Freedom

This past month was the hottest July on record in DC, the warmest in 140 years of record-keeping. Yet, following a trend that's been noticeable all year, the streets had a steady stream of people on bikes. Six months ago I grabbed a video camera and interviewed cyclists who were out in snow and sleet; so this month I filmed their hot-weather counterparts.

If you ask these riders why they do it, they first talk about practical reasons - convenience, environment, fitness, speed. But if I listen a bit longer I notice one word keeps cropping up: "Freedom."