OT sort of

[DrBee]

I was just approved for teleworking 1 day a week! That'll help with gas (53 miles round trip)! I'm the first scientist at our location (and I think in our region) that has been approved! Now - I'll have the peace and quiet needed to write up all that data that keeps accumulating and slip in an early morning ride in the middle of the week! And - see my kids more! Yippee! :D

[SadieKate]

My gas bill is so much less scary now that I'm telecommunting a couple days a week (52 mile rd trip) and my riding stats so much nicer and my stress level so much lower and . . . :D You'll love it.

[Adventure Girl]

The bad news: My commute is 200 miles round trip.:(
The bad, bad news: $3.41 per gallon for gas!:mad:
The good news: I telecommute almost full time.:o
The great news: I have only worked at the office 2 days this year.:D

I love being a telecommuter!!!

[Blueberry]

I think I'm moving the wrong direction....

I'm going from working at home all the time to a 60 mile round trip 5 days per week minimum:eek: :eek: :eek: .....GRRRRRR....and there is no way to bike it, plus the office is NOT bike friendly.

The good news: it's a significant advancement for me in my career, I get to do more fun stuff (litigation) and I'll actually be able to afford the terrible gas bill that will come with the job...

Now - I just have to figure out the weekday training...any suggestions from those who work full time plus with non-flex hours (read the need to trail after dark) - do you just work on out trainers, spin classes or ride outside with lights?? And can you really train for a significant ride (e.g. century or ride with lots of climbing) with your big rides only on the weekends???

[tulip]

Time to move! Such long commutes are such a waste of good riding time. My commute is a bit over one hour each way, but it's on my bike, so I'm not complaining! And I get 30 miles of riding a day, to boot.

You ladies live far from your offices, but there are so many people who live close and STILL drive their 5 or 10 miles. I hope that the high gas prices will move more people to start riding their bikes to work. I've had two people in my neighborhood ask me for route advice. They are each about 5 miles from their work. It just makes sense.

[Blueberry]

Time to move! Such long commutes are such a waste of good riding time. My commute is a bit over one hour each way, but it's on my bike, so I'm not complaining! And I get 30 miles of riding a day, to boot.

Hubby and I are already considering it!! I don't think I'll ever be able to bike commute (large law firms are *not* friendly to providing alternative commuting facilities, plus looking really good in a suit doesn't happen for me without a shower after exercise), but I do want to not spend 2+ hours per day in the car. Problem is I live in a relatively good riding area, and I'm not sure how the locations further in would be (I can get to open roads from my front door - there, I think I might be stuck in subdivisions or major streets with no bike lanes). Lots to think about - This happened really quickly (sent inquiry, got interview, got job within 24 hours).:cool: :cool: Still trying to get my brain wrapped around it...

It's frustrating when one area of your life goes the way you want it to, and the other gets worse - it's all a part of who I am.... Hubby doesn't get why I'm not completely and totally thrilled about the job......*sigh*

You're lucky to have the 15 mile distance - that's about perfect - yeah, it's an hour each way, but you get in all your exercise and don't have to spend an hour in the gym after you get out of your car at night....

Carrie Anne (who is thinking of joining a local gym for the showers and riding at lunch....They don't need to know they have one of *those people* working for them:p :p )

[DrBee]

CA - I don't know what time you get up to go to work, but try riding in the AM before work. It's quiet, no traffic, and quite peaceful really. That's what I do in the summer to avoid the blistering heat in the afternoons. I'm just now starting to train for a century, so I can't really tell you how it works for that. Congrats on the good career move, though.

Tulip - some people where I work commute on their bikes. It's good to see! They live in the town right next to the research station. Those of us with kids live 26 miles away - better schools. We try to carpool as much as possible. We all work different hours (flex schedules), so it's a little tough to get more than 2 people to carpool together. It's better than nothing, though. I'm just so happy to only have to go in 4 days a week. What a great way to start the weekend!

[Lise]

Congrats on the day of telecommuting. Enjoy it all around.

The clinic where I see patients is only about 4 miles away. I haven't been riding because the weather makes it not worth it, but that's changed. Last year the security guard at the clinic would yell at me for bringing in my bike. I had gotten permission, but... a little bit of power goes to the head sometimes... we have a new security guard this week. So today introduced myself, welcomed her, and told her she'd see me taking my bike to the basement, with the head honcho's permission. We'll see how it goes! The actual commute is the same by bike or car. I save time by not searching for parking. I lose time because I get so red-faced and sweaty biking that I need to cool off, wipe down, and change clothes before seeing patients!

