Welcome guest, is this your first visit? Click the "Create Account" button now to join.

To disable ads, please log-in.

Shop at TeamEstrogen.com for women's cycling apparel.

Results 1 to 15 of 15
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    California's Central Valley
    Posts
    106

    Doin' it for the first time....

    To disable ads, please log-in.

    ....this morning!!!! I am a little scared and excited. Half of my route is on the bike path that runs through town here so that part is easy, and there are no hills at all.
    I can't wait!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Arlington, Va
    Posts
    8
    Congratulations! I just did my commute for the first time this morning too. All but the last mile on trails. Took twice as long as it should have (I got lost on the last mile), but I am so glad I did it!

    How was yours?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Folsom CA
    Posts
    5,667
    Excellent!

    2009 Lynskey R230 Houseblend - Brooks Team Pro
    2007 Rivendell Bleriot - Rivet Pearl

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    682
    Have fun!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    where the wind comes sweeping down the plain
    Posts
    5,251
    Way to go!!! Lets hear all about it when you get home today.
    Check out my running blog: www.turtlepacing.blogspot.com

    Cervelo P2C (tri bike)
    Bianchi Eros (commuter/touring road bike)

    1983 Motobecane mixte (commuter/errand bike)
    Cannondale F5 mountain bike

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Nomadic
    Posts
    337
    Congrats to both of you first timers! We want full reports!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    California's Central Valley
    Posts
    106
    It was great! It is about a 3.5 mile ride each way, with about half on a bike trail so that cuts out traffic a lot...and the rest is on quiet side streets. I left plenty of time and still got to work early (took about 20 mins)! At about 0800, I had to take a patient for a scan and I was talking to the tech...he said that I seemed "really energetic this morning" and I told him it was because I rode my bike to work....he was really impressed!
    Funny thing is, I got sent home early due to a drop in our patient census so I got to ride home after only working 4 hours and before the main heat of the day-I had been worried a little about riding home in the evening after working 12 hours mostly on my feet. Made it home with no trouble at all, even though there was a bit more traffic.
    All in all a good intro to commuting! Thanks for the encouragement!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    Puget Sound area, Washington state
    Posts
    765
    Quote Originally Posted by Medianox View Post
    It was great! ... At about 0800, I had to take a patient for a scan and I was talking to the tech...he said that I seemed "really energetic this morning" and I told him it was because I rode my bike to work....he was really impressed!
    Great job! And I chuckled to myself when I read your reference to the tech saying that you "seemed really energetic"...as I've had the same experience.

    When I first commuted to the office by bike, I felt great, of course and, was greeting colleagues enthusiastically when they got to the office after I had been there a while. I recall that one remarked to me that, "you rode in today, didn't you?" - I was taken aback as it had kind of an accusatory sound to it, so I nodded that I had and he added that, "everyone knows when you ride, cuz your energy level is off the charts and we're not even really awake yet!"... oops! note to self: tone it down and look forward to the return ride home...
    Tailwinds!
    Mary

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    where the wind comes sweeping down the plain
    Posts
    5,251
    Congrats!!!! Sounds like it was a great first day of commuting. Hopefully there will be many, many more.
    Yeah, my mood was always a million times better the few times I've commuted. Now that my new job is only 2 miles away, I plan to be in a great mood every day.
    Check out my running blog: www.turtlepacing.blogspot.com

    Cervelo P2C (tri bike)
    Bianchi Eros (commuter/touring road bike)

    1983 Motobecane mixte (commuter/errand bike)
    Cannondale F5 mountain bike

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Arlington, Va
    Posts
    8
    That sounds like a wonderful first ride in!

    Mine was 15 miles in and 15 miles home. The ride in was wonderful, I practically had the trails to myself, and besides getting lost once I got off the trail and on the streets, it was great. The ride home was a little tense on the busy streets to get to the trial, but a wonderful ride home also even in the heat. I was worried when I started home because I was so worn out for the day, but after a few minutes of riding I got my second wind.

    I hope to do it 3-4 times a week going forward. It takes longer than driving in, but is so much more enjoyable!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Posts
    1,249
    I am always anxious before a new commute. Mine are 12 miles each way and wind through the city of St. Louis. The anxiety usually transforms into exhilaration once I remember that I'm in control, everything is fine and that at 5:30-6:30 AM there aren't many people on the roads!

    I also found out this morning with my trusty Polar HR monitor that I burned 800 calories while commuting with 20 lbs on my bike!
    Help me reach my $8,000 goal for the American Lung Association! Riding Seattle to D.C. for clean air! http://larissaridesforcleanair.org
    http://action.lungusa.org/goto/larissapowers

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    3,151
    And you might want to look into a "road riding" course to boost your skills and confidence, just for fun.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Alabama
    Posts
    71
    Congrats - that's awesome! I wish I could do the same, but I don't have the guts to ride in all that traffic!
    Amy

    Kickin' it old school on my Huffy, but hey, I RIDE!

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Montreal, Quebec
    Posts
    30

    Beware

    Commuting by bike is HIGHLY addictive!!!!
    I just can't get enough of it.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    7
    Quote Originally Posted by Fontinalis View Post
    Commuting by bike is HIGHLY addictive!!!!
    I just can't get enough of it.
    I can't wait to try it out! I'm google mapping my route right now and I'm going to try it out tmrw!
    "Nothing’s better than the wind to your back, the sun in front of you, and your friends beside you." umgd

 

 

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •