How Was Your Commute Today?

[Melalvai]

My co-workers think I am a little crazy, but I can handle that. Afterall it seems like I am the only one that arrives to work smiling. They don't know what they are missing by driving.

Way to go! Your co-workers will get used to it, after a few years. Good luck with commuting! It is so rewarding. Sounds like you have a great schedule for it. I hope you have good lights!

[Psycler]

I hope you have good lights!

Yes, I have very good lights and lots of reflective gear.

[Catrin]

My co-workers already think I am nuts once they learned I have TWO bikes...it will be interesting to see how they react when they start seeing one of them in my office every Tuesday

There is no safe bike parking - at least not where I would leave MY bike, and have permission to have it in my office

[redrhodie]

I had rain both ways today. I love riding in the rain, but the bike cleaning part is a drag. It took me an extra half hour after each ride to get it and me dry, plus cleaning the gunk off the floors. I'm lucky to have access to a clothes dryer at work, so I didn't have to put wet clothes on at the end of the day. I stuffed my shoes with newspaper, and they were nearly dry by the time I left work. This morning, I felt like my feet were in sinking boats as I rode. As unpleasant as that is, the ride was worth it.

[kmehrzad]

My co-workers already think I am nuts once they learned I have TWO bikes...it will be interesting to see how they react when they start seeing one of them in my office every Tuesday

When I ride into the office, I keep my bike in my small cubicle. Folks walking by usually make positive comments about riding in AND occasionally a co-worker will want to ride the bike down the long hallway. They're cool with the idea of a bike in the office, thankfully.

[BikingNurse]

OK I actually walked to work today but my Dolce Triple came in so my friend dropped me off at the LBS at lunch so it actually starts with lunch time but just the same, It was a commute to work from the LBS which is farther away than my home.
Slightly rainy, up hill with head wind. Loved it all (except the headwind) Birds were singing and traffic was pretty low. Going home tonight I have to go to the hospital to drop off surgery papers then can head home. But I'm putting my computer on today before I leave the office. My legs were not happy with me and as were my lungs but my heart was saying THIS IS AWSOME!!

[7rider]

My co-workers already think I am nuts once they learned I have TWO bikes...

They would find me certifiable, with 5! (and plotting for a 6th with my federal tax return!)

It was wet this a.m., so my shins were covered in grime by the time I got to the office. Was dry and windy for the ride home, and DH rode down to meet me at my locker so we could ride back together. It was good to have somebody to draft off on the route home.

I had to clean up my commuter when I got back. It was a mess!

[tzvia]

Strangest but best commute today.

Being a recovering couch potato, back on the bike since '08 after a 6 year run as a junkfood junkie, and now 50, I don't claim to be a rocket on a bike. No one has ever ever ever commented on my bike-ability or fitness till today.

On the way home I have a long straight run of about 5 miles, and about half a mile in, a guy about my age (maybe a bit younger), turns just behind me from a cross street. I barely take notice as I click through the gears, taking this ride to try and spin smoothly at about 90rpm. I'm doing 19mph, feeling good as I normally don't go so fast on my 29lb commuter but I want to get home. Some dope steps out into the street in front of me, and I quickly, without thinking, brake while lifting and getting behind the seat as if I am going down a hill, just to keep control. I just miss him. Stopping at the light, after about 10 seconds, the guy on the bike pulls up onto the sidewalk on my right and says 'Boy, you are in really good shape, I had trouble trying to keep up!" I could only stammer "You're in good shape too." We talk for a few moments about the bikes, he is on an older steel MTB. The light changes and he motions for me to go first. At the next light, he says "thanks for the workout" and I replied to have a safe ride.

Ok, I'm stoked.

It sounds like I'm not the only one here with co-workers who think we are nuts. Hey, you all are all in better shape than most of them so just smile. I told a co-worker the other day that my resting HR was 49 and he said I was dead!

[Crankin]

I always had the same experience/comments from my colleagues when I commuted. Even my (12 year old) students gave me grief (you rode 13 miles????). It got old after awhile, especially since most of them were young enough to be my kid.

[Psycler]

I had a good commute yesterday. A little cold outside, but I actually overcompensated and had a little too much on. So I just rode a little slower and enjoyed the ride more.


I didn't ride on Monday. Rained all day. Normally I don't like to ride to work if it is raining or will be on the way home. I don't like to arrive to work a mess and on the way home, I don't like to give drivers more of an excuse to hate my existence. They already don't think I should be out there at night, forget about the rain.
However, reading all of your posts where you do commute in rain and deal with it, maybe I should be out there a little more too.
I think I have the clothing down when I won't be too messy arriving at work. And I can still deal with angry drivers.

[Atlas]

I've finally relinquished some of my adoration for my Cross Check because I took my vintage Motobecane to work a couple days ago when it threatened to rain. It has fenders and my CC doesn't. I love the Surly so much that I don't really mind getting dirty on the way home. Anyway, it was quite a jolt to the system to get on an upright cruiser and putz around instead of buckling down and speeding down to work. Nice change of pace.

AND...I finally got a helmet. I'd been putting it off because of the price and the silliness but after reading some old threads here about no one looking good in one and hearing stories from friends who have had some bad accidents I thought, this is stupid, get something on your head. So thanks TE.

[BikingNurse]

Yea for helmets!!! Glad you got one. I look very silly and my hubby is quick to let me know that. but I don't care! I like my brains inside my head.

Hmm. 46 degrees today. Still a bit windy today but I took the long way to work and rode 3 miles instead of 1. Second day on my bike.... SO out of shape but I will be doing alot better by August I hope my first official 75 miler of the year is 8/7.

[lph]

Helmets do not look silly! Well, maybe they do to everybody else, but when I see someone riding at any kind of speed without one I think "urk, crazy guy, better keep away from this lunatic".

Seriously. A helmet makes me think "oh, good, a real cyclist". Tight spandex in glorious multicolour can look a bit silly, and the prancing walk one gets in roadie shoes but helmets, no.

[Biciclista]

It never rains when there' s a full moon, right? uh. yeah, sure. Today dawned slightly overcast, the sky had clouds scudding by all day. 10 minutes before I had to leave work...
it started... to rain.... good thing i have rain gear. By the time I got home water was puddling in my shoes.... hehe

[7rider]

Windy!
Why is it always a wicked headwind going home? Going home is primarily UP hill the whole way!
Tomorrow I have to take the truck in, as I have an appointment right after work that I can't get to via bike.
I don't remember the last time I took the truck in. Sometime last year? Maybe more. Huh.