I'd like to try commuting, but...

[Heifzilla]

If you click on "Walking" and then click the little camera icon, you can actaully drag the little man on the map and see photos of the entire route. Cool!
I have to say though after 'walking' the whole route by camera- I don't see a single hill anywhere. There might be some low 'inclines', but honestly it all looks completely flat to me. I guess we all see things relative to our own areas. If you find that hilly then I am sure after riding it for a few weeks it will not seem that hard to you anymore- really, your leg muscles will quickly build themselves up to handle that easily with regular riding.

I think your bigger challenge will be the darkness, and for that you should get a really good lighting system on your bike- front and back, and a strong steady white headlight AND a strong steady red tail light. Not just 'blinkies'. Also you should have some good quality reflective wear and buy some extra stick-on strips for helmet, backpack, buy spoke reflectors, reflective gloves, etc. Light yourself up like a Xmas tree!

Good for you in wanting to commute by bike! I'd say it's certainly do-able, especially just 3 times a week....just seems daunting at first.

Believe me, there are a couple of wicked hills even though it doesn't look like it. Wicked being relative to what you're used to. One of them I cannot make it up, even in granny gear...I can get halfway and then my bike stops moving and I fall over

Yeah, the lights would be important. I've been looking into some and I can't believe how expensive they are, but what price is your safety worth?

And it *is* daunting! And it's the dumb things you end up thinking about, too. Like helmet head. How do you deal with that once you get to work? I tuck all my hair up into my helmet and when I take it off I look like Nick Nolte I can handle the wiping down with babywipes thing (we have a shower and work but it is DISGUSTING, hasn't been used in who knows how long, and currently it has a toilet plunger in it and I don't know where that's been...yuck!), but the hair thing I'm not sure how to deal with. On the other hand, luckily for me I work as a vet tech, so it's not like I need to be stylin' at work or anything

I really want to do this but I really have to psych myself up to it.