Commuting Distance?

[northstar]

I wear bike clothes. It's just more comfortable for me.

[RoseC]

My commute is too long for it to make sense to wear anything but bike clothes. Not to mention that I pretty much *always* manage to give myself a chain ring tattoo when I ride, no matter how hard I try to prevent it...

[Voodoo Sally]

I ride about 8 miles to work each way.

I don't push it, so I don't work up a big sweat. I wear casual clothes, which I then wear at work. It's just easier to not have to change clothes. If they're somewhat sweaty, they dry soon enough.

[Melalvai]

Not to mention that I pretty much *always* manage to give myself a chain ring tattoo when I ride, no matter how hard I try to prevent it...

You know, I was having a terrible time with chainring tattoos, and I was trying to be so careful. Suddenly they just stopped and I don't know why. I don't know what I'm doing differently. I thought maybe I was keeping my bike cleaner, but tonight I had a little oops getting on & off, and got a nice tattoo, so I think it's that I finally got more graceful or something. It took months.

[onimity]

The same thing happened to me with the chainring tattoos too. (Though I call them turkey tracks. ) They just stopped happening...mostly.

My worst was in the crotch of my favorite jeans. I was to play host to a guy coming in to train a bunch of our engineers and debated whether I should bring nice clothes in or wear jeans. So of course I put on the jeans and a nice blouse, and packed heels. I took my bike on the bus and as I was lifting it on to the front rack lost my grip and got a huge greasy chainring mark right in the crotch of my jeans. The impact didn't feel too good either.

At least my guest had a good sense of humor. Turns out he commutes by bike too.

[RoseC]

Ouch, Onimity!

I just always seem to get my right leg at some point. I never notice it happen! I try to keep my chain and bike clean, and try to walk the bike from the opposite side if I need to walk it...but every day when I get to work, there's that chain ring tattoo, clear as anything. It's *almost* kinda cool...but it doesn't quite fit with my work attire...

[KnottedYet]

I like my constant chainring tattoos so much that I'm considering getting a real tattoo of a chainring on my right calf!

[RoseC]

I'm not really the tattoo type...but I kinda like that idea!

[Melalvai]

I was pretty proud of my chainring tattoos but I was even prouder of not having them.

My biking friend made fun of me because I always had one, and one day I showed up covered in them, because I'd had a hard time getting my bike on and off the bike rack on the car. He sure laughed then! (I laughed too.)

Baby oil gets them off the legs just fine, but they do stick to the clothes.

[RoadRaven]

For those of you who ride longer distances, what do you prefer to wear? Do you get all decked out in jersey, fancy shorts, clipless shoes, etc? Or do you just go T-shirt and shorts? Or even wear work clothes?

I always wear bike shorts and jersey... as my distance is over 20kms each way and I commute on my race bike there is no way "normal" shorts would be comfortable for sitting.

I leave work clothes at work, as well as towels, shampoo, soap and deodourant.

[crumpincommuter]

The name pretty much implies the connection to this thread..... The commute varies between 30+- 40+, depending on weather and route. I've got the distinct pleasure of having the majority of the ride parelleling some of the most picturesque landscape in Ct, so on beautiful days the longer the better.

Last year was really the first year, doing it on my road bike; but combination of back pack and road bike posture was too much. Not to mention the first "ding" from some boob at the bike rack, sent me over the edge! So invested a few bucks in a nice commuter bike (Specialized Globe City) with racks and self generating lights. It's already paid for itself; rather than paying for gas, parking.

Spread the good word- CT (and Hartford area) slowly becoming a bike friendly community-YEAH!

[marybee]

I commute 18 miles one way, then I take the bus home, but that's another 4 miles from my job, so grand total of 22 miles. Ride in takes about 1.5 hours, because of traffic lights, stop signs, and hills. I do this 2 or 3 times a week in season (not when it gets cold or the days are short, since I hate biking in the semi-dark...) I love love love the ride in, much of it in the countryside with little traffic-- I've seen deer, pheasants, grouse, and all manner of small wildlife on my commute, I listen to the birds, I used to listen to my iPod but I sort of got away from that, just like to think & enjoy the ride. I wear bike clothes because I get all sweaty but fortunately there's a shower at my workplace.
I plan to take early retirement next year and work at home. The only downside to that, I see, is that I won't be able to commute to work!

[Aggie_Ama]

My idea of Hybrid commuting (drive to bus station, ride from drop off to work) was squashed when I found the bus going my way was not equipped with a bike rack. We noticed they are about open the extension of the best road to both mine and my husband's work. It will be about 20 miles but I may be able to do it with DH, an added plus. We go in early, so traffic is not a big issue. It will be nice when the days are shorter to have a guaranteed work out. We are looking into joining the gym near my work so I can shower and have a rainy day/cold weather workout option. He works outside so no one will notice a little extra sweat, must be nice!