I did it AGAIN

[trigurl]

I rode to work again today! I am hard core (hehehe) it was raining at home and I thought I would just ride to the parking area and see what the weather was like, of course it wasn't raining at ALL on this side of town WOOHOOOO, I hopped on and took off. I shaved 5 min. off my first ride time too, still not sure how many miles I ride, I have to get my computer fixed or get a new one.

I rode last night, a normal route I ride often, I felt soooo strong, this is the first time I actually felt like I have gotten stronger!

[ladyjai]

awesome!

Commuting does make you stronger, faster, and increases your endurance. Plus it's plain ole fun

[trigurl]

It was fun! it was nice and cool this morning too. I had my backpack on and I put one of those orange traffic type vests on it I also had on my yellow vest, I figure if anyone hit me they had no chance of saying they didn't see me


I may bike by the running shop this evening and buy a blinkie light for my bike, might even consider a headlight too??? it is light when I ride but this morning it was cloudy.

Oh and I was planning on commuting 2 times a week, now I am thinking 3 or 4 depending on the weather. It is getting darker earlier and riding past 8 it is already getting dark, I don't get to start until 6, so after work I can ride an hour or so and have in my miles b/c of the commute

[bikerchick68]

way to go! definitely GO GET THAT TAIL LIGHT! Any added measure of safety is worth it!! I bet the orange vest helps too!

[trigurl]

my backpack is red so I just put the vest on it like a person! quite commical actually, but no one could have seen it on me with the pack on.

[ladyjai]

I'd pick up a headlight too. You may not need it now, but you may before winter's out. Nice idea on the vest. I have one which actually is designed to go over the pack and has a little tail for when I'm leaning over.

[MomOnBike]

Re: Head- & tail lights.

You might want to check local codes. Here in Lincoln, NE, the law states that you must have both a head and tail light if you are going to ride at night. Acceptable brightness is also defined.

The law is rarely enforced (duh), and sometimes I swear that there are more night riders without than with, but my lights are shining brightly.

Reflection and bright colors don't do much if there is no ambient light to reflect, you know.

[trigurl]

I know I know


I got my computer working last night, just needed to restart it

Anyway, my comute one way is 8.98 miles, took me 38:42 riding minutes - by my watch it was 45 min, including stopping for lights, etc.

So, now, I think I will park a little further away There is another grocery store almost 2 miles before the one I park at, I could add a couple more miles that way. Pretty soon I may start a couple of miles from my house, I wish I could start from my house but NO shoulders there and the traffic coming from the lake is really bad.

I am hooked on commuting! altho once time changes I won't be able too I work until 5:30 and it will really be dark then, hmmmm if only I could find a ride back to where I park!

[Bike Goddess]

Trigirl- I ride at 5:00AM most mornings all year round. If you have a good headlight and a good blinking tail light under your seat, you should be able to do it. I don't ride in the rain because I am not set up to do it. Otherwise, you'll see me on the road!

[Pax]

Trigurl, I hope to join you in the commute club as soon as my daypack gets here! My only concern is a 1/2 mile stretch of bumpy cobblestones...anyone know if that could hurt my new Trek 1500WSD??? Do I need to bite the bullet and buy a mtn. bike?

[betagirl]

Queen - it shouldn't, but you might flat on them. There would be increased wear on your wheels, but the bike itself should hold up just fine. I've ridden my Trek 1200 through 4 miles of mud after a rainy day on RAGBRAI last year. Just think, you'll be all trained up for Paris-Roubaix!

[Pax]

Queen - it shouldn't, but you might flat on them. There would be increased wear on your wheels, but the bike itself should hold up just fine. I've ridden my Trek 1200 through 4 miles of mud after a rainy day on RAGBRAI last year. Just think, you'll be all trained up for Paris-Roubaix!

Thanks for relieving some of the worry, I've never had a nice bike before and this bike seems to weigh about a pound so (in my non-cyclist mind) it seems fragile.