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!

[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!

[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?

[Crankin]

It was snowing in Lake Tahoe and there was ice on the road.

[redrhodie]

It was snowing in Lake Tahoe and there was ice on the road.

Oh, thanks!


Edit: Wait...snow? In California? In May? Is that normal?

[Kerry1976]

Today I took BlueBell (my Trek Pure lowstep) on her first foray to the office.

I learned a few things.
--Not sure about the front basket. Made the steering a little wonky. We'll see how I feel on that tonight or tomorrow.
--I cannot hike her up and down stairs at my apartment, especially with a full basket. So, she will stay locked up outside (still pondering a BF Model T Tikit).
--I only live a mile from work in a university community, and with the students having graduated and gone home, this was the perfect day to start commuting.
--As it heats up (this morning was upper 30s-lower 40s and that will be a distant memory soon) I'll have to have better plans in terms of sweat management. Even today I was sweating.
--Sweaty hands mean I need to wear my gloves, even for such a short trip!
--Helmet head wasn't much of an issue as I don't blow dry my hair anyway and the trip was so short.
--I got to work fast and it was fun!
--If I keep riding her, def need to get fenders. (this is where I need to decide if going for BF Tikit or not)

[Melalvai]

--Not sure about the front basket. Made the steering a little wonky. We'll see how I feel on that tonight or tomorrow.

I haven't ever biked with weight on the front tire, but I've heard it just takes some getting used to.

[Kerry1976]

I haven't ever biked with weight on the front tire, but I've heard it just takes some getting used to.

I was surprised at the difference it made! My particular basket holds very little weight/volume, so a back rack and panniers are important. (of course, that is when I ask - do I spend the money here or on rack/fenders/panniers for a new BF Tikit? - UGH!)

I should add to things I've learned - wearing sandals when temps are in the 30s and 40s makes for cold toes when going to work! BRRR!

[Kerry1976]

I was surprised at the difference it made! My particular basket holds very little weight/volume, so a back rack and panniers are important. (of course, that is when I ask - do I spend the money here or on rack/fenders/panniers for a new BF Tikit? - UGH!)

I should add to things I've learned - wearing sandals when temps are in the 30s and 40s makes for cold toes when going to work! BRRR!

Things I learned on my ride home: I hate leaving my bike parked outside overnight. But carrying her up and down the stairs constantly simply won't do.