When do you ride?

[fallstoclimb]

I'm just entering my second season of cycling, and have recently purchased my first road bike. Last year my husband and I would basically just ride on a bike path or maybe a 10-miler close to our house once a week, and on the weekends would fit in progressively longer rides.

I'd like to become a stronger rider this season and I'm pretty sure the answer to that is to just ride more. My question: when do you do it? Living in a high-traffic suburb, it never really seems like a good idea to go out after work. We've found some nice low-traffic roads but we have to spend a little bit of time on busy no-shoulder roads to ride any of our routes in the area, and once my job starts up I won't get home until 5:30 -- seems a little late to drive out to the country. I'll have to leave for work at about 7:30 so going out before work doesn't seem like much of an option either. To be honest, this is the one thing I miss about running, and prefer about it over biking -- it's easy to fit in a run, and traffic is not really an issue.

So what do you all do?

[Crankin]

Ah, you have to make an effort to fit riding into your life and schedule it, just like anything else. It is a bit more effort than going out for a run.
Right now, I am riding 2 days a week before work. I go out between 5:15 and 6 AM and ride anywhere between 10 and 20 miles. I used to have to be at work at 7:30, also, and I still did this, especially when the sun comes up so early. You just have to be organized. Get the bike ready the night before, lay out both bike and work clothes, and get everything ready for work. Then you can ride, come home, shower, eat, and go. I also bought a light, and rode in the early AM through the fall. I am on a different type of schedule now, as i used to get home from work as early as 3:30 and also rode then.
Maybe you should allow yourself to feel more comfortable riding on the higher traffic roads. None of the roads I ride on have a shoulder. They are narrow, country/suburban roads. Or, put your bike in the car, bring your bike clothes, change at work, and drive to the place where you want your ride to start right from work. I did this for awhile after I moved and I preferred riding around my work area rather than my house.

[indysteel]

When I first started riding, I lived in a downtown urban area, so I quickly learned to ride on higher volume roads. I figured out some decent routes eventually hooked up with other riders so that I at least had some strength in numbers. I also used to drive to somewhat more rural areas for weekday evening rides. I would try to leave straight from work so I at least could go straight there. Despite the drive itself being a PITA, the rides themselves were nice.

I live in a more rural area where it's easier and safer to ride straight from home after work, but still, I prefer to run after work. I can get in a good workout in less time and with less hassle.

[Trek-chick]

I just bought a road bike and also live in very high traffic areas:( It is a PITA but I'll drive 6 miles to the local state park (lots of cyclist go here--pacelines galore) and ride there unitl I get more comfortable on the regular roads. I like the park because the road speed is only 35 mph and cars are used to the many cyclists that frequent the park.

I'm sure it will get old soon enough but, for now I am happy with this option. I also, commute to work on my touring bike to get extra miles in. I have to take some gravel paths to get there so, the road bike is not an option for that.

I like the idea of early morning riding since, the traffic is at lower level, at that time, where I live.

[Miranda]

Something that might help you find a better route is looking for a bike club and/or lbs with organized rides.

Even if it doesn't fit into your schedule to ride with the group, you can obtain a copy of the route map. The routes that are chosen by the groups typically take into consideration the traffic, road quality, etc with cycling in mind.

One of our local bike clubs I belong to has their maps posted on line in their web site. Before I ever began riding with the group, I used those maps to help find a more suitable route.

As posted, you may hafta drive somewhere to start your route. Many group rides start from local schools where the parking lot is free in the evening with class not in session to park.

[tulip]

The absolute best way to fit cycling into your lifestyle is to commute to work on a bike. It may take some figuring out to get some good routes worked out, or perhaps a class on safe cycling to get comfortable. There are almost always alternate routes than the ones we drive on--routes that are much more pleasant on a bike. My outer limit for commuting is 15 miles each way; everyone has their limit.

The big plus is that you don't have to sit in traffic in your car, your costs are reduced, you are energized the whole day, and you actually enjoy your commute! Most people complain about their car commutes, but most bike commuters rave about their bike commutes.

[redrhodie]

+1 to everything tulip said.

My commute is my favorite part of going to work. I'm a better worker, happier, and more energized than when I drive. The saving in gas is a bonus, too. If you can't do the whole distance, either because of time, or route issues, you can drive part way. I drive to a commuter lot, and ride from there. It works out great.

[ny biker]

I ride after work by bringing my bike to the office in my car. (Sorry guys, I just don't want to commute by bike...) There's a trail across from my office but it's very crowded, so I usually only use it for a couple of miles to get to some quiet neighborhoods. By borrowing cue sheets from a local club and modifying them to minimize high-traffic roads, I can ride for > 20 miles with few problems. And I focus on hills to make the most of a shorter workout.

You might want to look into the Baltimore Bike Club -- they might have some rides that aren't too far from where you live. Also try http://www.bikewashington.org. They have a yahoo group; I haven't been on it in a while but there might be folks there who know your area and can suggest good cycling routes.

