My First Bike Commute! (and I didn't die!)

[CycleChic06]

So proud of myself this morning. I biked into work for the first time ever! If anyone has ever drive in Boston/Cambridge you know how scary it is just to drive them, let alone bike. Well I just started a new job a few months ago and it's location wasn't good for taking public transportation (like I usually do) and the commute was KILLING me! Get this, it is 4 miles from door to door yet it would take me 30 min. to drive on a good day, 50-60 min. on a bad. Can you believe that? For FOUR miles?! It's just the city streets will all the lights can't handle all the traffic.

So this morning I got up, packed my bag, got dressed in my full biking gear (leg warmers and all - as it was chilly this morning), and hopped on my bike. I got to work in 18 min. And I averaged 12mph, while that might not sound that fast, I know it was faster than my average speed when I drive the same route.

Now I need to accomplish two things this afternoon.

1. Make it out the door of my building without any co-workers seeing me in my spandex
2. Figure out a good route home, because the way I came in will be even crazier with traffic than this morning.

Yea for me!

[sbctwin]

Yea!!! Good for you CycleChic06. I love my morning commute, not too happy with my afternoon commute because of the traffic, but it feels good to to get that "rush" in the morning from riding one's bike :D

[Jo-n-NY]

YEA for you is right!!!!!

I need to begin my commute soon. It will be only 3 miles I think. I am still trying to decide which bike to use. I have a couple of options in the garage.

To be honest I plan to wear my regular work clothes, however, for me it is just casual.

What kind of back to you use? I use a backpack type pocketbook now but I am not sure how that will work on my bike. I also carry a tote bag for my book & some other stuff (I take the LIRR).

Thanks for the post. You just gave me the push to start getting my act together this weekend so maybe I can begin my little commute next week. :)

~ JoAnn

[Crankin]

Great job, CycleChic. I didn't commute this morning, because it was 37 at 5:45 when I have to leave out in Concord. I couldn't face taking out my Ibex pants and Golight jacket in May, so I will ride this afternoon.

I can't imagine riding in Boston or Cambridge. I don't even drive there! Brookline is my limit. It sounds like your bike commute is much more pleasant than the drive.

[F8th637]

Wow! Congratulations!

I don't blame you for riding in versus driving but I know as with any urban area it can be quite hairy. Glad you made it safely!

I have found that on bike trails the distance is quite shorter than it would be to drive the same distance on main roads. I'm always so surprised at how not far things are on bike. :D

[Python]

It feels soooooooooooo good doesn't it:D

I started commuting to and from work last week and have enjoyed every journey so I know how you feel:D Gives you a great sense of satisfaction when you zip past the car drivers stuck in their traffic jams:D

[CycleChic06]

Yeah Robin, it wasn't much better when I left at 7:30, it was only 41, but even with such a short ride, I was sweating when I got to work. I'm really looking forward to this evening's ride, it's so beautiful out, almost 70, I think I'll take a long way home.

And I'm not sure if I'd call the ride pleasant. I'm riding the same streets I would drive on. With all the buses and construction and cars and potholes...not really a calm ride, but I'd rather be on my bike for 15 min. than in my car for 50!

JoAnn - I'm glad I have inspired you. This morning I carried a backpack with all my stuff in it so I can shower and change when i get here. I've thought about leaving things at work, like my towel and stuff, but then I'd have to come into my office in all my gear to get my stuff...and my coworkers don't need to see me in spandex. But carrying in a back pack seemed fine. Let me know when you decide to bike commute! Good Luck!

[gingergin]

Wow, good for you! I drive from Arlington to Boston 5 days a week and it can take me an hour to drive those 9 miles! But I'm too scared to ride in traffic so I only stick to the Minuteman - which also has lots of traffic, but nothing that involves a motor! I will continue to aspire to do what you are doing!

[Kimmyt]

I love it when my coworkers see me in spandex. I get a very proud strong feeling. Very good way to start/end a work day.

[Crankin]

I don't care who sees me in spandex. Tuesday, one of my students was coming out of an extra help session as I was getting ready to leave and he said,"Weren't you wearing a dress before?" They have a lot of questions about how my shoes work!

