How Was Your Commute Today?

[VeganBikeChick]

I finally did it! Biked to work tonight. It was a gorgeous day out, so there was no reason not to. With traffic, and walking my bike up 3 uphill blocks, it took me 22 min to go 2 miles. Pitiful, but not as bad as taking the bus the same distance that takes 35-40min. And the ride home in the AM is all downhill. I'm guessing 10 min?

[Tri Girl]

Yay!!!!

[Melalvai]

That's great! I have some advice for getting up those hills without having to walk them. Use lower and lower gears early on in the hill. Before it gets hard to pedal, shift down, and down, and down. Even if you are in your very lowest gear pedaling like mad to go so slowly up that hill, you are proceeding faster than a walk.

Traffic can really slow you down. A commute isn't a race, your goal is to get there and get home, and if you can do it comfortably so much the better. Way to go!

[redrhodie]

Woohoo! After a whole week of intense wind from the NNE, it finally changed direction, and calmed. I got lucky, tailwinds both ways today. I feel so special.

I was extra careful because it's Friday the 13th, but no one did anything stupid, even me (for once ). Great commutes, a perfect sunny day. I'll take this any time!

[redrhodie]

I was extra careful because it's Friday the 13th, but no one did anything stupid, even me (for once ).

Maybe I spoke too soon. I got a messenger bag as a gift yesterday, and rode home with it in the evening. I didn't have much in it, but it seems riding 15 miles with it was more than I was ready for, my back is telling me now. Ouch. Hopefully this will work itself out now that it's the 14th. Taking a rest day, doing some light stretching, hoping this gets better on its own.

[MyRubyE]

I'm really enjoying my bike commutes and change my bikes on occasion to mix it up a bit. I have two English roadsters (Raleigh and Pashley: 3 and 5 speeds, both have racks). On Friday I rode my road bike with a messenger style bag. My goal is to commute 3 - 4 days per week, but I hope to commute on a daily basis, once the April/May showers stop.

[redrhodie]

A funny thing happened on my way home from work tonight. The tour of California was starting at 5 pm, and I worked until 4:20; 15 mile bike ride, plus a 20 minute car ride, I knew I couldn't make it home by 5, but I was motivated to try! So motivated I passed and dropped a guy on a road bike. As I was loading my bike in my car, he rode by, and yelled, "thanks for the humbling experience." I laughed and said sorry. I wonder if he noticed I was on a steel bike with a rack, or just that I was female. Anyway, it was good he had a sense of humor about it. I rode really hard. I actually felt like puking a couple of times.

The irony, the race was canceled due to weather. What's up with that? I haven't seen the west coast forecast yet. Everything okay out there?

[VeganBikeChick]

That's great! I have some advice for getting up those hills without having to walk them. Use lower and lower gears early on in the hill. Before it gets hard to pedal, shift down, and down, and down. Even if you are in your very lowest gear pedaling like mad to go so slowly up that hill, you are proceeding faster than a walk.

Traffic can really slow you down. A commute isn't a race, your goal is to get there and get home, and if you can do it comfortably so much the better. Way to go!

Thanks so much! The positivity really helps. I was in my lowest gear and still had to stop, but I just need more practice to increase my aerobic capacity. When I can feel like I can breathe and pedal at the same time, all will be well . And you're right, it's not a race, it's just so nice to see how much shorter my commute time is by not taking the bus. The ride home today was 12 min .

[azfiddle]

Did my once-weekly commute (20 miles RT). It was beautiful this morning and almost no wind (which is always a head wind for part of the way). The return trip was hot (95 degrees) but I have learned to stop at add ice to my water bottle at the half-way mark, which makes it much easier. The way home is slightly downhill and with the relative calm, I was speeding along at more than 20 mph for most of the way!

[RadicalEdward]

Managed to get back on my bike today after a couple of day riding hiatus (due to the -6 degrees centigrade in the mornings, and my current inability to find the right warm riding gear)

but its a balmy 15 outside now - thinking I might have worn gear this morning that was 'just' adequate to maintain my core temperature while riding, that will now be too warm riding home
But it's better than the bus

and I can I just add - for anyone that is hesitant to shower at work
Commercial Hot Water + Commercial Water pressure = the shower of my dreams
(At least there's a massive difference here.. you guys might all be spoilt with great water pressure at home)

[Kerry1976]

It was a cool 39 this morning but my toes were warm in my sandals since I wore socks (took off at the office - they looked kinda goofy!) My fingers were a little cold, too, but nothing I couldn't handle. It is supposed to be mid-60s this afternoon so the ride home should be lovely.

[Kerry1976]

So happy that I covered my saddle with a shower cap last night! When I went outside to saddle up to go to work, there was a heavy layer of dew all over everything - but I had a nice and dry seat on my ride to work. (anyone else riding their bike was going to have to wipe off the seat and/or have a wet butt).

I totally consider that a victory!

[pfunk12]

I guess this is a pre-commute story. I was getting ready to leave my building to go home. I hit the elevator button. The elevator came down and when the door opened, one of my co-workers was standing there with a DC Bike Share bike. I was surprised and I said, "Wow! Good for you!" She just looked at me and jokingly said, "Get your own elevator!" as the door shut. Seeing someone else with a bike in my building made my day.

[rubysoho]

today was meant to be my first, real commute (round trip, 24 miles). But last night my chain was all messed up. Thought I fixed it (a friend was walking me through the steps over the phone) then this morning the same mishap occured right as I was pushing off. I'm sure it is a simple fix but my novice self doesn't know what more I can do. I commuted to work today with my bike... on the back of my car so we can head over to the bikestore at lunch. **pout**

At least it didn't happen half-way through my first attempt. I'll try again on Friday if the good weather holds.

[Trek420]

Rain yesterday, rain tomorrow (yep. I'm a wimp. A fair weather cyclist at best) and more rain this weekend but it's nice today!

Last night I pumped up the tires, picked out clothes (Columbia Titanium capris which I love because the zip thigh pocket is perfect for a cell phone or keys, zip rear pocket makes it easy to grab the train ticket) and an extra shirt, and rode in today.

My ride was pleasant and uneventful, I seemed to hit every light at the right time, generally polite drivers etc.

Left the train two stops early to get another short ride in. There's a station near work but it's a bear to navigate. Easier to leave at the lake and ride the quiet residential streets or around the lake than fight the downtown elevator and traffic. Got in with time to grab a cuppa coffee