Kimmyt
04-25-2007, 07:53 AM
For many people like me who aren't die-hard commuters, now is about the time where we finally get to get out there. Share tales from your commute!
~
Did my first commute yesterday. It was longer than usual. Last year I did a bit of commuting (1/week) and would drive into my boyfriend's work with him and then ride from there. The commute from where I live was a bit long for my tastes, not to mention the hills. By decreasing the mileage (and cutting out the big hills) I found it was easier to do it.
Yesterday I had no boyfriend. Well, he's in Colorado, so I had to do something or my commuting goals would get away from me. I'd like to ideally do it 2x a week, but I'll settle for 1.
I parked at the Rock gym, which is a few miles further away from work, but still situated on the trail that the first part of my commute is on. By parking at the rock gym it worked well because I planned on going there after work anyway, so this way my route took me directly to my car where I could keep my gear.
The morning was hot, considering how cold it was previously. I wore a pair of shorts (unpadded, that I could climb in later in the day) and a tank top with my light cycling windbreaker over top. On second thought I should have just used the tank top, because by the first few miles I was sweating.
I was using my Timbuk2 messenger bag which I'd used a few times last year, but for some reason it felt really heavy. I didn't have much in it, except I had brought my whole wallet instead of just a bit of cash and ID.
The ride itself went well. Got started by 6:15 and the first small hill warmed me up. There was hardly anyone on the trail, a few cyclists going in the other direction. My legs were still sore from the hill ride I'd done the night before.
The ride continued, and I felt SLOW. The bag was weighing me down, shifting slightly (I don't remember that problem before, but maybe it was also the fact that it was still early season and my skills were still being dusted off), my legs ached, and I was only 5 miles in!
I made it to the halfway point and still felt slow. The rest of the commute would be slower anyway, due to traffic and more hills. I felt comfortable going through the crowded section of town, and chugged up the neverending hill to work (followed by a slight flat and then THE HILL that leads up to my badge access point at work).
Showered and in work by 7:30 (I arrived at work at 7:00 so I made better time than I thought... approximately 14 mile ride)
I was starving like usual after the ride, but felt great and fresh and awake.
The afternoon ride home was hard too, with a gusty wind that kept trying to blow me over. I found that if I stayed on the drops my bag stayed in place better and I was less of a wind-block. A few people passed me, but I caught back up to one.
Managed to climb for a few hours afterwards, but was noticeably fatigued.
All in all, good start to the season! I'm looking forward to when my commute feels as easy as it did the end of last year!
K.
~
Did my first commute yesterday. It was longer than usual. Last year I did a bit of commuting (1/week) and would drive into my boyfriend's work with him and then ride from there. The commute from where I live was a bit long for my tastes, not to mention the hills. By decreasing the mileage (and cutting out the big hills) I found it was easier to do it.
Yesterday I had no boyfriend. Well, he's in Colorado, so I had to do something or my commuting goals would get away from me. I'd like to ideally do it 2x a week, but I'll settle for 1.
I parked at the Rock gym, which is a few miles further away from work, but still situated on the trail that the first part of my commute is on. By parking at the rock gym it worked well because I planned on going there after work anyway, so this way my route took me directly to my car where I could keep my gear.
The morning was hot, considering how cold it was previously. I wore a pair of shorts (unpadded, that I could climb in later in the day) and a tank top with my light cycling windbreaker over top. On second thought I should have just used the tank top, because by the first few miles I was sweating.
I was using my Timbuk2 messenger bag which I'd used a few times last year, but for some reason it felt really heavy. I didn't have much in it, except I had brought my whole wallet instead of just a bit of cash and ID.
The ride itself went well. Got started by 6:15 and the first small hill warmed me up. There was hardly anyone on the trail, a few cyclists going in the other direction. My legs were still sore from the hill ride I'd done the night before.
The ride continued, and I felt SLOW. The bag was weighing me down, shifting slightly (I don't remember that problem before, but maybe it was also the fact that it was still early season and my skills were still being dusted off), my legs ached, and I was only 5 miles in!
I made it to the halfway point and still felt slow. The rest of the commute would be slower anyway, due to traffic and more hills. I felt comfortable going through the crowded section of town, and chugged up the neverending hill to work (followed by a slight flat and then THE HILL that leads up to my badge access point at work).
Showered and in work by 7:30 (I arrived at work at 7:00 so I made better time than I thought... approximately 14 mile ride)
I was starving like usual after the ride, but felt great and fresh and awake.
The afternoon ride home was hard too, with a gusty wind that kept trying to blow me over. I found that if I stayed on the drops my bag stayed in place better and I was less of a wind-block. A few people passed me, but I caught back up to one.
Managed to climb for a few hours afterwards, but was noticeably fatigued.
All in all, good start to the season! I'm looking forward to when my commute feels as easy as it did the end of last year!
K.