Printable View
I am committed to biking to work at least once a week this summer. I have never done this before, and I am pretty new to biking. I know I have a lot to learn! Tonight I am going to bike the route to see how long it will take me. Wish me luck!
There are a few scary big hills towards the end of the route that I might bypass tonight, though...
Good luck:) It's good that you practice the route so you know what to look for...
Hey Lucky ! I am an oldtimer cyclist just getting back into it after never really taking anything seriously before. Now mid forties, last time I really took bike commuting seriously was my mid twenties. I still own a car, but I have this dream of gradually getting into it, ever so incrementally , by park~n~ride. I am also going for rides from home just to get in some 'fitness base miles' , now more than once a week. I live at the top of a mountain and have a collosal climb, so I park near town to commute to errands & such, planning to gradually drive less over the months ahead. It's more the habit of using the bicycle as a car, locking, using panniers, remembering all the gear and stashing it.... all which is a major hill to hurdle, metaphorically speaking, as far as building a steadfast habit.
So yeah, the cycling fitness part is just a part of bicycle commuting, actually, to some people like me, but certainly a luxury and a perk when it starts to gel. I so much encourage you, and you can feel free to PM me and we can both goose each other along. It's so difficult sometimes to choose not to drive, but it feels so incredible when we ride instead of driving, doesn't it?
Thanks for the encouragement! I definitely know what you mean about it being a habit. And I do have a bike rack now, so that makes park n ride a lot easier. Though, I am not exactly sure where to park...? Tooling around town is easy, and the grocery store is pretty near by, though it is much more expensive than the one in the next town, which I would have to drive to. I guess I will have to weigh the cost benefits as far as that goes.
I didn't make it through the whole route yesterday. I hit one medium sized hill and it about killed me. I was really huffing and puffing. I felt awesome having tackled it, but was really scared that I would not have made it up those big, daunting hills closer to work. I think what I am going to do it bring my bike to work with me, and practice on them over my lunch hours.
I feel weird wondering what motorists think of me when they see me crawling ever so slowly up a hill. What if I have to get off and walk? I would almost die of embarrassment!
Nothing embarrasing about walking up a hill! You're only taking time to smell the roses and admire the view!Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky, Fabulous
Yeah, and what's the alternative if you can't pedal up? Just stand there? Go backwards?
Gotta walk!
Karen
I wonder what motorists would think if they knew what I think of them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky, Fabulous
To motorists, a bike crawling slowly up the hill is no different than a bike "racing" up that same hill, or down it. All bikes are slower than them and that is all they see.
(Glaring generalities aside.)
I see a lot of people walk their bikes up a hill. It's quite common. If you can make it up the hill without walking it, great. If not, you've got a goal. Either way--you are out on your bike, not in a car or couch.
I wonder what they think of me riding to work in a skirt and heels.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky, Fabulous
Then I laugh and laugh.
You guys are awesome! Thanks for the new perspective :) One day I will definitely ride around in a skirt and heels, just for my own amusement!
Park at a mall and ride around everywhere in that area you need to be, or to work from there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky, Fabulous
I know what you mean about hills. Wicked beasts, they are! Remember your granny gears and use them EARLY! What I've found works for me is if I dive into those gears WELL before I might really need them -- if I once get to the point where my heart is pounding, and my breathing seems almost impossible, and my legs are screaming, it's like I'm never going to catch up. If I hit the granny gear right away on what's going to be a big climb, not only do I get to the top, I can sometimes do parts of the hill with "bigger" gears!Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky, Fabulous
I've decided it's all about getting to the top any way I can.
Thing is, no matter what they're thinking, they probably have a bit of admiration going at the same time, cuz they're probably motoring up the hill for a reason! Getting off to walk -- a WHOLE lot less ebarrassing than tipping over would be!Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky, Fabulous
Karen in Boise
I'll second Kano's advise.
When i first started riding hills (and I live on a HUGE one) I would always shift to my lowest (easiest) gear right at the very start, BEFORE my heart rate got out of control. Then take it nice and easy. I would always think about starting at the speed at which i expected to finish. Then as I got used to knowing what speed I could maintain, I would start a little faster.
Actually, before I used this method, I would try to go up the hill fast--somehow I though that I'd get farther up that way (hah!). I remember the day I tried going super slow at the start or the hill...and slow all the way up....but it was the first day I made it all the way home without walking!
Good luck, and happy rides!
I commute almost every day (except for the really cold rainy days because I don't have good waterproof gear and I don't feel safe wearing my hood underneath my helmet because it limits my peripheral field).
