Very First Commute

[Catrin]

While I am know the ride home this afternoon will be very different, the ride in this morning was awesome! I left home at 5:15...a bit over a mile later I realized I didn't have my Camelbak with me - and it had far more stuff in it than water. So I turned around...at 5:32 I was headed the right direction again. It was early.

That early I can't take my preferred route that uses a MUT to get downtown, so I put on my big girl panties and rode straight down Lafayette Rd to where I could cut off and work my way to my office. There are bike lanes there, but they are a bit bizarre and confuse drivers and I would not ride that road south of where I live at any other time. At 5:30 in the morning, however, there are very few drivers and I was lit up pretty well. What few there were gave me lots of room.

So, off work at 11:30 today (I work a compressed schedule), ride to the gym for a free trainer session, then home again.

Clothing was hard to figure out. This morning was in the midish 40's, but it will be almost 70 by noon. I wore my lighter weight winter layers this morning (nice and warm without getting overly so), and I brought a jersey and pair of shorts yesterday for this afternoon.

I assume that everyone brings an extra pair of shorts for the return home, or do you let the morning pair dry? I certainly prefer the first choice, just curious if anyone does the latter. I can't carry very much...

[lph]

Congratulations! Bike commuting rocks :cool:

I wear the same shorts home. We have very good drying facilities though, and everything is dry by the time I head homewards. I'll even wear the same pair several days in a row, depending on how much I've sweated in it. My commute takes 45 min to an hour and a half, depending on the route and how fast I want to go.

I do have a spare almost-thrown-out pair and a spare pair of socks lying at work, though, in case I ride in in heavy rain and things don't dry in time for me to ride home. Even though I'll just get soaked again, I hate putting on damp shorts or socks...

[Catrin]

Thanks LPH, I was curious. Since I work a partial day when I am most likely to commute they may not dry in time but we will see. It will be a different season when I return home this afternoon!

[lph]

Somebody, I forget who, had a very good tip for day-stashing damp cycling clothing if there's no way of hanging it up to dry.

As I remember it was - roll up all the clothing with the driest stuff on the inside and the dampest on the outside inside a dry towel, then stuff the whole package inside a paper bag. Sounds like it should dry things out pretty well!

[Catrin]

Thankfully I have a little closet behind my office door, so I just need hangars. I liberated a few from our main coat rack since it isn't currently being used and I will bring some from home next week. It was complicated today since the temps are changing so much between rides but it won't be long until that won't be an issue.

[hebe]

No tips, but congratulations on your first commute!

[indysteel]

Yay for you, Catrin. I'm really proud of/happy for you!

[Blueberry]

Congratulations!! I'm glad things worked out well - I know you had a lot of what if questions.

[Crankin]

I always just hung my shorts up over a hangar in my supply closet. When I was teaching, I commuted the first 6 and last 6 weeks of the school year; most of my commutes were in temperatures you describe: forties in the AM and seventies at 2:30 when I came home. Once I rode in at 42 and came home at 88!

[Catrin]

Yay for you, Catrin. I'm really proud of/happy for you!

It was fun :) Nice to mix it up, and thanks to all for the tips. I did hang my shorts up but they didn't have time to dry...I will work with this and see what I can work out for the next time.

[Roadtrip]

Yeaaaaa Cat!!! Congrats on the ride!!!!

[radacrider]

Congratulations - I love bike commuting. :)

[deanywalker21]

I had my first 2-way commute Wednesday. I did take fresh shorts for the ride home and have stashed extra at the office for that purpose. Mine were not dry from the morning ride either and I was glad to have an extra pair on hand. My tights and base layer shirt were damp as well...lucky for me the temp had raised and I was able to use a pair of capri's over my "fresh" shorts for the ride home along with my barrier jacket and jersey. Last fall, knowing I was planning on commuting I picked up extra shorts on sale so I am well supplied. I am thinking I will stash extra jerseys as well and swap them out so that they have a chance to dry. My challenge is going to be finding an area to air out / dry my commuting clothes. My bike looked like an expensive clothing rack <g>

[Tri Girl]

Hooray!!! Good for you, Catrin! I swear, the first time I did it I wondered why I waited so long. Way to tackle it! :)

[Melalvai]

Deany, how long is your commute?

[lovelygamer]

I let my shorts air dry. My whole outfit in fact. We have a closet and I hang them up all day. I'm only going 4 miles each way. Congrats on your commute!:D

[deanywalker21]

The route I am going is 13 in and 14 home. The shortest I can get it is 9 each way, but that puts my on a state highway all the way.