2 all the way to his home in Queen Creek, a 125-mile round trip.
By the time Andy Huxtable gets to work, he’s already gone 75 miles on his bike. “It does take me about four hours to get here, and I usually give myself about 30 minutes in case there’s a flat or a mechanical issue,” he said.
Andy’s day begins at 2 a.m. He slaps on the cycling shorts, and he’s off before the sun is even up. He takes the long way to work so he can not only see his favorite sites, but also stay physically fit and mentally sharp. “The physical part is much less than the mental part, really. It’s about the mental part and being able to continue to push,” he said. And this isn’t your average bike. It’s strong as steel and light as a feather.
Andy tracks his progress on the Strava app. Seventy-five miles on the way in, and then he trades his biking getup for fire gear, ready for an emergency call at any moment. “I’m at my max for being able to perform at work. I don’t do more than that in case we do get the fire or we get education or those type of physical demands. I’m still ready,” Andy said.
Andy admits most people think his commute is crazy, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. Oh, and he still needs to ride back home. “I need to work my whole life. I love it. It’s my time before work that I enjoy, and it gives me a chance to think about the day. I think about what’s going on in my life personally as well as professionally, and I love the time on the bike,” Andy said.
