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

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!