How Was Your Commute Today?

[azfiddle]

I'm not a daily commuter, but have a goal to commute once a week for the rest of the school year. It's about 10 miles each way, uphill in the morning, and I take a slightly longer route in the morning to avoid some of the traffic. Yesterday was the 3rd time I've done it.

It took 47 minutes to ride, vs 20-24 minutes to drive, but I felt great when I got there. Coming home is easier.

I like riding my road bike, but it means having to use a back pack for my lap top and change of clothes. I have thought about riding my mixte, which has a pannier, but it is quite a bit heavier, and I'm not sure how much it would slow me down.... and it's already hard for me to get out the door at 6:30 am

[Melalvai]

I'm not a daily commuter, but have a goal to commute once a week for the rest of the school year. It's about 10 miles each way, uphill in the morning, and I take a slightly longer route in the morning to avoid some of the traffic.

I love hearing stories of how people get creative so that they can commute. Instead of saying "I don't have time to bike 10 miles each way every day" for example. Thanks for sharing!

[Crankin]

AZfiddle, I did what you are doing 1-2x a week for 5 years. I was also a teacher and I also made the choice to ride my road bike instead of my flat bar road bike with the pannier, because it was so much lighter. One thing that helped was I brought all of my hygiene supplies to keep at school and also a spare pair of underwear, black flats and a pair of capri pants and a black jacket. I would bring my clothes for the week in on Monday, but I also knew I had the extra stuff there, so I could just bring a t shirt with me. Another thing I did that made it easier was I showered at home and then "cleaned up" when I got to school, in the bathroom, put some make up on, and put gel in my hair. I didn't have to bring a lap top, so I used my Camelbak with the bladder taken out for a backpack. It was more anatomically correct than the other ones I had and I could easily get my lunch and a few papers, make up in there.
Commuting 1-2x a week kept me sane!

[7rider]

I'm not a daily commuter, but have a goal to commute once a week for the rest of the school year. It's about 10 miles each way, uphill in the morning, and I take a slightly longer route in the morning to avoid some of the traffic. Yesterday was the 3rd time I've done it.

I agree with Melalvai - congrats. No one ever said to be a bike commuter you have to go every day. It's all about providing an alternative. You find what works for you - equipment-wise, schedule-wise, etc. - and it provides you with a transportation alternative. Sometimes, the alternative saves you some money, sometimes it allows you to lose some weight, and sometimes - as Crankin found - it keeps you sane!

[ginny]

Well, my hip bruise is still around. Nonetheless, I have been biking. We finally have no ice left anywhere... it was warm this morning I love spring!

[azfiddle]

Thanks for the support and suggestions! I was hoping to ride Thursday as Friday is a day off, but it's going to be raining. I'm not that committed at this point. I might try for Weds if it's not too windy.

How much time do you regular commuters leave in case you have a flat??
Sharon

[ginny]

if I have a flat, I pick up my bike and go home or walk to work... I suppose if I was commuting farther, things would be different.

[HillSlugger]

Thanks for the support and suggestions! I was hoping to ride Thursday as Friday is a day off, but it's going to be raining. I'm not that committed at this point. I might try for Weds if it's not too windy.

How much time do you regular commuters leave in case you have a flat??
Sharon

I have what I need to repair a flat, but I don't plan in any extra time. I, however, have very flexible hours so it doesn't matter much.

[azfiddle]

I have everything to fix a flat.. though it might take me a good 10 minutes or more as I'm not very fast at it. I am supposed to be in my classroom by 7:30 but if I was 10 or 15 minutes late it would be okay...

Sharon

[lph]

Commuting today was lovely Took a look at my good bike (the purdy white one my dh got me for my 40th birthday) about a week ago and the disc brakes needed bleeding, they were all mushy. So I got a bleeder kit and figured out how to do that this weekend - spending 3 hours on the first wheel and 20 minutes on the second - and yay! today I got to ride in to work on summer tires for the first time!

Celebrated by taking the long way in, and going home I celebrated some more by riding up my hill repeat hill once as well. I had to pop by the gas station each way since the ride was longer than I'm used to, for a tired banana on the way in and smoothie on the way back, but I got home without feeling too wobbly.

(And I'm home alone because dh and son are off at the inlaws cabin, so I get to mess around all I like and eat what I want for dinner when I want. Tomorrow I plan on bringing my road bike indoors and working on it in the kitchen )

[Melalvai]

Really nice weather! I actually commuted three times today: two trips to campus, and one trip to the bank. My daughter joined me for the bank trip. I love it when she bikes with me. Her bike is my old bike, and therefore has one, and only one, toe clip, on the right. She forgot not to take her foot out, her shoe got stuck, and she fell over at the stop sign. Her leg is lightly scraped.

[katherine]

lph- how difficult/messy was it bleed your brakes? I've been thinking of trying to do mine, but the guys at my LBS, who obviously make money doing it for me, tell me I wouldn't want to try it at home.

I'm looking forward to my commute today, especially becasue Tuesdays and Thursdays I get to ride my son to preschool, and Thursday it's suppossed to snow! The humanity! So this is it for the two of us this week.

[Fredwina]

I got to the station and found that I had left the padlock for the equipment locker at home(Have a U - lock for the bike). got everything in my panniers for the train trip

[Atlas]

Since I got a job in town I've been commuting every day to work (3 days a week) as well as going downtown to see my partner at work on my day off. It's so wonderful to be back on my bike and to feel myself getting stronger each day. No longer completely winded when I get to work, and I've started sprinting the last stretch of road before our house. I have so much fun I might add longer routes (which is possible because I don't go to work until the afternoon).

[pfunk12]

I really enjoyed my commute this morning. There was a slight chill in the air and it was very, very windy. It was trying to rain but it never amounted to anything other than a sprinkle here and there. But the rain drops that pelted me in the face because of the strong winds? Ouch. Got to the Tidal Basin around 6:50. The Cherry Blossoms were gorgeous. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera at home but I will pack it tonight so I can take some photos tomorrow. So nice when the tourists aren't there.