It's Official: I'm a Bike Commuter

[CorsairMac]

We've got a thread around here somewhere about bike commuting but basically I leave a pair of jeans, a bra and tennies at work and carry a shirt, undies and socks in a backpack with my lunchbag. Winter is tougher because I wear so many more layers in the mornings that I have to carry home at night but I have a rack on one bike that I can use to carry the extra stuff back home in. I also have WetOnes at work that I can use to freshen up when I get here or when I take a lunch ride. Plus a hairbrush and deodorant. On the very rare days I drive - I get almost cranky, I really miss that morning commute!

So - how did your commute go today??

and yes RM - my evening commute home is uphill the whole 6 bloody miles! Some days in some pretty nasty headwinds! (some days in some pretty awesome tailwinds! )

and thanks Tulip but I've been a bike commuter for almost 2 yrs now - I just couldn't get my insurance company to see me as one - until my lease ran out and I traded in my truck.

My agent told me the insurance company would call me every year to check the odo readings on the truck to confirm I wasn't using it for work - now whether they really Do call me or not is to be seen. I just have to be sure it stays under 8,000 miles - which doesn't seem to be a problem anymore.

[nuthatch]

On the very rare days I drive - I get almost cranky, I really miss that morning commute!

And today is a cranky day for me! Rain and tired legs kept me on the trainer this morning instead of riding in to work. Really it's the evening commute I miss the most - it just makes me feel frisky instead of sluggardly in the evening. Of course, I don't have a six mile mountain to ride up!

[Blueberry]

Congratulations on your car deal!

Any tips on bike commuting? I biked my route this morning and tomorrow will be my first day commuting. I can no longer take the Metro DC traffic, which is funny because I have only lived here for a little less than a year! It is only 15 miles (30 round trip) so I just decided to dive in...

How did it go??? Inquiring minds want to know...

I can't imagine biking in the DC traffic You are braver than I am

Carrie Anne

[snowtulip]

Corsair, you're a commuting maniac (I mean it in a good way)! I might have to post a picture of you on my door in the morning, so as I'm walking out I'll be reminded that you're commuting while I'm being lazy in my car!

[tulip]

Congratulations on your car deal!

Any tips on bike commuting? I biked my route this morning and tomorrow will be my first day commuting. I can no longer take the Metro DC traffic, which is funny because I have only lived here for a little less than a year! It is only 15 miles (30 round trip) so I just decided to dive in...

Where are you commuting from and to? The beautiful thing about commuting by bike is that you do not have to take the same roads as when you drive. I've learned my way all around DC by trying out different routes.

Let us know how it went. It might take some tweaking, but I bet you'll be an old pro in no time.

[molly_DC]

Well it went great. I definitely need to reduce the amount of stuff I carry with me. My bag weighed a ton! I took the Mt. Vernon Trail in Alexandria to the Four Mile Run to the W&OD. I live in Alexandria and work in Viennia. It is 15 miles one way, so 30 miles was a bit of a challenge because I have not biked since July 2005. I had a wreck last July and broke my elbow. But more than the broken bone, it took me a while to get the confidence back up. The network of bike paths in this area are very impressive.

[nuthatch]

Holy cow, you have paths and trails the whole way?!? That's great!

[molly_DC]

While the trails are impressive, they do include some road riding. I did have a rather close call with a painting van. The metro DC area has a network of rail-to-trail paths, which are pretty nice. But once on the street, it can be a bit of white-knuckle experience, don't get me wrong.

[CorsairMac]

yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Molly!!! welcome to the wonderful world of bike commuting!! the streets can be a little hairy at first, I ride to work every morning down a very busy street with a bike lane but that doesn't mean they know I'm there. Just keep on eye on the cars front tire when you come to an intersection - it'll always tell you what the cars gonna do even if the driver can't. and like everything else - it will get better, no less cautious but less white knuckle! I had to smile at your pack being overpacked - I started out the same way until I learned what I could pare down, what I could fit in rack packs and what I could carry. Now my biggest fear is I'll forget something (like the other day when I forgot to pack lighter weight socks for work lol) and have to figure out how to make do with my bikie stuff! lol

and tnx Snow - but there are days as I walk my bike out past my truck that I think "why the heck am I even Doing this?? I have a Perfectly good vehicle sitting right here, nice, warm, enclosed, more than willing to drive me there"! I haven't given in to that - yet but some of those winter mornings I had to wonder whos bright idea THIS was?? lol