I did it! I rode to work!

[RoseC]

Kinda continued from here:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=15907

I bike commuted! Well...just a dry run - today being Sunday. But it only took just over an hour each way, which is good, IMO. It's just over 14 miles each way, and the way back was a little painful - if there had been just *one* more hill, I don't think I'd have made it. But I did it! Without being smooshed! Today was my first real day of riding on the roads, so I was a little scared about that.

Actually, when I got to the final MUP section before work, I was surprised to find that I almost missed the bike lane. It was nice and quiet on the path, but on the other hand, I had to keep stopping for road crossings and pedestrians and dogs and all. Not a big deal, but it did mean I couldn't just *ride*. I think it required more awareness of my surroundings than the bike lane did, which was a little bit of a surprise.

I also ended up "taking the lane" at left hand turns, for the most part, instead of turning pedestrian as I'd planned. It just seemed simpler and less risky - I waited for a gap, jumped in line, and went. I don't know what it'd be like in heavier traffic, though.

I think it'll still be awhile before I'm ready to really commute. I have to figure out a strategy for getting my stuff to work - either ahead of time or on the bike - and I'm also a little unsure what traffic is like in the mornings. I've driven my route - more or less - a few times, but it's still hard to tell in the car vs. actually being on the bike.

I did it! I did it! I'm so pleased with myself!

[Sheesh]

Congrats! You're over the first hurdle - the mental challenge of actually getting on the bike and riding the ride. The rest, the logistics, are so much easier once you've got it in your brain that you can do it.

[Kimmyt]

Congrats! Just so you know, it will get easier... a few months down the road you'll get faster and faster and then you'll start thinking about adding additional miles on to your commute home...

WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE

[RoseC]

I still feel like I have a zillion little details to resolve before I actually do it for real. I wish there was some way to know what the traffic would be like without actually being *in* it, for one...but there's only so much I can simulate that.

And then there are things like...how do I carry my things? I guess I need a rack trunk or panniers.

Most importantly, what about coffee? I can buy coffee at work, but I'm rather fond of my little presspot and the way I make it myself! I guess I need a thermos.

And the list goes on...

But at least I know now that I won't get lost along the way!

[Sheesh]

I keep a couple of pairs of shoes at work, in case I forget to bring a pair (or in case I don't have room) when I bike. I carry everything in a backpack (clothes go in a plastic grocery bag so my sweaty back doesn't get them wet). I tried the medium sized Timbuk2, but it just didn't hold everything as well as my backpack does.

I can't help you with the coffee part - I buy coffee at work.

Do you have a place to shower (and a locker to keep your shower stuff)? That makes things infinitely easier... if not, I know there are other women on here who keep baby wipes at their desks, etc.

Good luck figuring out the details! It's completely worth it!

[onimity]

Hi Rose,

Congrats!

If it helps, I brought an extra set of my usual toiletries/makeup to the office and a camping towel that dries in no time at all. I bring clothes with me to work each day (don't forget the underwear!) and bring the towel home on weekends to wash. I am not a coffee drinker, but another bike commuter I know has a coffee cup holder on his handlebars (!) and another has a french press at the office so he makes coffee his way when he gets in... so there are plenty of solutions to that problem.

I think that you'll find that the distances and the traffic get easier as time goes on. That was my experience, at least.

Anne

[mimitabby]

sometimes heavier traffic is easier because no one can move very fast.
Congrats and good luck!

[Torrilin]

Congrats! That's a lot further than I can ride right now, so you're doing good.

I also find moderately heavy traffic easier. 3 out of 4 of today's near misses were in very light traffic (another bike ran a red, a car ran a red, and a car buzzed me while I was making a left turn on a residential street). The remaining near miss was a driver misjudging passing distances in heavy traffic. One guy out of at least 20+ drivers on that section of road is not bad at all.