[sazza]

I usualy ride early evening go out at 6.30pm and come back at 8.30pm its not getting dark till a lot later now which is good and when I finish from college plan to go out a lot more. I do prefer morning rides.

[nscrbug]

All of my riding is done in the morning. I basically ride on Sat, Sun, & Mon. On the weekend mornings, we are on the road early...right now we start around 6:30am, but by mid-June that will gradually turn into 5:30. One of our "rules" is that we like to be home by noon. Most of the time, we are...but on a few occasions (like if we decide to do a 100-miler) we run a bit later. On Mondays, I hit the gym at 5:45am to do an hour of cardio and some weights and then I'm usually out by 7:30 or so...I race home to change into cycling gear and generally get in anywhere between 40-60 miles...again, home by noon.

Sometimes, I will ride during the week if I have a day off from work, or I might shorten my gym workout in the morning in order to squeeze in a quick 25-30 miles before I go to work.

I would love to commute to work (only a 3 mile trip), but I currently work evenings and don't get out until after 9:30pm...and my night vision is not very good at all, so I avoid riding at night.

Linda

[sfa]

I was going to say "I'm fortunate to live in an area where the roads are pretty good and the drivers are pretty considerate" and then I saw that I live in your area! It's really not that bad out there--I'd probably stay away from 175 and 108 during rush hour, but side roads are fine and usually I can plan routes that avoid the worst roads. The Columbia Gateway Drive loop is popular for easy training rides, and there's no traffic there in the evenings (except bikes--the Mid-Maryland tri club does bike-run-bike bricks there one or two evenings a week in the summer). You can also drive to the start of your ride--15 minutes or so of bypassing the worst traffic can get you to some great rides--one of my favorite post-work rides goes through the state park and loops around the hills around it. The only real traffic is on Frederick and you can skip that with the trolley trail (although that slows you down--I prefer to stay on the road, which has a nice shoulder).

I'm not riding much these days because my husband recently took a job with a long commute, so now I can't commute by bike anymore (which requires me to leave the house before the kids leave for school) and he gets home when it's starting to get dark, but in the past I have commuted to work by bike, and I've regularly headed out for rides when I've gotten home from work. In the summer you can get in two or three hours between getting home and sunset, and traffic dies way down after 6 p.m. I also occasionally bring my bike to work and ride for an hour during my lunch break. Commuting really is the best option, though, since it doesn't add that much time to your day--my commute by car is 30 minutes, but by bike it's 60, so that's just a half hour added to my day at the start and finish.

Sarah

[Trek-chick]

I would love to commute to work (only a 3 mile trip
Linda

I need a new job!!!...my commute is 17 miles one way:eek: but, I do go out of my way a bit to hit the local MUP.

[indysteel]

I need a new job!!!...my commute is 17 miles one way:eek: but, I do go out of my way a bit to hit the local MUP.

Me too. Mine is 25 miles one way. That's just more than I'd want to do, plus there's no safe route. :( They're talking about putting bike lanes on the major north-south highway (U.S. 31), but there is NO way in heck that I'd ride my bike along there. It's bad enough in a car.

[Roadtrip]

Ah, you have to make an effort...
Right now, I am riding 2 days a week before work. I go out between 5:15 and 6 AM and ride anywhere between 10 and 20 miles.

Catrin, you've inspired me to give the mornings a shot, just have to make myself go to bed before Midnight! DH is buying a new light for his bike and were going to give it a shot! We both are nervous about riding the road, so perhaps AM rides will help us feel more at ease with that too.

Shannon

[fallstoclimb]

Wow, thanks for all the responses! Unfortunately I don't think commuting by bike will be an option...It's 23-ish miles each way, and for those of you familiar with MD, I'll be commuting from Laurel to Rockville. The DC exurbs are clogged with traffic.

Part of my problem is that I really do just need to get more comfortable around traffic. I'm still new with all this and get rattled when a van gives me a foot clearance at 40 mph. Apparently I also need to get to know my own area more! Sarah -- I just looked up Columbia Gateway Drive on a map, so people just circle through that that as a training ride? Also, if you don't mind sharing details I'd love to know what your favorite post-work route is (I assume its through Patuxent State Park?). We're more in Laurel than Columbia, but of course we could drive for 15 minutes to get to real Columbia for the start of our post-work rides.

[Catrin]

I actually MOVED to a location where I can ride to my country roads, and go in later most days of the week to the office. I am going to try Crankin's example of riding before work - but we don't get much early light due to being at the extreme western edge of the Eastern time zone. If that doesn't work for me will continue to focus riding after work - I get off at 6pm and can be on the bike by 7pm.

