Eugene Spiegel gets a kick - or is that a kickstand? - out of commuting on his bicycle to downtown and to do his shopping. He sometimes drives the family's Volvo wagon, but mainly to haul big items. Otherwise, he straps on cloth bags to carry his things. Spiegel says he misses about 20 days a year riding - rain, shine or cold weather. The Enquirer/ERNEST COLEMAN Tell us what you are driving Tempo/What Are You Driving? The Cincinnati Enquirer 312 Elm St. Cincinnati 45202 Fax: 768-8495 E-mail: lbishop@enquirer.com

It's not a car that Eugene Spiegel drives every day.

Rain or shine, Spiegel rides a bicycle between his home in Winton Place and his business, Reliable Jewelry and Loan on Court Street, downtown.

"Nearly all my commuting back and forth to work and shopping is on bicycle," said Spiegel, 54. "The weather is not a factor unless it is extreme wet or cold and I miss only about 20 days a year."

Rarely will Spiegel be spotted in the family's Volvo wagon, which he only uses to haul something big. Usually when he goes shopping, he attaches two or four panniers, or cloth bags, to his bike and sometimes wears a backpack.

When not commuting to work, Spiegel joins his wife, Mary Jo, their 5-year-old son, Gus, and their 8-year-old daughter, Sophia, on bike rides in Winton Woods, or on the weekends in Indian Hill or Route 8 in Northern Kentucky.

Spiegel's favorite bike is his 20-speed racer hand-built in 1988 by J.F. Skrivan of Salt Lake City. Spiegel rebuilt the bike last October.

He also owns a 1976 R75/6 BMW motorcycle, which he rebuilt, and he fashioned a metal frame and shelf for the back. Every Tuesday evening he breaks down his racing bike, attaches it to the frame/shelf, and takes off for the Queen City Wheels-sponsored time trials races in Cleves and North Bend.

"It's amateur racing, and it's a delight. Not cutthroat. You just have to enjoy the sport. You don't have to be great and you don't have to win," said Spiegel.

Spiegel also participates in amateur racing at other venues within about a 100-mile radius of Cincinnati. Photography is one of his hobbies, and he likes to take his camera on rides and to the races.

"One of the great things about cycling, besides meeting my wife, is that people are so friendly and nice. There's a huge cycling community in Cincinnati," said Spiegel.

And how did he meet his wife?

"I was a bike club leader, and she came to one of the meetings," said Spiegel.

Spiegel said there are other benefits to bike riding.

"The health benefits, the release of everyday stress through exercise as well as the pride of arriving under my own power have made this a lifestyle choice. An additional perk is being able to park almost anywhere downtown and for free."

Karen Andrew