"Whew, pant, pant, OK, so you're here for a pap smear?" :eek: :p

[Dianyla]

Lise, you should just walk in wiping your brow saying "Man, that last pap smear really kicked my butt!" :p

[corrine]

I'm jealous... I am a scientific technician and all my work is at the lab - kind of hard to take it with me and they won't let me do my data analysis at home. Enjoy the peace and quiet away from phones and interruptions - I know the scientists I work with would love to be able to telecommute.

[Lise]

Lise, you should just walk in wiping your brow saying "Man, that last pap smear really kicked my butt!" :p
hehhehehhehehehheheh, HA! HA! HA! :D :eek: :rolleyes:

Or I could cue up a tape of a newborn crying in the next room, and let them just wonder what the h*ll happened!

[DrBee]

Dianyla - I'm LMAO at that one! I'd just about fall off the table if my doc came in saying that! It's perfect. Lise - you can have some serious fun with this one!

[Fuji Girl]

Hey Lise,

Are you an OB-Gyne? Where do you work? And have you been riding by the lake recently?

[Selkie]

You lucky gal! I'd love to be able to telecommute but it's not a possibility for me.

Even though I live about 5 miles from work, I have to drive because there is no safe route. The two possible road routes have very dangerous segments (no shoulder, lots of curves, potholes galore, and unfortunately, well traveled by typical DC-area SUV drivers who go too fast while talking on their cell phones). I also work an early schedule, leaving home before sunrise, so even lit up, I take a huge risk of becoming a Lexis SUV hood ornament.

Luckily, some fellas from work have put together a safer route, but parts of it are on unpaved trails (one part is fording a stream). Luna Cycles is building me a cyclocross bike. I figure that I'll more than make up the $$$ I spend on it in gas, upkeep of my car, etc.

[doc]

CA - I don't know what time you get up to go to work, but try riding in the AM before work. It's quiet, no traffic, and quite peaceful really. That's what I do in the summer to avoid the blistering heat in the afternoons.

CA- It's really hard at first, but from now until october I ride 25-30 miles at 4:45am most tues, wed and thurs. Then I do my usual weekend training. I do it part because of the blistering heat in the daytime, and part because the guys I ride with all have 9-5 type jobs. I'm home by 6:45 or earlier so I can get the kids up and ready for school. It really works! I must admit bedtime becomes an issue. I'm often in bed at the same time as the kids (9 or sometimes 8pm:eek: )

Once you can stand getting up at 4:30 it is wonderful. Totally quiet, peaceful, and serene. Plus its really neat to see how many joggers and other cyclists are up at that time. It does decrease your evening time with your DH but...

[DrBee]

It does decrease the time with your DH, but if you rode in the afternoon you would still lose that time with DH AND kids and you'd melt in the heat. I get up at 5 and ride, so I totally understand. I see lots of people walking mainly. But - people are generally much friendlier in the AM. You just need to to watch for the cars pulling out of driveways.

[Lise]

Hey Lise,

Are you an OB-Gyne? Where do you work? And have you been riding by the lake recently?
Hi, Fuji--

I'm a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM). I do deliveries at IL Masonic, and most of my clinic days are spent at the Board of Health clinic in Uptown. It's the Refugee Health Center for the city, so I see women from all over the world for prenatal and gyne care. This week I saw women from Mongolia, Albania, Morocco, Guinea (W. Africa), Somalia, Guatemala, Ecuador, and, of course, Mexico. Also a couple of Americans. :rolleyes:

Yesterday was a short day at the clinic, so I was home by 3 PM, and out on the bike. In my unending quest to ride the lakefront path without having to run over a rollerblader on a cell phone, I rode Damen->Elston->Milwaukee->Des Plaines->Washington->picking up my bike and carrying it across Millenium Park. That last part stunk.

Next time I'm going to ride down Des Plaines to Roosevelt and take that over to the lake. Once south of the museums, it's like walking out of tornado-wracked Kansas into Oz. Beautiful, empty, wide paths with gorgeous views of lake and city. I stopped when I hit 10 miles, ate my Cocoa Mole Lara bar, gazed out at the lake for awhile, and rode home. 21 miles in all, cuz I got a bit lost coming home! Not loooost exactly, but more of a "where the heck is Elston?" Rode too far N on Milwaukee--yikes. Wacky. Got off there and took side streets over to Damen and home.

How about you? Are you riding much? I'll pass a cool looking woman on a bike and think, that could be Fuji or Beta! L.

[betagirl]

I rode the path south on tuesday from navy pier to 79th and back up, I think it was in the mid afternoon around 3-ish. I keep my eye out for the pretty bianchi when I ride :)

I'd be the cool woman on a blue lemond zurich. This weekend is supposed to be so nice, I think I'll be heading out later today. The Diversey route to the city is working out really well.

