Bike Commuting - Encouragement?

[MightyMitre]

I too am planning to cycle as part of my weekly commute. The idea had already crossed my mind but after reading this thread it really inspired me to get myself sorted out and get it up and running.

My office is 25miles away by the most direct route and I get the train at the moment, but in a couple of weeks ( when I know it's going to be light all the way back ) I'm planning on riding home from work twice a week.

Last year my boyfriend, who works in the same office tried to do there and back every day, but 50 miles a every day, plus putting in a days work was just too much, and the winter finally put pay to the plan. But he'll soon be joining me in the ride home. If twice a week is ok we might even try for three!

It's mostly down hill on the way back and I can't wait for that feeling of freedom, tearing away from the office and bombing it all the way home..... ahhh...!

[Veronica]

I have the huge commute of 1.6 miles! I just wear my regular clothes since it's flat or downhill almost all the way. I bought a saddle bag to put all my stuff teacher stuff in. It makes for a good but brief workout on the way home since it's nearly all uphill.

Veronica

[MM_QFC!]

hey MM and Veronica...you both have very different commutes, but I think that the planning and intent are similar.
Just prep for it and I think that you'll find it's almost addictive! I know that when I bike commute, I have to drop off laptop computer and work clothes in locker ahead of time, and it makes for an earlier wake up alarm, but it's SO worth it! I start the day with an amazing amount of energy (co-workers groan at my energetic and cheery greetings, responding with, "you rode in on your bike today, didn't you?") and I find that, from the early afternoon on, I'm thinking of and yearning to get back on my bike for the return trip - it's an elixir!
You go, girls!

[sempre]

I commute every day (admittedly it's only 5 miles which makes it easy to deal with). I didn't realise how important it was to me until I broke my wrist and couldn't ride for 6 weeks. The ride both to and from work is a great way to clear your mind and get away from all the stresses of work, and it gives me a chance to "play" on my bike which is always good!

[Veronica]

I am so digging the commute. One of my students lives down the street from me and she and her brother ride their bikes to school. Mom follows in the van with all their stuff and takes the bikes home. She waits for them at the lights, since there are a couple of left hand turns, one of them on a major road. My student is so thrilled because I've ridden with her a couple of times this week. It's a great way to start the day - plus I get to stare at Fluffy all day since he sits in the back of my classroom.

Veronica

[MightyMitre]

Woke up this morning with everything all packed and ready for my first commute home from work , to find it was SNOWING!! This is quite rare for this time of year in England. I got to work with all my kit (I'm taking the train on the way there) and all my collegues were pulling my leg, saying there's no way I'll be riding back, but come 5 pm there I was giving them all a scare in my full winter cycling gear.

Luckily the snow came to nothing and turned into rain, but the ride home was dry. It was excellent! So the ride isn't too long I have to go up a particually big hill that comes right near the end of my ride, which I haven't tried for ages and I conquored it! It was such fun - at one point I'd almost forgotten I'd been to work!

Looking forward to Tuesday - my next ride home. Turned out it was getting on for 28 miles, but as it's one way and I can just collapse when I get in it should make for some good hard rides.

[TXchris]

I hope to join your ranks next fall!!!! Some of you may have seen my post under "bikes" about recumbents. I hope one way or another the doc cuts me loose and lets me back on a bike of some sort by the fall. I just found out that I am likely going to be transferred to a different school (I'm a school nurse) in the fall. It will put me in a perfect position to bike commute. It will be around 8 miles each way... 12 if I drop the kids at pre-school using the trailer.

Here's hoping I'll be on wheels soon!