Fall/Winter 2010/2011 Commuter Challenge!

[Melalvai]

Walked 3 days and biked 2. I was glad I walked the extra day as the roads were MUCH better on Thursday than on Wednesday. I LOVE my monkey lights & downlow glow!!

The training goals were mainly met. Perhaps I'm still overdoing it a bit, my knee is handling spin class much better but my hip/ inner thigh started complaining. My shoulders still aren't thrilled about the weight machines so I'm about to give up on those entirely. At least swimming is still going swimmingly. And I have plans to run tomorrow.

[Rebecca19804]

1/3 this week.

Think I did too much last weekend - my hamstrings got really tight and sore. I don't normally suffer from hamstring problems, so I just eased off on cycling and reverted to the previous (easier) versions of my physio exercises. Focused on doing all my stretches slowly and smoothly and holding them a little longer, especially the ones for hamstrings and calves. Woke up yesterday morning feeling massively better so here's hoping I can cycle more this coming week.

[tangentgirl]

Finally got over the superflu and got on my bike yesterday. First time this year - woohoo! Decided to work out the bike route to my new job. Found a great shortcut that lets me avoid a major street that would have sucked to ride on. Stopped at the LBS for a test ride, got some lunch and a delicious cerveza, rode back home, all in all, an excellent day.

Going to try to ride to work 1-3 days a week. Technically, 3 days a week gives me 1 day to drive in with clothes and 1 to work from home, so there ya go. This week I'll ride in either Tuesday or Wednesday. Yay!

[Ambikes]

I've been doing pretty well with making my commuting goals even though we're going through a brutally cold spell in the Canadian prairies. I have only driven to campus once in the new year. I have worked from home a couple days more than absolutely necessary, though.

At this point, I'm feeling pretty proud of myself because commuting has been much easier for me this winter compared to last. Overall, my fitness is better, and I'm getting the hang of dressing for the extreme cold we have here. This morning, the temperature was -18F with a -33F windchill, and I had no idea it was quite that cold until I checked the weather when I got to work. Granted, the wind was a partial tailwind and that makes a huge difference when it's as cold as it gets here.

[Geonz]

11 below is my personal record for commuting in... but I am also on the bus line, and days like tomorrow which may have slick roads (it's right around freezing now) then it doesn't make sense for me to be on the roads if I don't have to be. However, the predicted slime is taking its sweet time to get here and it's above freezing now, so it may be quite ridable after all

[katluvr]

So my New Years resolution was to ride to work. I live only 5 miles away. So for X-mas my old road bike was tuned up and I got a night pannier.
We have had cold weather (for Florida) and other things so I had not yet (until today) road to work.
Today I just had some "office time" so I was not going in til late and could be VERY casual. So I did it! It was very foggy/misty, wetter than I expected. I wore a jacket to keep moisture off and was therefore a bit warm when I arrived. I need to really steamline what I need to pack and organize it. Today I just wore regular steet clothes, no bike shorts or padding. I mean it is only 5 miles! So far so good.
Now how to do this when I really need to work and be in nicer clothes. I could pack clothes or maybe one day take extra to work and have there. Hair is a bit of a mess today, but it was very moist out.
Point is....I ROAD my BIKE to WORK! Yippee! Felt great!
K

[out_spokin']

WAY TO GO, katluvr! It's such a big deal to take that first step. You'll totally figure out the change of clothes and hair, just try different things and you'll find what works best for you. I started on casual days like you, and then on another non-meeting but not casual day took the next step, and so on. If you have a place to leave a set of clothes I found that made it really easy -- I knew I had to drive some days, so brought the clothes to the office for the bike days. Some people have a whole extra set of hair stuff (dryer, gel, whatever) at the office...experiment!

As for some of you other hardy souls, keep it going! I'm kind of bummed that I decided to telecommute when we were due to have negative temps with major windchill on top of packed snow/ice last week. My record is 9F, and I haven't tackled more than an inch or so of fresh powder before. I did break out the studded tires though later in the week and felt awesome, so now I know I can do that part. And I'm certain I have the clothes gear to be happy around zero...I think I'll get my chance again before the end of this winter.

