First Commute This Tuesday!

[RolliePollie]

Well, I'm finally gonna do it! I'm taking a change of clothes, extra food and water, etc. to work tomorrow so it will be there waiting for me on Tuesday when I ride to work. It's about 13 miles each way. Getting there will be fast and fun...getting home will be the challenge! According to the route I've mapped on bikely.com, I get to climb over 3,300 feet on the way home. I do think bikely tends to over-estimate, so it's probably more like 2,900-3,000. Either way, that's plenty of climbing and it will be a challenge!

I'm not sure yet how I'm going to get across the highway when I get close to work. It's either a pedestrian over-crossing with horrible access on one side, or an extremely steep hill that I'll probably have to walk. I'm leaning towards the hill because I've really never ridden in traffic and the other route would include a busy stop sign intersection. I hate to admit that one silly intersection is scaring me, but it is! If I choose the hill, I may have to strap my Tevas on the bike so I have decent walking shoes.

Anyway, please wish me luck!

[sbctwin]

Good Luck, Sara on your first commute. After the first few times, you will feel more comfortable and decide which route will be best....

[KnottedYet]

Be sure to let us know how it goes tomorrow!

[onimity]

Good luck Sara!

I'd go for the hill, personally. I avoided the roads/intersections that scared me at first and then as I got more confident (and wanted to cut off time) I gradually developed a lot more routes. Make sure you bring some good snacks for work & the ride home.

Sounds like quite the ride home, but you will get really strong in no time.

Can't wait to hear how it goes!

Anne

[Geonz]

I'd go for the hill & walk it, too, tho' I'd try it both ways. Don't feel bad about "only one" thing... one life-threatening intersection is one more than I like, too~

[RoseC]

Woo-hoo! Good for you, and good luck!

I think I'd go with the hill, too. Scary intersections are...well...scary. But you can always adjust once you're comfortable with the route, one way or another.

[TracyRS]

Make sure that you give the report after your first day!

I've been reading the commute posts and am getting inspired. I need to do a trial run over the weekend to see how long it is going to take me to get in. Soon....

[RolliePollie]

I did it!!! Yahoo!

Everything went well and I'm very happy to know I can do it. Not sure I'll be riding to work on a regular basis, but who knows. Total mileage was 24.75, average speed was 11.9 mph (16.8 going to work, a lot slower going home!).

The ride down to work was great. It only took about 35 minutes and was relatively easy since I pretty much just pointed the bike downhill and coasted to town. Well, not really, but there were no big hill climbs and lots of easy spinning. I was actually cold, which is amazing for July. I ended up riding through downtown because there were some road closures due to construction. But that went well too. I lucked out on traffic and sailed through the "scary" intersection (you would all laugh if you saw what I'm labeling as scary...it barely qualifies as in intersection at all!).

The ride home was not bad at all. My boss told me about another route to avoid downtown and that worked out great. I had to pick the bike up and walk about 250 feet across a dirt field, but it was worth it because I avoided all the intersections. I was intimidated by all the climbing I knew I had to conquer as I've never tried that route before. But it was much easier than I was expecting! The hills on my normal training ride routes actually seem more difficult. It took me an hour and 20 minutes to get home.

All in all, the "first commute" was a wonderful experience. Folks at work were very impressed when they found out I was riding. Several offered to drive me home because they just couldn't believe I was going to ride all the way "up the hill" to get back home. I have to admit, I kind of liked it that they were impressed!!!

[michelem]

Wow! Congrats!

[onimity]

Hey Sara, congrats!!!

That's funny that so many people from your office offered to give you a ride home. I get that a lot too, at first people thinking that it might be too far to ride and any time it rains there are at least a few people that ask if I need a ride. I always appreciate it but it makes me laugh sometimes. I rode in the other day in a rainstorm and from the reaction of most of my co-workers you'd have thought that I'd walked on water. I kind of like that too.

One of my favorite things about commuting by bike is all of the cool routes I've found because my co-workers suggest them. Something about the bike by my desk makes a lot more people stop by to chat too, I think.

I hear you on the intersections...sometimes the little ones are the worst too because people don't expect that they have to pay so much attention. If you start commuting regularly you might want to get a mirror. I did that a while back and it has really improved my feelings about intersections.

Anne

[tjf9]

Congrats Sara!

I get offers of a ride home too, and I only live 4 miles away from work! It does feel good when your co-workers are impressed by your efforts. 13 miles each way? I'm really impressed, even if you only do it occasionally. Great job!

[RoadRaven]

Well done Sara for taking the plunge and just doing it!

I really enjoy commuting - its a great way to start the day, and I feel smugly satisfied in my own fitness (compared to my colleagues) and my greeness in not helping to fill the carpark with another gas guzzler!

I take it you negotiated the highway ok then??? Was that the "scarey intersection" you refer too?

LOL - like you, tjf and onimity I get offered rides, and incredulous looks that I commute on a bike "that" far (its only 24km each way). I point out it takes me 25 minutes to get to work in a car and on a good day with a tail wind only 40 minutes on my bike.

(I neglect to mention it takes me twice as long to get home - 600 metres above sea level - work is at sea level)

WOOHOO Sara! So begins the affair!

[Melalvai]

I have to admit, I kind of liked it that they were impressed!!!

The ego trip is my #1 reason for biking.
#2 is: it is fun
After that is environment, economy, political, health, etc.

[Geonz]

Do it again! Do it again!
It does wonders for your mileage totals.

[RolliePollie]

Uh oh, is this commuting thing addictive?!?! No one warned me! So I rode to work Tuesday, I have Wednesdays off (of course I always do a ride on Wednesdays!), and today I drove to work in my car. But I wanted to ride instead! Now I want to ride to work tomorrow!!! But I can't because I need a car to go to a meeting. Boo hoo.

I may start planning a once-a-week bicycle commute. Who knew it could be so fun getting to work? I am so glad I finally tried this!