I did it! I rode to work!

[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

[Xrayted]

Congrats on commuting in. I think you will find your daily travel so much more enjoyable overall. I commute into my hospital whenever I can. (many of my days are 16 hours so I don't on those days) It's just under 7 miles for me, although we will be moving soon and then it will be around 10 hilly miles each way. I'm lucky that we have full locker rooms with showers, towels, soap, scrubs(I don't have to bring clothes)... just had to stock up on shampoo, comb, deodorant and yeah, extra undies. Can't go walking around in those thin OR scrubs with no undies.
They love it when we bike in. We actually have an incentive program to ride in. 35 rides gets you $50 in your pay. There are bike lockups everywhere, mostly in the parking garages. I see people/visitors with their bikes in the halls and in the elevators everywhere. Almost every employee area has a bike in it when you walk in.

On a side note, Python, I still love that bike of yours woman. What an incredible find. She is just beautiful.

[Python]

Thakyou Xrayted She is a lovely bike I'm hoping to get my new bike next month (Specialized Dolce Elite) but will be keeping my Raleigh and still using her regularly

[RoseC]

I achieved the next step - I talked to the building management woman today and got a locker! Woo-hoo! Silly how excited I am about that...

I also drove an alternate route home yesterday. It would be more roads / less bike path, but about a mile shorter, I think. I think I may ride to work again on that road this weekend.

I saw a cyclist along the way that did something it would never occur to me to do - there was a lefthand turn lane, and she rode between the lanes to get right up next to the very first car in line and turned left when they did. It worked nicely, but I'm not sure I'd have the guts to do that!

So...I'm still taking my time, but getting closer. It's not a short distance, so a bit of extra training before I really commit is probably good for me.

[pyxichick]

Rose,

Congratulations. You'll love it.

I just started commuting as well, and my route is also 14 miles each way. I found that since I have to leave at 6:30 in order to get to my desk by 8, the traffic is much lighter than I had expected. On the way home, it's a bit busier, but I try to make it a relaxing, enjoyable ride, and if necessary, take a longer way home to avoid the cars.

Have fun!

Kate

[bikerHen]

Don't sweat the left turns. If you have to go with the crosswalk option, just do it. I'm on a four lane highway for the first intersection of my commute where I have to turn left. It's also the first stoplight coming into town. Can you say speeding cars and semi-trucks! It would be a death sentence if I tried to take the left turn lane. So I just cross, in the crosswalk, with the light, and hope I don't get hit by the right turning cars. I've been crossing this intersection this way for three years. I figure better safe than dead! bikerHen

[deena]

RoseC - thanks for starting this thread - and congrats at biking to work! I love the advice from those of you who can bike commute everyday.

I started biking to work this summer. Two days a week I work at a site about 10 miles from home, so I bike there - my actual office is more like 20 miles and I'd have to work up to that.

This is a real treat for me. During the school year I have drop off/pick up kids at school, and after the ride in/out I'd have a three hour work day.

The best part of my communte is the stretch when the bike route goes under the jam-packed, motionless freeway that I'm not sitting in!

[RoseC]

Cool to see this got revived!

I've been riding an average of about three days a week for the past three weeks. Last week I only managed two days, due to some things that were going on that meant I needed to be there really early or have long-distance wheels during the day.

It's funny, but I find that the days go by faster on the days I ride in, even though I'm actually at work earlier. Don't know why!

I've gotten pretty comfortable with my route, and really haven't had any problems EXCEPT for last time I rode. About halfway home I had my first real on-bike encounter with a moron driver.

The one part of the trip where I *have* to ride with cars is a little bridge. It’s less than forty feet long, at a guess. Possibly shorter. There’s a bike lane right up to the bridge, and one right on the other side, but just before I get to it, I have to merge into traffic. There are signs all over warning both cyclists and drivers about it, and since it’s at the bottom of a hill either way and I’m usually going twenty or twenty-five in a thirty-five mph zone, it’s usually not too big a deal - drivers are usually good about letting me in when I signal, and being patient about slowing to twenty for FORTY #(&#in’ FEET! But that day, there was a kid who couldn’t deal.

So...with on-coming traffic, on a NARROW bridge, he decides to split lanes and attempt to drive between me and the other lane, which doesn’t work, so he swerves at the on-coming driver and then back at me. The other driver honked, and by gosh, if I coulda, I woulda. He came closer to hitting the other car than to hitting me. Dunno if I can rejoice much in that, though.

By the time I got over the bridge and back to the side, he was getting ready to attempt to pass a truck he couldn’t see past. So apparently he was just an all-around moron, and not just one who hates cyclists. Grrr...

I'm kind of nervous about getting back on the bike after that. But I will. I'd miss it too much if I didn't!

[sandra]

I'm new to the forum. I'm totally embarrassed to say that I only live about 2 miles from work, but I would be scared to ride to work. It is the busiest 2 miles I can imagine in my town!

Congratulations to you on your accomplishment!

[dellafalls]

I also am a coffee in the morning gal! I get everything ready the night before, roll out of bed and onto my bike! By the time I get to work 40min later I am just waking up. I grab a coffee the minute I get in the door to reward myself!. I also pack my clothes with me, but leave tolietries and towel at work and shower there. I love the way it makes me feel.