First commute this year

[Crankin]

OK, I made to school in one piece. Will comment later on the ride home. I left at 5:45, with the sun fully up. It was 45 out and beautiful. I think I was a bit overdressed in the core, but I was able to unzip, etc to control the sweat. So, my drive is usually 13.5 miles, but I have a highway I have to get across, that I can't ride my bike on. I knew this would add some miles. There's a couple of alternatives, so I tried #1 this morning, which turned out to be 17.2 miles .After about 5 miles I have a steady climb for about a mile, maybe a bit more (School St. in Acton). This is nothing during a normal ride, but I was feeling my age at 6 AM on this one. I got to the one intersection which had been bothering me, not because of horrible traffic, but it is one where you have to stop on a little uphill and I would be turning left onto a busier road. Anyway, the light was red and there were no cars behind me. I looked across Rt 27 and there was one truck slowly making its way toward me, nothing from the other direction. I admt it, I went through the red light! There is a sensor at this intersection, but bikes are too light to trip it and there's no "bikes stop on the line for green" sign... it was about 6:30 or so and I knew I would be waiting awhile at the uphill, so I went. I've seen other cyclists do this here. The only other option is to get off, push the signal and walk across, which wastes time. Once I got here, I was on familiar riding roads, but I was really tired. Anyway, I made it in 1 hour, 11 minutes, which is about what I expected. Not as fast as when I am just riding, but I'm OK with that!

SheFly, I would never ride my bike on the rotary! What I meant was if I ride down Barrett's Mill to the rotary, I can go right, right onto 2A, without really being on there for more than 10 seconds (by the prison farm). At 5:45 AM there are no cars. It would be much quicker for me than riding up Strawberry Hill Rd. at that time of the morning for me. I need to warm up a lot more each year and if I was going up that hill, it would really add time and be painful, since it would be after a mile downhill of going down my street. Then I would make a left across 2A to Concord Rd. and then a left into some neighborhood that gets me to Piper Rd. to cross Rt. 2. I think that is shorter, and I will test it in the car tomorrow.
There's a lot more traffic going home, so I am not sure how I will go, but it might be even more miles. I feel good now, but man, I was sweating when I got here!

Robyn

[10ch]

That's a big commute! I think an hour and eleven is great time, especially with a mile long hill factored in. (I hope you get to take that way back home tonight.)

[Crankin]

PM commute report update:

I left a few minutes before 3 after wasting time changing into my cycling clothes and arranging all the junk that i had brought to school yesterday. I decided to take the arm and knee warmers with me, along with my vest, because I really had no idea what the temp. was outside. I left my tights, ls jersey, wool socks, and booties to take home tomorrow, with my suit I wore all day. Anyway, i made the decision to go home the same way I came, since I remembered last year I had done the alternative with my husband on a weekend and it was around 42 miles round trip. The trip home was much faster and pleasant. Of course,it's mostly downhill, until I get to my street, which is a major climb. There is a lot more traffic, but I was defensive and managed all of that with no issues. Was very conscious of the parked cars and people running across the street in West Concord center; it sounds silly to those who ride in the city, but I don't have too much experience with this and everyone seems so distracted. The only car incident occured right after I crossed Rt. 2, on Rt. 62, going toward Concord Center. Some guy tried to turn left in front of me, but I saw it and slammed my brakes. He laughed and waved at me,so I just yelled A-H at him and saw people in the other cars laughing. Everything else was non-eventful.
Total commute 35.2 miles, av. 14.8, 2 hrs. 23 minutes

[michelem]

You are brave! I'm still afraid to ride on roads (vs. trails) without the safety of a group. Did you cycle in with your work clothes, or had you already driven those in before this morning? Also, are you provided with showers at work? I'm trying to get my courage up to cycle-commute and keep coming up with plenty of excuses as to why not . . . sigh . . .

[Crankin]

I bring my clothes in before and I have clean up supplies at work. I ride my road bike, which only has a small seat bag, because of the geometry and size of my bike. I don't have a shower; I shower before I leave and then when I get to school I wash up (face, pits, anything else that feels sweaty) and wet my hair down, use gel. My hair is short, so it's easy. Then I do my make up. I use my Camelbak that has a backpack to bring papers, lunch, and other small things. I take the bladder out for more room.
You might want to try doing a partial commute. Drive somewhere that is about half way with your bike, park and then ride. I did this last year, after I moved. My old commute was 6.7 miles one way, so this is a change. You might want to also try riding different routes on the weekend, to test them out.
I checked out an alternate in the car this morning. It's at least 5 miles shorter and no climbing! I will ride this way in the AM and then take the route I did yesterday home. Hoping to ride in tomorrow, even though it's supposed to be 35 in the morning(but 70 in the afternoon).

[LadyinWhite]

My office is exactly 10 miles from home and it's a pretty easy commute. When I take the bike to work, I just wear a cycle skort - then I don't bother changing. The bigger issue is what to do with the bike when I get there. :|

[Pax]

Ok, I'm feeling lame now...my commute will be 4 (very flat) miles each way and I'm nervous about crossing one busy street at a light.

[SheFly]

Great job, Robyn! Glad to hear that the route worked well for you (and I didn't think you would ride in the rotary!). Sounds like you have it all figured out - just in time for the end of the school year, and your retirement .

SheFly

[sgtiger]

Awesome Robyn! It's always inspirational to hear about others' commutes. Thank-you for sharing your experience. It makes the idea of bike commuting not so intimidating. You rock!