As I rode in to work today, I thought about how much the few commutes has changed my riding style.

Before commuting, I primarily rode on a road with a gigantic shoulder intended for biking on. My rides were typically straight out, straight back, so no turns. I was a little nervous about cars. The hills I would slowly spin up, taking my time, and blast down the downhill.

Now that I've commuted a few times, I feel much more confident on the road. I realize the importance of being aggressive at certain times. I'm now great at looking over my shoulder, signaling and taking the lane when the need is there. I won't get pushed into a gravel shoulder. I'm now comfortable taking a left turn and could care less when a car honks at me. On shorter uphills with tight lanes, I have learned to plow up with more speed than I ever imagined.

How about you girls?

Basically commuting has made much more confident and aggressive