[laura]

So i rode my bike into work today. I have made up my mind that this summer I am going to commute. Gas is too expensive and I live to close to work not to ride. It was lovely really. I left right after rush hour died down and practically had the streets to myself. I was a little nervous about driving through the medical center (lots of outof towners looking for various hospitals and not paying attention to mcuh else) but it wasn't bad. I avoided the emergency hospital, where the bad traffic usually is. I'm excited. I don't know how excited I'll be when its 95 outside but this morning it was a lovely 55 degrees and I floated all the way in. I'm ready to go home now just so I can ride again.

Thank you for your time. Continue on.

ps. I didn't really think this counted as a true ride report so i put it here.

 

[JRB]

Cool.

 

[jacksonpt]

Cool - I've commuted a few times and it's great. Unfortunately, I have to pick up the kids from daycare every day now, so commuting is out of the question for me.

 

[BAH]

very cool! Freeeeeedom

 

[N8 v2.0]

I Approve!



It is wierd that for the last couple weeks our daytime high temps were in the low 90's and yesterday someone turned off the heat and switched on the AC... I think we may hit 60 degrees today..

It's nice not having to run the air conditioner at home for a couple days.

 

[Nick]

Good for you Laura!

I used to commute at a previous job. 12 miles each way, and I could avoid main roads for maybe 9 miles. I remember feeling SO energized and alert after riding in. I would leave early so I could take my time and not get too sweaty (no showers at the office), then take the long way home after work.

 

[laura]

Cool - I've commuted a few times and it's great. Unfortunately, I have to pick up the kids from daycare every day now, so commuting is out of the question for me.

Yeah I figure there will be days that I have meetings to get too, and I just won't be able to ride. I don't mind sitting around my office sweaty, but board meetings, I don't think so. As well, I f there is ever a day that I need to bring my lap top to work with me, I won't be riding. To heavy and too expensive to replace.

 

[laura]

Good for you Laura!

I used to commute at a previous job. 12 miles each way, and I could avoid main roads for maybe 9 miles. I remember feeling SO energized and alert after riding in. I would leave early so I could take my time and not get too sweaty (no showers at the office), then take the long way home after work.

We don't have showers either. I have a pack towel and a sink to rinse off in. I'm gonna get a fan to go on my desk too. My ride is short. 4 miles, so it should only take a few minutes to cool off anyway.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Next week I start the 32 mile/day commute again. I'm actually looking forward to it. Good on ye for gettin' out there and riding.

 

[MudGrrl]

Good for you!

I went on my first bike commute last Friday.

I think I am going to make it a Friday tradition (once a week is better than nonce a week, huh?).

There is a gym where I work, so there are available showers, but the cleaning ladies seem to be in there a lot.

So, I just clean up at the sink in the ladies' room (I am just about the only female on my floor, so I don't have to worry so much about people walking on me in my skibbies).

My ride is also short (6 miles).

 

[laura]

Good for you!

I think I am going to make it a Friday tradition (once a week is better than nonce a week, huh?).

definitely. I am shooting for at least three days a week. I always have so much **** with me. I need storage on my bike.

 

[laura]

I Approve!
it's nice not having to run the air conditioner at home for a couple days.

no joke. We were starting to get worried. I can't afford summer time utility bills in april.

 

[narlus]

Cool - I've commuted a few times and it's great. Unfortunately, I have to pick up the kids from daycare every day now, so commuting is out of the question for me.

 

[Heidi]

Nice job - I'm noticing more and more people out commuting now and it's great to see. I have filled my car up with gas only 4 times now in an entire year. That's more beer money for me!

 

[Westy]

Traffic paterns in the morning around here are not very condusive to bicycle commuting. I've been riding the motorcycle to work when I can for the past month. Almost as good.

 

[johnbryanpeters]

Nice work, laura!

 

[laura]

Nice job - I'm noticing more and more people out commuting now and it's great to see. I have filled my car up with gas only 4 times now in an entire year. That's more beer money for me!

4 TIMES!?!?!?!? I may have to take this commuting thing a little more seriously.

 

[Morryjg]

Next week I start the 32 mile/day commute again. I'm actually looking forward to it. Good on ye for gettin' out there and riding.

