aeiea, I am going to follow your lead...
my commute is only about 7 miles though...in a car it takes me 25 minutes...factoring in red lights and jerky drivers blocking thru-lanes from their turn lane...

I have been scoping out the shoulders on possible routes to and from work and with a blessing of good weather I am going to go for the first time on my bike tomorrow.

Aside from a bumpy (post-earthquake...unrepaired) shoulder I think my biggest worry at 7 am might be stinky exhaust...wish me luck all...I will, of course, post tomorrow.