Is commuting by bike in my future?

[Crankin]

When I lived about 7 miles from school, I rode my road bike in a couple of days a week in the good weather. I had to bring my clothes to school the day before. I keep hygeine supplies at school, but there are no showers, so I use the "portable bath" things you heat in the microwave. I can't put a rack on my road bike, so I took the bladder out of my Camelbak and could use that for my lunch, make up, a few papers, etc. I rode once with a regular backpack and couldn't move for days afterwards.
I just "remodeled" an older hard tail mountain bike for commuting. I have a light on the front, one blinky in the back and a rack with an Ortleib single pannier. I rode it Friday into town and it is heavy. I don't know if i want to ride it for my 15 mile commute. It definitely will take me more than an hour or 57 minutes as I would do on my road bike. The bike with the pannier has to weigh at least 30 lbs., but it does feel good for commuting to have the wider tires.
My commute is suburban, but there is traffic in a few spots, even though it is very early in the morning. Talk to me in a couple of weeks, when it is lighter at 5:45 AM!

[tangentgirl]

Hi! I use my road bike to ride the 10 miles to work a couple times a week. The theory is that I'll get longer rides and speedwork in before or after. The reality seems to be that I'm running late in the am and I'm tired or racing the sunset in the pm. I don't really like thinking about drills and thinking about traffic.

I have my clothes in a locker at work, and there are showers. I have a small purse-sized backpack that I try to keep light. It's all working pretty well.

Logdiva, I remember when I was little, my mom would ride her bike to my school with my sister in a baby seat on the back, then we'd all walk home.

[Geonz]

Xtra! Xtra! Read all about it!
http://www.xtracycle.com

It's basically a hybrid plus the extension for potential cargo. I prefer it to my road bike because it carries stuff and, frankly, drivers treat me differently. I don't know if it's just more visible or if there's a psychological difference between seeing me as "a kid having fun" (I'm 46 but you can't tell in a helmet, right?) and "somebody trying to get somewhere."
Another family in town who has two of 'em have the kids ride on the back. You can get footrests and little kid seats.

Sneaking out to ride it around campus...

[kellichou]

Oh! That sounds fantaaaastic! I totally want one of those! Commuting would be easier! And I'd feel like I could actually take a bike like that on errands, 'cos it can actually HOLD stuff! wow!

Xtra! Xtra! Read all about it!
http://www.xtracycle.com

It's basically a hybrid plus the extension for potential cargo. I prefer it to my road bike because it carries stuff and, frankly, drivers treat me differently. I don't know if it's just more visible or if there's a psychological difference between seeing me as "a kid having fun" (I'm 46 but you can't tell in a helmet, right?) and "somebody trying to get somewhere."
Another family in town who has two of 'em have the kids ride on the back. You can get footrests and little kid seats.

Sneaking out to ride it around campus...