[Blueberry]

CA- It's really hard at first, but from now until october I ride 25-30 miles at 4:45am most tues, wed and thurs. Then I do my usual weekend training. I do it part because of the blistering heat in the daytime, and part because the guys I ride with all have 9-5 type jobs. I'm home by 6:45 or earlier so I can get the kids up and ready for school. It really works! I must admit bedtime becomes an issue. I'm often in bed at the same time as the kids (9 or sometimes 8pm:eek: )

Once you can stand getting up at 4:30 it is wonderful. Totally quiet, peaceful, and serene. Plus its really neat to see how many joggers and other cyclists are up at that time. It does decrease your evening time with your DH but...

Doc-

This is sort of what I was thinking of doing - although I don't have a group to ride with, so I'd be solo. I assume you guys just ride with good head lights and lots of little red lights until the sun comes up? Had many problems with cars? Guess all the drunk drivers are probably home passed out by then...

You did BSG last year didn't you? That's the main one I'm worried about training for - I figure Hilly Hellacious Hundred will seem like a piece of cake after 13k of climbing... Was that the weekday training you used??

Thanks for all of the suggestions everybody - it's reassuring to know that my riding life won't be over;)

[Lise]

I rode the path south on tuesday from navy pier to 79th and back up, I think it was in the mid afternoon around 3-ish. I keep my eye out for the pretty bianchi when I ride :)

I'd be the cool woman on a blue lemond zurich. This weekend is supposed to be so nice, I think I'll be heading out later today. The Diversey route to the city is working out really well.
Hmmm. Blue Lemond Zurich. I'll keep an eye out! I am so glad to hear that the Diversey route's working out. I'll try taking it out to my sister's.

So did you ride from OP to Chgo and then ride Navy Pier to 79th? That's a bit of mileage! Congrats! I've never gone all the way to 79th.

[betagirl]

I did ride in then down to 79th and back up to my friend's house on oakdale. It was a total of about 44 miles. If I'd ridden back home it would have been about 60. Considering I'm doing a 200k brevet in a week, I need to ride further. I had a stop in between where we went to lunch. Then rewarded myself with crab legs at Half Shell. Have you been? If not, total hole in the wall with great (and relatively cheap) king crab legs. AND they serve Fat Tire beer :D

Sorry for the thread tangent :)

[Lise]

I did ride in then down to 79th and back up to my friend's house on oakdale. It was a total of about 44 miles. If I'd ridden back home it would have been about 60. Considering I'm doing a 200k brevet in a week, I need to ride further. I had a stop in between where we went to lunch. Then rewarded myself with crab legs at Half Shell. Have you been? If not, total hole in the wall with great (and relatively cheap) king crab legs. AND they serve Fat Tire beer :D

Sorry for the thread tangent :)
Well, cool! I forgot, you're a distance girl. I want to go for a ride today, but think a run is what I'm due for. Looks like the weather's going to be decent tomorrow, so I'll probably ride around some then. Where is Half Shell? I've never heard of it. L.

[betagirl]

I'm heading out for a long ride today. My goal is to do 80 miles if I can. I'll probably end up doing a couple of "laps" between navy pier and 79th. Each round trip is 22 miles. There's no way I'm going to the north part of the path on a sunday! :)

Maybe I'll see you out there. I'll be wearing my snazzy google jersey.

From metromix:

Half Shell Restaurant

676 W. Diversey Pkwy
773-549-1773

The Half Shell is as basic as it gets: a short menu consisting primarily of seafood, no reservations, and cash only. But the food served in this small, dark, cozy restaurant explains why it's been around for more than 30 years.

Hours: 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-10:30 p.m. Sunday.

[Lise]

I'm heading out for a long ride today. My goal is to do 80 miles if I can. I'll probably end up doing a couple of "laps" between navy pier and 79th. Each round trip is 22 miles. There's no way I'm going to the north part of the path on a sunday! :)

Maybe I'll see you out there. I'll be wearing my snazzy google jersey.

Have a great ride today. I start a 24 hr call shift tonight, so I need to remember to get in a nap at some point during the day. They were talking about rain, but it looks so gorgeous out that I'm taking off on my bike this morning. I won't put in anywhere near your distance, but then, I don't have anywhere near your goals! :p
Thanks for the Half Shell info--I've thrown myself back into the dating mix, and this'll be a little gem to pull out when I like a guy...:rolleyes:

It would be death on a platter for somebody to attempt to ride the north part of the path today, that's for sure! Probably several somebodies. Have a great ride. Everybody! L. :)