commuter courage

[nuthatch]

Yes, I forgot to mention that, too. No showers at my work but baby wipes & deoderant to the rescue and don't slow down and sniff when you pass my desk (not really!). I read somewhere (other forum I think) about a gal who has all her biking duds spread out under her desk to dry during the day and she was always hoping the boss didn't take a peek under there ! I also leave all my dress shoes under the desk - that cuts down on baggage. I just got a set of panniers and I'm anxious to try them out instead of the caboose bag and backpack this year. There are many discussions out there about how to avoid "helmet hair" at work and whether to apply make-up before or after your commute in. Ahh, so many logistics to being female!

If you opt for the traffic route, just please be sure and wear very bright clothing, even a reflective vest so people Know you're there. Let us know what you decide!!

Good thinking, CorsairMac! There's a guy who I follow some mornings with one of those IP "Screamin' Yellow" vests and, boy, is he visible. You can't be too visible!!

[jobob]

My commute (which I've done all of once so far, LOL) is about half moderately busy roads (including one freeway entrance/exit, woo woo) and half multi-use paths, about 15 miles each way altogether, but i do have the option of cutting through Coyote Hills park near my home which would add another 3 miles or so, which I might do as the days get longer. I cross a bridge at the southern end of the San Francisco bay, the Dumbarton bridge, which has a separate bike/pedestrian access path, separated from the car traffic by a waist-high barrier. The traffic whizzing by just a couple of feet away really bothers some but it's never fazed me - somehow I manage to tune it out. The route is essentially flat, the only "hill" is the bridge crossing, but it can get windy at times. In general my commute goes with the prevailing wind direction... except when it's not I ride alongside or across the bay for the bulk of my commute, and it's very scenic. I'm a lucky gal.

The office park where I work has a small gym facility with showers, in a separate building from my workplace (at the moment the showers are in the next building over, but we're moving into another building in the same park in another couple of weeks at which time I'll be a couple of blocks away from the showers, rats) . I packed a gym bag with a couple of towels and soap/shampoo/hairdryer/toiletries and I leave that in my office - I also put a couple of pair of panties and a bra in the bag in case I ever forget them

I have a full set of panniers (front & rear) in preparation for a tour I'm taking early this summer, and for my commute I'm using the small front set but hanging them on the rear rack. They give me ample room to pack my work clothes, shoes, plus all the other detrius I'm known to carry while riding

For visibility, I have a bright yellow jacket with zip-off sleeves that converts to a vest, and on the evening ride home I also wore reflective bands around my ankles. As for lights, I have 2 red blinkie lights mounted on the rear rack, a white blinkie light on the front fork and a cateye headlamp mounted on the handlebars (note to self - pack spare batteries...). I also carry a small MagLight flashlight in case I ever need to change a tube or to find something in my pack when it's dark.

- Jo "freakishly anal" bob

[DeniseGoldberg]

On the carrying stuff with me as I commute to work front - I'm with Jobob in that I use my panniers. I too use a front pannier on the rear (since my front panniers are smaller than the rear panniers), but I only carry one of them. OK, I know, that's a little lopsided, but I am carrying so little with me (clothes for the day, lunch & snacks, and toilet articles) that it is very little weight. And it really doesn't feel lopsided!

I also carry a bright vest - one of those screaming yellow Pearl Izumi vests or my illuminite vest from Performance.

[Barb]

Funny about the schools. In my last half mile, I pass an elementary, a school for autistic children and of course the small high school that is my target destination. I can't use the showers there because of outside groups that rent the gym before school starts

[jobob]

I too use a front pannier on the rear (since my front panniers are smaller than the rear panniers), but I only carry one of them. OK, I know, that's a little lopsided, but I am carrying so little with me (clothes for the day, lunch & snacks, and toilet articles) that it is very little weight. And it really doesn't feel lopsided!

I've also ridden with just one (small) pannier, and I don't notice a difference either.

[snowtulip]

Hi Barb,
Everyone's got great advice. I don't have any bike lanes or paths on my commute (17 miles each way), but I do take the side streets. It makes extra miles and time longer, but I feel so much safer. I also have to navigate a highway on ramp and exit, I've learned to just take my time and stop and walk through that section if it is truly crazy. I usually drive to work at the beginning of the week and leave extra clothes at work for the days I commute (so I don't have to carry too much stuff). Good luck on the commute, it gets easier with practice.

[Trek420]

cute article on commuting

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...bikeheroes.DTL

[Carm]

Hi Barb,

I take the bus to work wearing my dress clothes and bike in tow. This eliminates all of the hassles of having to shower, change, etc. I carry my ride home clothes in a bookbag or sometimes panniers. I ride my bike home mainly on side streets.

[cindysue]

cute article on commuting

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...bikeheroes.DTL

thanks trek - loved the article!