I did it! I rode to work! For *real* this time!

[RoseC]

It's taken me a month and a half to get to today! I bought my bike the second week of May with the intention of just riding paths...then I discovered that I can go pretty far if I set my mind to it, and riding on the road isn't *quite* like playing Frogger. Somehow I had this mental picture of getting squished the instant I ventured out my drive...

I had no intention of biking to work when I bought the bike, but after a few rides it started to foment in my feeble little brain...I've spent weeks getting up the nerve and making excuses - I need more rugged tires and they haven't gotten to the LBS yet, I'm not sure I can handle *that hill* before breakfast, traffic will be a zillion times scarier on a weekday, I don't want anyone at work to see me in bike clothes, etc., etc.

The catalyst that pushed me over was talking to my Dad yesterday. He's not at all a bike person - he taught me to ride, but I've never seen him on a bike in my life. But even he was laughing at my excuses for not bike commuting, the biggest of which was a fear of left hand turns. So I decided I was gonna do it. And I did! I'm still scared of the ride home since I came in early and probably missed the worst of the traffic...but even so, it wasn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be. Took me less than an hour to do 12.5 miles (including a lonnnnng crosswalk light - I should just lump it and get into the left lane there), and then I took a quick shower, put on my work clothes (brought in on Sunday while running errands), and I'm all set...

I have a feeling I'm gonna be tuckered tonight, though. May or may not make it two days in a row. And backpacks are not cool for on the bike, I've decided. Ugh.

[mimitabby]

Hey Rose, welcome to the world of making a difference!
you rode to work! so what if you can't do it every day (I can't, i have too many chores) if you can do it once or twice a week, you're part of the solution.
As long as cars see you coming, they are usually not too bad.
keep riding and tell us about how you're doing. it's great!

[F8th637]

I'm glad your dad knocked some sense in you enough to get you to finally try it. We really are our own worst enemies. Kudos to you for finally taking the plunge and welcome to 'the club!'

[Tri Girl]

Hip, hip hooray for Rose!!!! Congrats on making the initial commute. I think the first time is the scariest, and then after that you'll miss it when you can't ride. I didn't ride everyday (but tried to ride most days), so you do it when you can and feel great pride in saving fuel, getting fitter and doing your best to help the environment.
Good for you!!!! Let us know how the commute home goes.

[Torrilin]

Go you! See? Roads aren't *that* bad! Good job stomping on your fears and getting it done.

[tjf9]

Congratulations! It will get easier as you do it. I've been commuting for about a month now, and I'm much more comfortable riding around in traffic than I was at the beginning. Also, if there are parts of your route you don't like, play around with it a bit. On a bike, longer is not necessarily a bad word. When I first started, the route I chose had quite a scary intersection in the middle. I did a little research (and watched the way some other cyclists we going) and discovered that if I veer off by about 8 blocks, it was *MUCH* safer. So even though it's a bit out of my way, I take that route every day - much better!

Good luck!

[RoseC]

The ride home was actually a lot easier than the ride in. My ride isn't uphill both ways...or at least it's more uphill on the way in than back. I took the left lane at both turns, and though I didn't do it very confidently and I'm sure I could do better, I didn't have any serious trouble, either. So that's good! I made it in forty-five or fifty minutes, just about...by car it takes me thirty-five a lot of days. I can live with a few extra minutes - especially since usually I've been crankily trying to get home so I can ride my bike!

I have a yellow mesh vest to wear, but right now I'm still toting stuff in a backpack, so I'm not sure how much good it would do. I folded it up and put it on my rack with a cargo net, so at least folks behind me would see me ahead of time. I'll be happier when I'm wearing it, dorky as it is. It's actually a road crew style one, so I need to do some playing with safety pins to get it usable. ;-)

So...now to see if I feel up to it tomorrow. A nearly 25 mile round trip is a bit much to bite off every day, but we shall see. I was amazed at how much easier it was doing it one half at a time than it was doing it all at once like I did on my weekend dry runs!

