My First Commute

[mtbdarby]

Ok, I finally wait until it gets cold in WI to start communting, but I'm glad I bit the bullet. It's only 4 miles one way, and my first day was into a 20mph headwind. Ugh, I thought it would be a leisurely ride so I just wore my jeans and shirt but boy did I work up a sweat! My little guy wasn't too happy to have to ride in the trailer to daycare either but his little buddies thought it was pretty cool.

Does anyone else that has a short commute wear biking clothes or just work clothes? I hate to have to bring a change of clothes but maybe just a shirt would be ok. It definitely made me feel better about myself just getting that little bit of a ride in - much less sluglike, you know? My company is moving at the end of the year, so come spring it will be a 28 mile commute one way, which I'd like to do once or twice a week. The ride home will be directly west into the headwinds so it will be a killer workout!

Dar

[BIKEAWAY]

Wow I noticed you are from WI and I agree with you with the wind. My 12-14 mile workouts have been killer as the way back is always against the wind.
Are you going to commute all year?
I was just thinking of taking my bike rack off for the season..
You go Girl! I am in awe.. ;)

[CorsairMac]

I commute 6 miles 1 way and yes I wear full bikie gear. I want to be comfortable on the bike while riding and I can't even imagine jeans in the summer on a bike! :eek: There's a whole bunches of threads about commuting but simply: I leave a pair of jeans and shoes here and just carry a shirts, undies and my lunch. In the winter the pack can get heavy with sweaters et al, but I Love the ride! Plus by wearing full gear, if I decide to take a lunchtime ride of 10-20 miles, I can!

Congrats on your commute, it sure does make a difference in your day don't it!

[sydney_b]

It depends. Personally, I prefer to just wear street clothes, or mostly street clothes because then I don't have to haul so much stuff. I already have to carry a laptop and lunch.

I don't wear jeans, but over the summer and fall I found many of the North Face shirts with collars and crop pants to be both adequately dressy for work and sufficiently movement and weather friendly for cycling my 13 mile round trip.

That being said, I'm searching for winter garb along the same lines. The other day I wore black cotton tights under everyday pants to ride to work then changed from pants to skirt. The skirt packs small and the change is quick.

Other things that work for me: Extra pressed powder, mascara, lipstick, hair ties in zip-lock baggie kept in bike bag. I'm pressed for time enough that I don't have time to load my bag every morning. I also have a zip-lock with some unscented babywipes if I do get sweaty.

-------------------
My commute today included carrying my youngest's snare drum on my back to his school, then cutting across town for a workshop, then finally arriving downtown at my office. Homeward trip will include picking up a pair of rollerblades for one of the boys and fetching the drum home again.

:)

BTW, welcome to the commuting club. I love it. It gets my mind ready for work and then takes the edge off so I'm ready to deal with three boys and their homework by the time I get home.

[Deborajen]

Dar,

I commuted this morning. It's about 4 1/2 miles to work.

I prefer to wear jean shorts and a t-shirt or tank top. There are a few blocks of so-so neighborhood to ride through, (it's not really that bad, but I prefer to be cautious), and there is a halfway house a few buildings away from the office. I don't pass it, but there are a some registered sex offenders there. We've never had any problems at or around the office and I've worked here for nine years, but I don't want to come in wearing spandex mainly for that reason. I just bring in work clothes the day before a ride and allow some extra time to clean up and get changed. Usually I just take a quick spit bath at the sink and keep some afterbath spray to make sure there isn't any lingering aroma.

It's worked well so far, and it feels great just to enjoy the fresh air! :) (I sympathise about the wind. It's nice and light today, but a couple weeks ago I headed home into a 25 mph headwind - ugh! We get plenty of that in Kansas.)

Deb

[Trek420]

CorsairMac "yes I wear full bikie gear. I want to be comfortable on the bike while riding and I can't even imagine jeans in the summer on a bike! :eek:"

plus you look really cool doing it (it's better to look fast than be fast)
and you get glares from car commuters as if to say
"I'm stuck in this &^%$ traffic and you look like you're just haveing fun"
"we are, come out and join us"

[mtbdarby]

Bikeaway,
I don't know how long I'll commute. I actually drive to work and drop the munchkin off at dc. Then drive home for lunch, let the doggies out and ride back. Then I bike to dc to get the little guy on the way home. This time of year we can get a 20-30degree swing in temp from early morning to the day time temp so it's hard to dress the little one for that. I'd like to commute at least until the snow flies and maybe I'll add the first round trip as well, as I get better organized and the little guy gets used to the chariot ride!

Thanks for the dressing tips everyone. I HATE riding bike with my jeans on! I think I'm going to switch to sweats so I can move. I am also having problems with my fashionable wide leg jeans getting caught up on my cage :o Good thing I have my road id and a leg band!

