Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night keeps Marshall cyclist from pedaling to 2 jobs

Daron Robertson of Marshall pedals home after work one day in October. The cyclist works two jobs and pedals to and from work every day and in all weather.
(Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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It may not seem like good bicycling weather, but if you think that has stopped Daron Robertson of Marshall from pedaling to and from work each day -- to two jobs -- think again.

Robertson has used a bicycle as his primary means of transportation for more than 20 years, and although extreme cold or sheets of ice might keep him off the road, not much else does.

Robertson travels between the home he shares with his wife of 15 years at Lake View Trailer Court and jobs at Cargill Meat Solutions and Arby's.

Daron Robertson heads for home after a shift at Arby's. The Marshall man has been pedaling to work for more than two decades.
(Eric Crump/Democrat-News)

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"I've pretty much been riding a bicycle back and forth to work since then -- most of the time to two jobs," he said. "Very seldom do I get a whole day off."

He estimates he routinely rides about seven or eight miles, taking approximately half an hour to get to each workplace, depending on the weather.

Co-workers sometimes marvel at his endurance.

"A lot of people say, 'You're a better man than I am,'" he said. "I just think it's no big deal."

And they marvel at his persistence in the face of winter weather.

"They ask me what I do in the winter time, and I say, 'Ride.' I just ride a little slower," he said.

Dealing with bad weather is mostly a matter of dressing appropriately, he said.

One co-worker once remarked that Robertson wouldn't have much need for a "Battle of the Bulge" program that some companies enact to help employees lose weight.

He stepped on a scale once at work and with steel-toed shoes, hard hat, ear muffs and all his tools, "I weighed 127. I imagine I weigh 120 or less."

But cycling keeps him fit and strong. He said he routinely lifts boxes that weigh more than half his weight.

"My back muscles are in good shape from riding," he said.

Co-workers may find his transportation habits unusual, but he said he has experienced no animosity from them or from motorists. In fact, even in Columbia, which enacted a law last summer protecting cyclists from aggressive motorists, Robertson said he has had very little trouble on the road.

The worst case was years ago in Columbia when someone hurled a water balloon at him. "And he missed," he said.

Cycling does have its hazards. Although he's had no mishaps since moving to Marshall, he did crash twice while in Columbia.

The first time, he hit something in the road.

"I don't know what it was, (but) I went down. I went down hard," he said. "I was going 20 to 30 miles an hour."

The second crash occurred while going down a street that had a no-parking zone.

"I had my head down to fight wind resistance. I wasn't used to vehicles being there. Bam, I hit this car," he said.

Only two ambulance rides in 20-plus years of riding. The secret, he said, is caution. He gives motor vehicles plenty of room and watches the road at all times.

Contact Eric Crump at marshalleditor@socket.net