Instead of a little Irish luck... a getting out the door checklist

Fun fact, just because my last name– Oshinsky– has an “O” followed by an “S” doesn’t mean that I’m Irish. 

I’m very very very much so not Irish, but….

🍀 I’ll take the luck of the Irish any day of the week. 

And I do get a little Leprechaun laugh (actually, what do Leprechaun’s laugh like??) when people (read– primarily my mother) spell my name with this unnecessary punctuation! 

Anywho, in high school, we’d sing this Irish blessing at the end of every chorus concert: 

May the road rise to meet you

May the wind be always at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face

Beautiful blessing!

Alas, a blessing is a blessing.

🪨 The rock in the road my rise a little too far into your tires to meet you and pinch and go flat.

🌬️ The wind may be jet streaming straight into your trail.

🥶 And it may be exceptionally nippy out. 

So in the words of Oprah, “Luck is preparation meeting the moment of opportunity,” I veer on the side of preparation when I head out for a ride (side note, I wonder if someone has had too many Guinnesses mistakenly written to Oprah as O’prah.). 

In preparation for the upcoming City Cyclist Community Clinic Spring 2025 Series (The class has filled and is now on a waitlist! Want to join? Apply here and we’ll accommodate you if space opens), I’ve been hearing from the folks who’ve signed up, saying they’d really love to know what to bring on a ride in case of an emergency…

I don’t always do this, but it’s St. Patty’s Day and I believe in sharing the luck. 

Want to have my personal “Getting out the door to ride Checklist”??

Now, you might wonder, do you need a checklist to remind you to review this checklist?

Huzzah! Nope, I review this checklist meticulously before I leave my house because I put it inside my closet door where I store my bike helmet.

And you won’t find me on a bike without a helmet, so I review the checklist, instead of exiting my apartment and five minutes later realizing that I forgot my bike lights. 

Biking has a lot less schlep and gear than skiing, but my dear, this checklist has been a life saver, so I am on the trail with all the necessary bike goodies to keep me safe!

Just reply back to this email and I’ll be glad to share this checklist with you!

Wheels up, 

Ellen 

PS- We are gearing up for a retreat in 2025 and are looking to gather at a campground in the Harpers Ferry area for a weekend of outdoor adventure, rest, reflection and building community with rad women and non-binary folks. 

In order to plan a great weekend, we'd love your input!  Could you take 3 minutes to share your input so we can plan a great retreat for you and the community? Thanks so much!