[enzed]

+1 for getting out there and riding your bike to work.

About the safety vest - it's okay to wear it with a backpack. If you get an extra large vest, it should fit over your backpack.
That's what I do anyway. It's not the most fashionable look (sometimes I look like an orange hunchback), but it makes me feel alot safer.

Left turns (right turns in Oz), can be a bit hairy at times. During peak-hour I feel safer doing a "hook" turn.

Happy riding

[RoseC]

What's a hook turn?

[enzed]

I thought I'd look up the official term for hook turn for you.


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Optional hook turn by a bicycle rider (s35)

You are able to turn right at an intersection on your bicycle using a hook turn (unless prohibited by a 'No hook turn by bicycles' sign). To do this:



Approach and enter the intersection from as near as practicable to the far left side of the road you are leaving.
Move forward until you are as near as practicable to the far side of the road you are entering. Keep as near as possible to the far left side of the intersection. Keep clear of any marked foot crossings. Keep clear of any driver turning left from the intersection.
If there are traffic lights on the intersection, wait until you are facing a green light before moving forward.
If there are no traffic lights on the intersection, give way to approaching drivers on the road you have just left, as required, then move forward.

----------------------------------------------------------

Of course, that all depends on the law in your country/state & you'll have to swap the words from right to left.

My theory on riding in traffic is to balance speed & safety. Whilst it might be faster taking the lane all the time, sometimes it's a good idea to play it safe.

For instance, if I'm stuck behind a long line of traffic waiting at the lights, I get on the footpath & walk my bike to the front of the lights (instead of passing on the left).
If I time it right, as soon as I reach the front of the line, the light turns green & off I go.


It all really depends on your "comfort zone" in regards to riding in traffic.
And also remember it's not a race. I think it's more fun, if I focus on the journey rather than my average speed.

Happy riding

[Melalvai]

Of course, that all depends on the law in your country/state & you'll have to swap the words from right to left.

Took me a minute to realize the picture represents where the rule is ride on the left and that you are from Australia.
For us the hook turn would be used on a left turn. Hold a mirror up to the computer screen and look at that picture again!

[RoadRaven]

Rose ROCKS!!!!

[bikerHen]

WAY TO GO GIRL! I ride about the same distance you are and breaking it up into two rides does help. I get really cranky if I don't do my commute EVERYDAY. Gotta love those endorphins. You'll find riding everyday isn't so bad once your body gets use to it. bikerHen

[RoseC]

I rode again today. Wore the safety vest - enzed was right, it fits over my backpack nicely. I look like a total dork, but I'm sure folks could see me coming a mile away - that lime green yellow color is BRIGHT. Plus it has reflective strips.

I'm still getting a feel for how to tackle each intersection, and on a few coming home, I don't think I did as well as I did yesterday. I'm trying not to beat myself up over it. There's one where a LOT of people turn left, to the point where traffic gets backed up into the not-turn lane further back. I think there I'd be better off riding through to the intersection and playing pedestrian. I don't fully understand the "hook turn" concept even now, though I gather that's one place I'd be likely to find it handy? Today I got into the line with the rest of the traffic and not only did it take forever to inch up to make the turn, but even though I wasn't *really* making things much if any slower, I think some of the other drivers felt like I was. I'll learn, I guess.

I followed a guy for awhile who had SUCH a sweet bike! Not made for much distance, but still, I *wanted*! He had a lovely honey Brooks B-66 or B-67, bright yellow (!!) Ortlieb waterproof panniers on what I think was an old Raleigh or something much like that. It was gorgeous...and I want those panniers! No excuses for not riding in the rain then...

I also had a car full of teenage boys yell something unintelligible at me really loud and then laugh when I jumped. *sigh* Ticked me off. I was wayyyy off the road, so they weren't doing it for any good reason.

[bikerHen]

Cars full of teenage boys SUCK! Big time! I've learned not to take them too personally. I can always tell when it's spring. That seems to be when the teenage boys come out of hibernation. bikerHen