I have expanded my route to 14 miles from the necessary 9.5. It looks like it will be realistic for me to commute 2-3 days a week. Today was a one way commute with both my bike and I catching a ride back to my car from a co-worker - due to winds in excess of 30 mph and threat of late afternoon thunder storms. At the end of my refreshing ride in this moring I got chased by a dog just after taking my lane for a left turn. I was able to out peddle the dog and it managed not to get plucked off by the garbage truck behind us and the oncoming traffic. I have been getting up at 4:40 so that I can get not only the commute in, but also some extra miles. I have been arriving at work 45 minutes before start time and am amazed at the energy I have. Sleeping like a rock at night too. I work on a Reservation with lots of forest and keep thinking that one of these mornings I am going to see a bear. Last spring one waddled across the road about 100 feet ahead of me.