My goal this year is to ride 4 days a week, and to force myself to go hiking/fitness walking once a week :)

[Crankin]

Roadtrip, mornings are a perfect time to get used to the roads. You can also scout out new routes. People are also generally more polite than when they are coming home!
I also was going to mention commuting, but 23 miles is a long one way commute. I commuted 2 days a week, when I was teaching, probably for 8-10 weeks of the year. That was before I had a light for my bike. My first commute was 6.7 miles, a perfect distance to get used to it, on beautiful country roads. Then I moved and it became 13.9 miles, with more suburban type traffic plus country roads. At first, I drove to a lot about 8 miles away and rode from there, until I got up the nerve to make it through one particular intersection. Hey, at 6 AM, there was no one there, anyway. I did a lot of route scouting in the car, and the way I ended up riding seemed counter intuitive, i.e. that it would be longer. But the first day I commuted from my house I live in now, my ride in was 17.5 miles, up 3 hills, and I did not want to do that every time. I now use my old commuting route to quickly get out to the more rural areas west of here.

[emily_in_nc]

I'm lucky. Our neighborhood hooks in with several other neighborhoods, and most of the roads are very decent for cycling. Some have bike lanes, there's a bike path, and even the roads without bike lanes tend to be wide and fairly quiet, though they are busiest right in the 5-6pm timeframe, naturally. I can ride miles and miles without ever having to get onto a very busy road. This time of year, weather permitting, I ride both weekend days and at least 2x during the week after work right out of our apartment, don't have to drive to ride. I also work at home on Mondays so can often get out for a lunchtime errand or recreational ride.

I used to live much further from work so basically was limited to weekend rides or driving to a park after work to ride one other day a week, since I didn't get home in time to head out for a ride after work. I like this much better! Unfortunately even though I'm only 11 miles from work now (used to be 29 one way), when I tried to map out a commute route, to avoid super busy roads with no shoulders during the commute would almost double the mileage. That's just too long a day for me.

[trista]

I bought lights so I could ride in the mornings before the sun comes up. I like to ride 15-20 miles in the mornings. I don't like to ride in complete darkness, but predawn isn't too bad, plus traffic is light at that time of day. I try to time it so the sun comes up about halfway into my ride... it's inspiring. But this routine only works when we are having longer days. In fall, winter, and spring, IF I ride outside, it has to be during my lunch hour.

I have a helmet lamp and two lamps on my handlebars - one for light and one for blinking, plus a couple tail lights. I sewed reflecting strips on my jerseys and put extra reflector stickers on my frame :)

[owlice]

When I ride:
- in the late afternoon; I take my bike with me to work and ride before coming home
- in the later afternoon, after I've gotten home from work
- in the evening, both before and after the sun has set; I have lights on my bike (boy, do I ever!) for a reason!

I like riding in the evening/in the dark. It's peaceful and I have most of the trail to myself.

I see that the loop in Columbia has come up. Perhaps 24 Hours of Booty (http://www.24hoursofbooty.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ride_columbia) is in your future? If you need a team to join, let me know! :)

[sfa]

Wow, thanks for all the responses! Unfortunately I don't think commuting by bike will be an option...It's 23-ish miles each way, and for those of you familiar with MD, I'll be commuting from Laurel to Rockville.

Pity they didn't include the planned bike path along the ICC! But yeah, I wouldn't want to do that commute by bike either. Or by car, for that matter. That's the other side of Columbia for me--I live in Catonsville and commute to "downtown" Columbia, so I'm more familiar with the roads north and west of you.



Part of my problem is that I really do just need to get more comfortable around traffic. I'm still new with all this and get rattled when a van gives me a foot clearance at 40 mph. Apparently I also need to get to know my own area more! Sarah -- I just looked up Columbia Gateway Drive on a map, so people just circle through that that as a training ride? Also, if you don't mind sharing details I'd love to know what your favorite post-work route is (I assume its through Patuxent State Park?). We're more in Laurel than Columbia, but of course we could drive for 15 minutes to get to real Columbia for the start of our post-work rides.

Getting comfortable around traffic is a big part of increasing when and where you can ride, and really the only way to get used to it is to just do it. If you haven't yet done so, read some of the threads about how to handle traffic and ways of making yourself more visible.

The Columbia Gateway loop is precisely as boring as it looks--two miles around with only a slight change in elevation, but it is wide and largely traffic free in the evenings and on weekends. I'd imagine that there are other business parks with loops that would serve the same purpose. I go to a college campus near my house for this kind of riding (although not evenings--it's empty in the summer and on weekends), when I just want to knock out some miles without having to think too much. If you don't mind driving a bit, the BWI ten mile loop and connector to the Baltimore Annapolis trail are good for covering distance without worrying much about traffic.

I ride through Patapsco State Park, which is well out of your way from Laurel but there are some good rides through it mapped on Bikely or MapMyRide if you ever make the trip. Patuxent Wildlife Refuge is closer to you and I've heard there are good rides there.

[indysteel]

It might to late to sign up or to fit into your schedule, but there's a League of American Bicyclists Traffic Skills 101 class being taught this weekend in Rockville. If you can't make this one, you might keep an eye on future events in your area.

https://members.bikeleague.org

[ny biker]

Depending on where you work in Rockville, you might be able to ride on the Rock Creek trail after or before work, if you bring your bike with you. The northern end of the trail is at Lake Needwood.

http://www.bikewashington.org/trails/rockcreek/md.htm