Day 1

[celticgarden]

Thanks for all the encouragement. After filling the minivan yesterday to the tune of $62 decided to bite the bullet and begin my commuting today. 31F this morning but it'll be 58F later.

Stuff I'm glad I got:

Nightrider MiNewt 250 headlight. Love everything about it, the USB charger, the brightness, secure mount.

Tire Sprax - very cool and adds visibility.

Planet bike red blinky. Effortless. Essential.

Bar end mirror. My preferred type.

I'm sure I'll be glad for the SKS Beavertail fenders. Well, I was glad during weekend "practice" rides.

The 2 egg omelet on a tortilla I made the night before. Nuked at work.

The locker previously prepared with shower stuff. The "help" ticket I submitted to our site maintenance last summer to unblock the drains in the women's shower! Very grateful for that one.

I travel with panniers, cheap ones. Think they'll need replacing sooner rather than later but they'll do for now. Like an idiot I packed the spare tube and tire "irons" but not a pump. Need to get one ASAP. Recommendations?

Could have used a cover for my ears. My thin hat and fleece headband disappeared in the winter kid hustle. I could actually sew something up from stuff I have lying about.

Beautiful misty morning. Dawn lighting up the sky next to the Thames. Love, love love riding. Saw a wee fox underneath the Gold Star Bridge (east coast Route 95). He watched me approach, took his time evaluating me then fled like the devil pursued.

Loved riding through quiet neighborhoods.

Thanks for letting me rave, knew you'd all understand.

Linda

[Tri Girl]

Congrats!!!!
Glad you got all the stuff taken care of in advance (the showers, the breakfast ready to zap, the fenders). Sounds like you're ready to roll and have thought of most everything! Yippee for commuting!!!

I have a Topeak Road Morph. It has a guage built in and a hose with a little foot pedal that you can use to make it more like a floor pump. It's not light (they make a Mini Morph without the gague), but it's on my touring/commuting rig- so nothing is light about that bike and plus- I want to see what my tires are pumped up to so the gague was essential for me (even tho it's not totally accurate- it's within about 5 psi if my big floor pump). And it pumps up to 110 without a lot of effort (can't say that for the other 3 frame pumps I've had).

[out_spokin']

Another congrats! I love fox-encounter mornings, the best! And nothing beats having things in place the night (summer! ) before for hassle-free commuting.

+1 on the Road Morph w/ guage, though my commuter bike actually has a water-bottle-mounted Blackburn Kamikaze, no longer made but substitute a Shorty or Mammoth, etc. Since I run 26 x 1.5 wheels/tires at lower pressure, the key for my on this one was always having it on the bike, SECURE mount (for riding + bike on bus) and with a convertible T-handle for ease of pumping. We like Blackburn at the LBS I work part time at because of a rock-solid warranty, but I love the Road Morph for higher pressure like TriGirl noted.

[celticgarden]

Thanks! And you know what? I've felt more relaxed and comfortably energized today too. Bonus. Looking forward to the ride home.

Will try and take a pic of my ride to post.

[muddysmudge]

Well done...it will get better with each ride

Are you able to buy CO2 mini pumps in the US? They're great for carrying in a small saddle bag and will pump a tyre up to 100psi in no time!

I use a headband when it's a bit nippy in the morning, keeps the ears warm and the head cool...

enjoy!

[Melalvai]

I always feel a twinge of jealousy when someone is just discovering the joys of bike commuting.

[paiger81]

Oh yay! I'm nervous about starting my commuting and am glad it was a good one for you. I'm going to do a test ride on Saturday to make sure I'm comfortable with my route and hope to start riding next week.

[tzvia]

You sound quite prepared, except for that missing pump. I've looked at that road-morph and it looks good- but I personally prefer a good old fashioned frame pump (provided the frame accommodates it). My road bike does not due to the tube shapes, but my commuter does. So I use a Blackburn carbon fiber frame pump that straddles the underside of the top tube. I find full size frame pumps push the most air per pump and I can get a tire up to 80psi quickly. My technique is to find something to support the pump head on, like a big rock or fence post- that supports it so I don't rip out the valve stem as I lean into it.

You really have to try them at the bike shop to see what style you are comfortable with.