How Was Your Commute Today?

[azfiddle]

I'm not a daily commuter, but have a goal to commute once a week for the rest of the school year. It's about 10 miles each way, uphill in the morning, and I take a slightly longer route in the morning to avoid some of the traffic. Yesterday was the 3rd time I've done it.

It took 47 minutes to ride, vs 20-24 minutes to drive, but I felt great when I got there. Coming home is easier.

I like riding my road bike, but it means having to use a back pack for my lap top and change of clothes. I have thought about riding my mixte, which has a pannier, but it is quite a bit heavier, and I'm not sure how much it would slow me down.... and it's already hard for me to get out the door at 6:30 am

[Melalvai]

I'm not a daily commuter, but have a goal to commute once a week for the rest of the school year. It's about 10 miles each way, uphill in the morning, and I take a slightly longer route in the morning to avoid some of the traffic.

I love hearing stories of how people get creative so that they can commute. Instead of saying "I don't have time to bike 10 miles each way every day" for example. Thanks for sharing!

[Crankin]

AZfiddle, I did what you are doing 1-2x a week for 5 years. I was also a teacher and I also made the choice to ride my road bike instead of my flat bar road bike with the pannier, because it was so much lighter. One thing that helped was I brought all of my hygiene supplies to keep at school and also a spare pair of underwear, black flats and a pair of capri pants and a black jacket. I would bring my clothes for the week in on Monday, but I also knew I had the extra stuff there, so I could just bring a t shirt with me. Another thing I did that made it easier was I showered at home and then "cleaned up" when I got to school, in the bathroom, put some make up on, and put gel in my hair. I didn't have to bring a lap top, so I used my Camelbak with the bladder taken out for a backpack. It was more anatomically correct than the other ones I had and I could easily get my lunch and a few papers, make up in there.
Commuting 1-2x a week kept me sane!

[7rider]

I'm not a daily commuter, but have a goal to commute once a week for the rest of the school year. It's about 10 miles each way, uphill in the morning, and I take a slightly longer route in the morning to avoid some of the traffic. Yesterday was the 3rd time I've done it.

I agree with Melalvai - congrats. No one ever said to be a bike commuter you have to go every day. It's all about providing an alternative. You find what works for you - equipment-wise, schedule-wise, etc. - and it provides you with a transportation alternative. Sometimes, the alternative saves you some money, sometimes it allows you to lose some weight, and sometimes - as Crankin found - it keeps you sane!