[SalsaMTB]

Congrats! It's refreshing, isn't it? I try to commute one day a week and it definitely makes my day nice. As for co-workers not seeing you in spandex...I have found two solutions...

1. Get in eary before everyone
2. Get a skirt!

I like number 2 (although, I shower at work when I commute so #1 works well for me). There are a few companies that make skirts for riding and I find they work well. I feel much less self-conscious walking in/out with a skirt on than just spandex. I seriously feel like these skirts were made for commuters or people running errands!

[HappyAnika]

Great job! I love commuting. I agree with SalsaMTB, I try to get to work before most people so I can take my bike up to my office, grab my bag of stuff that I brought the day before, then go shower. I don't mind the people I work with seeing me in my spandex, I ride with a lot of them. Its the people I don't know at the other end of the building where the showers are that make me feel self conscious. :rolleyes:

[CycleChic06]

Sigh, the ride home was almost better than the ride in this morning. Just let me tell you how great it felt to be cruising down the Esplanade on the bike path with the sun shining and the river sparkling and looking to my right and seeing the ridiculous line of traffic that I'd be sitting in. Oh, it just felt so good!

Ginger - 9 miles an hour! See, that's exactly what drove me to get on my bike. I was always so afriad of the ride too, but I realized this morning, it's not so bad! Try the ride an a weekend and see how it is.

Salsa - You know, I never really understood the bike skirt, but now I think I do. I guess a skirt would make me feel less self concious so I wouldn't have to run in and out of my building hoping no one sees me!

[F8th637]

Salsa - You know, I never really understood the bike skirt, but now I think I do. I guess a skirt would make me feel less self concious so I wouldn't have to run in and out of my building hoping no one sees me!

Haa haa, it just hit me too the benefits of having one. NOW I get it.

[MomOnBike]

I almost told you not to worry about letting your co-workers see you in spandex - but then I realized that I don't wear the tight stuff on the way out the door, either. Our patients don't need to see me in tight clothes. :eek:

A sarong tucked into the top of your shorts looks enough like a skirt to get you out to your bike, if your need more options than just a skirt.

Congrats on your time, BTW, you'll just get faster, and the cars will just keep sitting there. :D

MomOnBike
(who has cycled in Boston, and lived to tell about it)

[Duck on Wheels]

Good for you CC6!!! And brave in that traffic!
I finally did my commute today too. For me it's not faster than driving, but it's more fun. Multiuse trails and 2-lane sidewalks most of the way. No spandex to worry about either. It's only 2 miles each way, so I figure I can manage without the chamois etc. But it was cold for the season. Just 40F (4C), so I wore my Amici Veloci buff under my helmet, some light woolies under my clothes, and the glove liners DD forgot in the laundry here.
There were some complications at the outset. DH had washed all our bikes a week or so ago. Sweet of him! Then he locked them, just grabbing various locks from our collection. Turns out none of the keys on my keyring fit the lock he'd put on Ruby. In fact, one of them even broke in the lock :eek: . Luckily, I was able to pick the loose bit out of there, but now I have to find the spare of that key to unlock Big Red. :confused: Had to call DH at work and ask which key on our key rack fit the lock.
Then finally I could take off. Sorta. Noticed a strange click repeating and repeating. Sounded like it was coming from the front wheel. Stopped, lifted up the front of the bike and spun the wheel. Yep. A blip on the rim is hitting the left brake caliper. Not enough to trip me up, so I rode to work and home again, but next ride will have to be to the LBS to get it fixed.
What with the delays, I missed this morning's bike to work event (fresh fruit and a drawing for prizes) by 10 minutes. But the ride itself was prize enough.
Tomorrow I have to be dressed up for a PhD dissertation defense, and Monday/Tuesday the whole dept. is headed out to a hotel in the next county for a planning seminar. So next commute day will be Wednesday, including LBS stop on the way home. Looking forward to it already :)
Oh, and the asthma medicine works :D I made it up all the hills. Had to stop on top of the biggest one to let my HR drop, but I made it up without wheezing or coughing.