As for this week, 0 for 1 so far. My commuter is in pieces in the other room. My overhaul got interrupted by house problems...better get in my work clothes and figure out what I need from the LBS tomorrow!

[tangentgirl]

Rode in today. Holy fog, batman! Luckily the foggy part was also on the beach trail (mostly), sans cars.

I'm one of those folks who has an extra set of stuff at the office. I bring clothes in earlier in the week. We have a shower here, which makes it easy. Although today I discovered that the shower could use some cleaning. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either.

[tangentgirl]

Walked 3 days and biked 2. .

Melalvai, you're back on your bike! Yay!

[Melalvai]

Melalvai, you're back on your bike! Yay!

Yes! The positive cognition stuff ("I am safe I am loved" repeat 10X) really helped. In fact now I don't even feel anxious when there's a vehicle coming up behind me but I still recite the mantra because it is a habit!

My report for this week, I'm a little fuzzy on what I actually did this week because I've been taken up with this petition and media attention. But I did bike, even today with new snow. Well, I walked in the morning and biked in the afternoon/night.

For my training goals, I blew that off a little, partly because I've been awfully tired and partly because last week I pulled some tiny little hip flexor muscle during spin class. (I had no idea spin class could be so dangerous.) I did go to spin class anyway but I took it easy on the sprints. I ran on Sunday--a 90 minute run on a trail in the snow! I wore my vibrams and as long as I kept my pace up my toes were toasty!

As I was writing this I realized I didn't really blow off training: I also ran on Saturday, and ice-skated with my in-laws' 5 kids on Monday, and spin class Tuesday. I only skipped today & yesterday.

In fact I was going to report that I did achieve my other goal (to take it easy when sick or injured), but as I reflect it doesn't really sound like I did that. But it feels like I've been taking it easy!

[out_spokin']

Yeah, great to see you back on the bike, Melalvai, and glad the positive cognition stuff has worked well for you!

I'm gonna try a mini-positive-intention chant for the weekend: "I will finish my overhaul and rock the commute next week!"

I was 0/3 this week with my bike completely (and I mean completely!) taken apart for a super-overhaul. I wanted to inspect everything for any damage or replacement needs. The good news is that other than replacing the usual cables/housing/bearings/chain, the bike overall is in good shape. The bad news is that I'm never as quick on this stuff as I imagine I can be!

I thought I could finish Wed but other stuff came up and my LBS guy strongly suggested I re-chase my bottom bracket threads given the rust present in the BB shell. Since I hope to get the BB out again , I'm going to take his advice. It's fun to do my own work, but I have HATED the driving needed when not on the bike. Next time I'm going to plan better and/or set up one of the other bikes temporarily w/ lights/rack during overhaul time!

[blackhillsbiker]

Not my best week. Partway to work, I missed a corner on solid black ice on Monday. Epic wipeout! My bike and I limped back home. Tuesday and Wednesday I was too sore to ride. Thursday I rode in and noticed some "not quite rightness" about my bike, so I left it at the LBH. He finished it up late Friday afternoon so DH brought it home for me – his car has the bike rack. I'm hoping to do better next week.

Deb

[pfunk12]

Sorry to hear about your wipeout, Deb and hope you're feeling better. I was 3 for 3 last week. Two commutes in the city because of snow and ice on the bike path but then back on the bike path for the last commute of the week. A nice, quiet week.

[Rebecca19804]

Well done, katluvr and Melalvai!

blackhillsbiker, hope you're okay! Black ice is so scary. Touch wood, haven't encountered it yet on the bike.

I was 2/3 this week. On Wednesday (bike day no. 2) there were no trains running in the evening so I cycled home, on top of the morning commute. So surely that's 2 for the price of 1?! The knee wasn't quite up to that though, so I didn't attempt Friday (bike day no. 3). I did the miles on Saturday though, so all in all, very pleased with how things are going with the knee and everything else as I slowly regain my fitness.

I'm off to Ireland next Friday so planning to commute Tuesday and Thursday instead/only.

[indigoiis]

I haven't ridden in a month - too chicken with a slick of snow on our bike roads and icy conditions on the big roads - and no bike path to speak of (under a foot of the crunchy old snow.) Running instead. I miss my bike, though.