I love my bike and I love riding it :) I think the best way to ensure you'll commute is to make sure your ride is comfortable and fun ;) So hopefully if your bike is in good working condition and fits you well, you'll be eager to ride it! I look forward to my ride to and from work every day :D It gives me good time to relax (well, depending upon motorists I suppose...) and get some fresh air.
Good luck commuting! :D
Good for you for not only riding to work, but for tackling those monster hills. I'm a definite hill slug, but as long as I make it up (spinning or walking) I'm happy with myself and you should be, too. :p
there is nothing wrong in walking. i do that also. I have this big hills which still i can not climb all the way. i walk on that hill. Initially i used to think same way you are thinking, but think of this.. all motorist ride in car just because either they can not even walk on hills or they are lazy. we are atleast trying. and one day i will climb that hill. thats my goal.
Happy riding.
Yes, I definitely have a few "goal hills" around here. I actually brought my bike to work with me today so that I can tackle some of those hills on my lunch hour. I am at the point where I have the "make it up the hill as fast as possible" mentality. I just want it to be over with! I will try switching to a lower gear earlier on and see how far that gets me. Thanks for all your advice!
I think just to establish habit, it doesn't matter if you even park at your closest shopping plaza , in the shade at the far end, and ride to work from there? You'd then be near your favorite shopping area after work, when you can pick up a few things, and practice the bike commuting more ~ getting used to locking the bike, thinking ahead, packing your panniers, unloading at your car.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky, Fabulous
I think it's a huge deal just to establish these thinking patterns, and can easily sabotage your ride into town when you are ready for more of the distance riding, and hills. When you're ready to tackle that aspect of bicycle commuting, no doubt you will have thought of remedies as far as where you could part way , if needed. The fitness happens fast, in some cases faster than the actual habit and readiness of using your car as a vehichle.
Great that you are able to use your lunch hour at work to run errands by bicycle ! Right on... keep on truckin'.
Hi!Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky, Fabulous
You are going to find that there is nothing like it! You will feel so much better, and wonder why you didn't do it sooner! I'm 100 percent cycle commute -in fact I have to go downstairs and start the "cage" and let it run for twenty minutes, to keep all the fluids and stuff circulating. It hasn't left the garage at all for two months. We have a Bike2Work thing going on up here in the Seattle area through May, and I'm a team captain (Col. Klenk's Krankers) and just having a bunch of fun inspiring the people on my team! W00t!
As a side benefit (besides you don't care if gas goes up to 10 dollars!) is you can kick your car insurance WAY down! When your car is no longer listed as your commuting vehicle, the rates drop like a rock....... which of course saves you even more $$ Its a win win win - a win for your health, a win for your purse and a win for the environment! One word however - lights!! (and neon clothing!!) Make sure "cagers" can see you! night and day........ I also carry a VERY loud whistle. :D
Take Care,
cyn
I brought my bike with me to work today so that I can check out some of the trails around here, and spent some time yesterday checking out the trails around my house. The problem is that since I live in a different town than the one I work in, the trails don't seem to connect. I have to ride on the roads, which is fine, but they are county roads and the shoulder is really rough to ride on. I am going to aim for my first ride next week. I just need to Do it. I would love to get rid of my car completely, but I live in Wisconsin and there is absolutely no way I could ride my bike in the winter.
You don't need to ride on the shoulder - how busy are the roads? Perhaps you can find a parallel-to-the-main-road route that will connect you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky, Fabulous
And once you start riding, don't be surprised if your definition of ridable conditions doesn't gradually expand... I would never have thought I could do with out a car... but it will be a year as of 5/30.
Wow, Geonz, I really admire you.
I rode up my "goal hill" last night! I feel awesome! I was huffing and puffing and going real slow, but I did it! I also checked out some of the country roads on my commute - there are no trails parallel to them, but traffic is not THAT bad, and as long as the cars see me, they can just go around! It was such a beautiful ride, too, and I even came across a really nice little park that I would have otherwise never known existed!
That is so true! I decided my cut-off this winter would be 25*F. Well, 25 came and went, and it was just easier to put up with the cold and bike, such a hassle to drop off kid/husband and park and all that. So I reset my cut-off to 20*F. Which came and went and found me still riding. After that I didn't bother setting a cut-off, and rode even when it was under 10*F, the pain was just easier to deal with than logistics of driving!Quote:
Originally Posted by Geonz
Consider getting a reflective road vest if you don't already. If you'll be riding in the dusk or dark, lights are absolutely necessary so that cars will see you. You really can't have too many lights!Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky, Fabulous
I can see the cold being possible to deal with - but what about snow? It snowed nearly every day for us this winter... I may be getting ahead of myself a bit, seeing how it just turned spring! Finally!