[spokewench]

It's really not that hard to get your stuff to work. What you should do first, is stock up your office with a soap, towel, etc. what you can bring with you when you drive in once a week. If you want your presspot coffee at work, just buy some ground coffee, get one of those camping press pots and make your coffee at work (stock all that stuff when you drive in once a week). When I go to work, I take a pair of shoes, top, bottoms, i.e. slacks, top or skirt and top, bra, underwear, wallet, stuff to change a flat tire, hairbrush, old lady glasses to see at work, keys for both home and work (i've forgotten the work ones when I went in early - what a pain!; and the home ones once when my husband was out of town! - what a pain!) in a pretty small back pack and that is how I go. If you have to lock your bike outside, don't carry your lock every day. The first time just take it with you in your car adn leave it locked to wherever you will lock your bike. Locks are heavy so you won't have to carry it back and forth. All this works fine with just a small back pack and a cheerful attitude never hurts to take along with you too.



spoke

[Deborajen]

Congratulations on the trial ride!

Be sure to inspect your bike the night before (tires, brakes, etc.) to minimize maintenance delays right before you head out. Also, I like to actually write out a "bike to work" checklist - house keys, cell phone, tire patching kit, tire pump, ID, clothes, lunch, etc. Revise it as you learn the "must haves" for your ride so you don't have to worry about remembering it all each time.

Good luck - enjoy the ride - let us know how it goes!

Deb

[RoseC]

There's a shower at work - just one, but I don't think it's heavily used in the mornings. There are lockers in that room, too, though I have to figure out who to ask about getting one. I think I'll do that tomorrow.

Don't really have a place to heat water for the press pot, so I think I still need a thermos for coffee. But now I think about it, I have a backpack to use for carrying stuff, so that conundrum is solved. Might be nice to eventually have a rack trunk or some such thing, but I can save money for now.

I'm thinking I should probably stash extra underwear and shoes somewhere. I can just see forgetting one of those things...

There are still a few spots along the route that I'm nervous about - one place where the bike lane turns into a right turn lane, for example. There's a sign that says cars should yield to bikes, but... And then there are the left hand turn lanes. Taking the lane in light weekend traffic wasn't a big deal...doing it in the real world, where I'm likely to get yelled at...scares me. And I don't think any amount of weekend practice can really prep me. I have to practice in real conditions eventually.

But I'm closer. And man the drive home today seemed like a drag! The weather was a bit icky today, but even so...

[RoseC]

Oh, and I like the camping towel idea! My LBS is actually part of a bigger outdoor outfitter shop - betcha I could pick one up there!

[Melalvai]

Might be nice to eventually have a rack trunk or some such thing, but I can save money for now.

One great thing about commuting is instead of starting off with a fully loaded bike with a bunch of stuff you don't really need, you get to build it up bit by bit. Everything you put on there you really really need. The tough part is waiting until you can afford each bit!

[Sheesh]

Don't get me wrong, the traffic part still scares the crap out of me sometimes. Especially stupid cabbies and buses. But, a little caution goes a long way towards keeping yourself safe - and eventually you learn to anticipate the stupid cabby turning in front of you because they ALWAYS turn in front of you.

I also have found that traffic really does help with the left hand turn thing because they are usually either slowing down to turn left, or the light is red and they have to slow down to stop. In both cases, it's easier to wait for them to start to slow down, signal, check to make sure someone's going to let you in, and then take the lane (or change lanes, as the case may be). It gets easier with practice, I promise.

Good luck and please keep us posted!

[Python]

I commute to work too - doesn't it feel good

I put my office clothes in a backpack. I used to ride a motorbike too and have a backback that folds into a very small pack. It's made of lightweight nylon but is very strong. The brand name is Oxford. I don't know if you'd get that in America, but there should be equivalent ones. This one is good because it expands and holds absolutely loads. At work I wear a business suit and blouse. I make sure I buy crease-proof clothes. We don't have shower facilities or lockers so I just change in the ladies room. I carry a pack of Deodorising Wipes. ASDA-Walmart (what we call Walmart here in the UK) make their own brand and would cost less than $1. You could carry a micro-fibre towel as they pack down really small and they're lightweight too. I also carry a small roll-on anti-perspirant and a hairbrush. For makeup one of these little compacts that have all the essentials in them are great. I also have a pencil case and my calculator (daren't leave my calculator or my pens at work or they would sprout little legs and walk). Last but not least is my cycling cape which lives in the front pocket of my backpack. Definitely an essential piece of kit over here in the UK with our very changeable weather.

I find cycling to work boosts me for the rest of the day. I haven't commuted by bike this week. Hubby's car broke down so I had to give him a lift in. Tomorrow I'll be back on my bike though Once you get used to commuting by bike, you'll love it