Why next week?! I've been commuting at least 2 times a week for a couple weeks now. This morning was awesome except for the dude in the Saab that pulled out in front of me. :mumble:

 

[laura]

Traffic paterns in the morning around here are not very condusive to bicycle commuting. I've been riding the motorcycle to work when I can for the past month. Almost as good.

traffic around here is kind of nasty too. I go through 3 school zones (EEEKKK), a commuter college campus (double eeek, those people drive like lunatics) and the medical center. at 8.30 this morning though, it was dead. school lets out soon too so i think I'm just going to leave the house a few minutes after rush hour. (I have a relatively flexible schedule so it shoudl work out.) Although, when it really starts getting hot, I may have to consider leaving really early.

 

[Heidi]

4 TIMES!?!?!?!? I may have to take this commuting thing a little more seriously.

Well, I live in a pretty small place where everything I need is within 10 miles of my house. If we go far places then Derek drives. So, he's used more gas than I have.

 

[Tenchiro]

I would like to ride to work more often, but it would be 15+ miles through the heart of a ghetto ass neighborhood.

Not to mention the crazy ass, no attention paying drivers we have here.

 

[TreeSaw]

YEAH!!! I would love to be able to commute to work but 34 miles makes it a little tough. That's why I need to get a job closer to home.

As for clean-up....baby wipes are great and toddler wipes are even better (a little thicker cloth and their flushable)

 

[laura]

YEAH!!! I would love to be able to commute to work but 34 miles makes it a little tough. That's why I need to get a job closer to home.

As for clean-up....baby wipes are great and toddler wipes are even better (a little thicker cloth and their flushable)

ooooooo, good idea. I can throw those in my locker too. bitchin'.

 

[TreeSaw]

ooooooo, good idea. I can throw those in my locker too. bitchin'.

I have them in all of my vehicles and in my gear bag as we often hit the local pub after rides.

edit: I tend to buy the unscented baby wipes too...I don't like the scented ones.

 

[SkaredShtles]

Why next week?! I've been commuting at least 2 times a week for a couple weeks now. This morning was awesome except for the dude in the Saab that pulled out in front of me. :mumble:

Bike's in the shop getting the fork rebuilt.

People in Saabs are a$$hats.

 

[Morryjg]

Bike's in the shop getting the fork rebuilt.

People in Saabs are a$$hats.

I thought oil was supposed to be on the outside of the fork...

I think the dude in the saab was more freaked out than me. It was a convertible too, so if I would have t-boned him I would have ended up either in the passenger seat or his lap.

 

[BAH]

Well, I live in a pretty small place where everything I need is within 10 miles of my house. If we go far places then Derek drives. So, he's used more gas than I have.

Isn't it great We live in the same type of area except we are within 1-4 miles of everything. No singletrack out the backyard though :hot:

 

[beestiboy]

I thought about riding my bike to work but my wife hates when I ride in the house...something about mud on the carpet and skid marks on the laminate floors. Working from home rocks!!!

 

[hooples3]

I love commuting!!! when i dont get to commute to work, my day drags.. and when it becomes a few days i get cranky!!!!

 

[Heidi]

Isn't it great We live in the same type of area except we are within 1-4 miles of everything. No singletrack out the backyard though :hot:

Yep, after spending quite a few years riding 24 miles each way on my commute, and living amongst 3 million people, this life rocks.

 

[Echo]

Awesome Laura I love riding my bike to work. It almost makes going to work bearable.

 

[urbaindk]

I either ride or walk to work almost every day of the year. I live really close (~2 miles one-way). Lately, since the weather's been real nice, I've had to be sure to start my truck and drive it for around a little every other week or so just so the battery doesn't die. I average around 1 tank of gas every month or so.

My wife on the other hand, she has a long commute to her various job sites and she uses gas like it's going out of style. Fortunately the state picks up the tab on that one.

 

[dante]

I made the same decision, and commuted 3 days last week (and a couple the week before). 20 miles each way, but the roads are pretty good, nice big shoulders. Thankfully I don't really care if people at work think I smell or not. ink:

 

[Skookum]

Coolness i'd love to be able to commute to work everyday, would make riding so much easier since it ups your cardio automatic. In fact i wouldn't have to go to spin class in an hour to prep for leading a ride i'm doing this weekend. Oh well, hopefully the leader today is the girl with the nice....ink: ink: ink:

 

[w00dy]

It's becoming an everyday thing for me. Today I beat my buddy home. This kicker is; he was on his motorcycle.