I found that if the roads were good enough to drive on, they were good enough to bike on. In fact, one day I drove and biked the same morning (took kid to school, then biked to work). I had problems skidding a little while driving, but I did not have any problems biking. That convinced me that biking on slick roads is safer than driving on them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky, Fabulous
So I bought my bike on Friday, went for a ride on Sunday, and had my bike and cleat fitting last night. My boyfriend and I usually commute together to work, but he's going somewhere I'm not after work tonight. While I was getting my things together this morning, I decided to make it my first day riding to work. After all, I don't like riding with Hitler.
It was... well... what wasn't it? It was exhilarating, a huge challenge, and overall I loved it.
- I found out quickly that my ride to work is pretty much uphill the whole way, including the parts that look flat.
- There were four very steep and long hills that I stopped and walked. During one of these walks, I took a break for water, and as two bikers passed me they asked if I was okay. That was nice.
- I fell off my bike once because I'm still getting used to being clipless (totally into the middle of the road, too. good thing no one was coming).
- On the last hill on the way to work, I stopped about 3 times because I was convinced I could do it without walking it. And I did it.
- It took me about an hour to go 6.5 miles. And then it took me 5 minutes to figure out how to lock my bike to the rack!
So yeah, I'm totally looking forward to my mostly downhill ride home! I think I take the day off tomorrow. Maybe I'll just do once this week, then twice next week, etc.
That is too funny.Quote:
Originally Posted by hipersons
I'm glad you had a good time! Things will get easier as you get used to it, you'll find a routine or rhythm and definitely locking your bike up will take mere seconds, except on those days when nothing goes right and then it will still take 5 minutes if not longer.
For the hills, shift down as far as you can early into the hill or even before. That makes a huge difference. After all, you are not trying to get up the hill quickly, you are just trying to get up the hill.
Good luck!
Ha, ha! Riding with Hitler!
I have set a target date for next week to ride to work. Early in the week I am going to attack that line of hills, and then later in the week make the entire trip.
riding with hitler... i really do that.. i ride with my sweetie.. and he rides too fast.. and make me ride fast as well. :p
its good that you are loving your ride. one thing i would suggest that initially try normal Pedals, i think clipless would be little bit advance.
I ride to work 3 days week (32 miles) and guy from whom i bought cycle from, suggested me not to use clipless for atleast 4-5 months till i get used to bike and little bit hills and stuff.
Looks like my old riding with Hiltler link isn't working anymore. Here's one that hopefully won't break.
Thanks for the advice on the clipless. I think I'm going to do a little of both, switch back and forth on it.
Update - I did it! I feel awesome today! I am going to start riding to work at least once a week. For those that are interested, I did sit and spin up those big hills. It was slow going, but hopefully it will get better with practice.
I just started commuting myself! It does make you feel great doesn't it? :D Of course, it will get a little worse here as the temps & humidity rise over the summer.
I work a 4 day week (M,T,TH & F) and am planning to commute at least twice a week.
I'm really glad to hear that. I believe that anyone can get up most hills by not trying to do it too fast. I know there are mountains and really steep grades that are impossible. I think most people who talk about having to walk up a hill though, could do it if they tried to do it slower.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky, Fabulous
I could be wrong--but your experience seems to support my theory. So I was really happy to read this!
My boss was telling me he takes a street that I'd avoid, to avoid a hill on a parallel frontage road and gets a lot less traffic. I know exactly which hill he means and I don't consider it to be one of the worst hills. I am 100% certain he could make it up that hill if he would slow down.
I am a huge believer of the sit and spin technique. I learned last year when I started climbing hills with my compact double that I was NEVER going to make it up a hill pushing myself. I just sit back now and enjoy the ride while I spin up those hills going just fast enough to not fall over. I recently made it up the local "doomsday" hill with a fully loaded BOB trailer and I had plenty of air and leg left when I got to the top. I'll never be the first one to the top. Instead, I'll be the one that enjoyed the ride up and is ready for more! :D bikerHen
Way to go, LuckyFab!:cool: That's so awesome and inspiring. Those hills will get easier with time. Just don't ask me how long - I'm not there yet.:rolleyes:;):p