And does anyone have a problem taking a "leisurely" commute? I keep finding myself trying to beat my last time - what a dork!

Dar

[BIKEAWAY]

I just noticed you are way up north in Merrill? I remember going to Tomahawk with my Harley in September for the open house and having to scrape the windshield for the way home on Sunday morning.
Now you are my hero
What a place to bike though..that is beautiful country there. It is on my list to bike next year. I am re-living all my Harley trips on a healthier lifestyle and transportation. It seems that all the great places I saw was on the harley and now I need to see closer on the bike.
Keep that little guy warm and let us know how it is going.
Okay maybe that Mountain Bay Trail ride is still possible huh...

[nuthatch]

And does anyone have a problem taking a "leisurely" commute? I keep finding myself trying to beat my last time - what a dork!

Dar

I did the "beat your time" thing all last year! Finally some of the advice around here at TE clued me in to the fact that I wasn't having fun...so I mounted my computer on my seatpost so I couldn't keep looking at it and it would count the rear tire miles when I had to switch to the trainer. Now my commutes are fun again (watching those geese "V" across the sky in the AM and jocund day stand tiptoe over the misty soccer fields) ;)

[CorsairMac]

plus you look really cool doing it (it's better to look fast than be fast)


well yeah - especially in my Team Amici Veloci kit. I think of it as my "sports car" outfit! ;)


I thought of you last night Dar on my commute home: it was pouring down rain and pretty miserable. All my bikie gear got wet BUT it kept me warm and once the rain stopped it dried out fairly quickly - cept my cotton socks. But I was thinking how even More miserable I'd be if I was in street clothes, Oh..and what do you do if your chain jumps on your way to work?......or goddess forbid you crash??......or get a flat?.....or, or, or.....yet another reason to wear bikie clothes - they hide the grease and if you crash and tear your clothes, it won't be your work clothes.
Just some thoughts while riding in the rain! lol

oh yeah - Note to Self: put zip off sleeves in pack for those "just in case" days! :rolleyes:

[Googlie Wooglie]

I have a very short commute ... just over a mile, and I ride my beach cruiser in my street clothes. Lucky, I know ... plus my office is casual dress so double bonus. The cruiser keeps me in "lesiure" mode and I have to say my commute is one of the happiest times of the day.

[mtbdarby]

Hey Corsair, I did wise up - I was chafing at my "undie" line with the jeans so I opted for sweats, a biking jersey and sweatshirt (in the 50's today). I'm knocking on wood here folks, I've never had a flat, only dropped my chain once and - who, me - crash??? :D Not on the road baby, but off road it's part of the ride for me.

My office is very casual which is a big plus. I am nervous to wear biking short because sexual harassment abounds in my office and I don't want to give them extra ammo, and I wouldn't be comfortable at dc when all the other parents are coming in to pick their kids up too. If I need to wear them under my wind pants I can, but for now, I put a new saddle on and lost the jeans. I'm progressing by the day.

Today I also brought a camera. I think my little guy is ADORABLE in his helmet and shades and I'm dieing to get a picture!

[Crankin]

My former commute was short, about 13.8 miles round trip. I did wear full cycling gear because I can't imagine riding in anything else, especially jeans. Plus, the way to work was mostly a climb, so i did get sweaty. I brought my clothes to school the day before and I keep essential supplies (face soap, gel, wipes, and deoderant) there. I carry my make up and lunch, along with my reading glasses in my seat bag. I also wear a camelback, with the bladder taken out, for any papers that i have brought home to grade.
I did buy some cycling capris from Prana that I wore all day a couple of times last spring. They are expensive, but they look nice. However, I did feel a little sweaty with them on all day.
My new house is about twice the commute and involves going 2 miles more out of my way, because I usually drive through a major rotary (traffic circle). Since I have to be at school so early, I don't think I will ever be able to commute, because it's just too dark, it will take much longer, and I won't ride in the dark.

[annie]

Darby,

I live in Iowa, across the mighty Mississippi from WI. Weather conditons are pretty similar. I commute 3-4 days a week. (Those are the good days!) A short commute, but as I don't start till late morning, I often add some miles to make it a "ride', not just a commute. So - I wear 'bike" clothes. I either carry a backpack or pull a BOB trailer with a change of clothes. Can only do a "pit" bath at the sink at work, but also take a spritzer of something that smells good to cover any lingering odor....... I am able to air the riding clothes out during the day, and put them back on before riding home. Has never been a problem. I personally believe that any small inconveniences are worth it, to be able to ride more and drive less. I remember days last winter, bundled up in layers of warm clothing, on the bike, extremely happy and grateful that I was able to be riding instead of so dependent on a car. Absolutely worth it! Bike clothes just make it more comfortable.

annie