Commuting - What did you learn this season?

This is my first year of commuting. As the season draws to a close, I was wondering - What did you learn about commuting this year?

1. It was easier than I ever imagined
2. I appreciate a full moon during a night commute
3. Cold rain sucks

1: Bike commuting is possible even for 18 miles one way.

2: It is a lot easier than most people think.

3: Bicyclist can be jerks too, just like motorists. (Hmmm, I guess rude people are just everywhere, fortunately the same holds true for nice people, but as they are quieter they are more of a nice surprise when they are found.)

4: Wow, I still get just as dirty as an adult in the rain without fenders as I did as a kid in the rain without fenders!

5: A bike ride a day keeps the nervous breakdown away!

6: Riding in Traffic is not as dangerous as one would think if you stay predictable and follow the rules.

I learned:

1. I can commute a lot farther than I thought I could. I used to think 12km was far enough. After viewing this forum and seeing some of the distances people are doing, I found that a 27km trip each way is doable and enjoyable!

2. The season isn't drawing to a close (hopefully). I'm going to try and keep it up for as long as I can, extending into winter I hope.

3. Commuting is an easy way to lose weight and get in shape - I've lost 12 pounds in the last month, while still eating most of the junk I ate before.

4. Driving on a commute seems to be such a waste of time now.

5. I re-learned that I love being outside on a bike.

1) Cyclo-commuting is easier than I thought.

2) Killing 2 birds with one stone is fun and sensible (combining the commute with exercise).

3) People think you are weird if you cyclo-commute.

4) People in general are lazy.

5) Nothing is nicer than arriving home after a hot and sweaty ride from work, having a hot shower, getting in your bathrobe, pouring yourself a glass of wine and watching the Simpsons.

I noticed all of those things too except the bathrobe and wine experience.

In addition:

1. enjoying the commute has more to do with a mental attitude than the conditions you're in.

2. being prepared is not just for Boy Scouts.

3. I used to want more cars, now I want less.

4. paranoia is a good thing.

Originally posted by IowaParamedic
This is my first year of commuting. As the season draws to a close ...
The commuting season does not draw to a close!!! It's year round baby!!

Of course, I live in a place where the temperatures can get as cold as ... oh ... the high 30s. The news leads with stories about -- gasp! -- winter storms with -- horrors! -- lots of rain.

I really didn't learn anything new this year, this being my 6th year of year round commuting except, maybe, the extent to which bike-commuting has kept me fitter than I had thought. I learned this when I joined a basketball league this year. Since I haven't been running I thought I'd be in trouble but it turns out that I can keep up with the younger set and still have energy to burn.

I've learned:
1. The value of quality fenders.

2. Light weight expensive bikes are virtually useless.

3. how to fix flats, and one spare tube is not enough.

4. Heavy, large loads really aren't hard to carry.

5. How to better tollerate the inconsiderate actions of others.

6. Most dogs aren't serious.

7. You can wear things out.

8. The whole world can wait, there is no rushing a bike commuter.

9. If something is in the road, you will run it over.

10. Humans in general are strange animals, they're always on a mission and in a hurry to usually go no where special.

11. Just how an addiction really feels, I can't/won't stop riding and commuting.

12. Most everyone I know thinks I am somewhat insane.

Jandd is the one true god. Thou shalt not have any god before Jandd. This includes purchasing El Cheapo panniers, stuffing them to the brim, and wondering why they disintigrate as you ride through the Beirut-style roads to the office.

On that note, the Jandd "Expedition" rack and trunk can carry a ton of crap, including a full change of clothes, lunch, and gear for geekwork (pager, etc).

Camelbaks are nice.

Potholes are not. For what Caltrans pays their employees, I want to see the roads maintained in real time, not geologic time.

Rice and noodles are great cycling fuel.

Thirty miles isn't much of a commute when the weather's nice.

Thirty miles is a hell of a commute when it's not. :D

Scenery is nice at 20mph.

I learned from only 1 week so far.

-Hard work reorganizing an office at work for 8 hours straight + bike commute = VERY SORE MUSCLES.

-and the best time to commute is for the night shift, almost no cars on the road when I commuted at 9:00pm and 5:00am.

-Bike riding, a sport even a computer scientist can do :D .

:beer:

Don't make a 8mi commute to an 8am class severely hungover on 2-and-a-half hours sleep. Trust me on this one...

I learned that I am invisible. Thats right, I never knew it before, but when I am on my bike no one can see me. That is why Im always GETTING CUT OFF IN THE $%&^# TURN LANE! Well enought ranting for me today, better go take my medication now.:fight: ;)

I've learned that I'm evidently the only two-wheeled commuter in this burg who recognizes stop signs and red lights.

I've learned that a great percentage of motorists would rather swerve at the last moment than touch the brake pedal.

I've learned that playing leap-frog with an impatient bus driver is just a bit annoying.

I've learned that there is at least one motorist on the road who seems to think that when I signal a left-hand turn, I'm telling her 'please pass me on the left right now! Hurry!'. (I'm still looking for you, lady!)

I've learned that all of these minor irritations pale in the light of a lovely, healthy, mood-boosting ride.

-Rob

Nice topic, IP! However, let me echo: "Season? What season? While Philadelphia is neigher Iowa nor San Jose (but somewhere in between, climate-wise), there are days when one might choose not to cycle in any season. In some parts of the world one there might be a few more such days in the winter, but that's as far as I'd be willing to concede a "season"! :)

So here's my list for this year's commuting lessons:

1. Droughts have a silver lining: more dry commuting days.

2. Cycling glasses with prescription inserts are worth the expense.

3. Forget the driver's manual: signal right turns with your right hand and left turns with your left hand. (Too many drivers think you're waving them around you when you use the "bent left arm" signal for a right turn.)

4. Shimano M-515 pedals suck.

5. Laptop computers are heavy!

6. Avoid trolley tracks.

7. Ignore forecasts of rain unless the POP is 100%.

RichC

Trust no one!:rolleyes:

Enjoy the ride! :thumbup:

3. Forget the driver's manual: signal right turns with your right hand and left turns with your left hand. (Too many drivers think you're waving them around you when you use the "bent left arm" signal for a right turn.)

yeah, from the first time i can remember using hand signals on the bike, i've used the straight right arm for right... the left bent arm just doesn't make sense and it's just a leftover from cars where your right arm doesn't extend all the way to the passenger side and out the window...

originally posted by JDP3. I used to want more cars, now I want less.

wow, another Texan convert... when cars/trucks are not one of the most important things to a Texan, that's a BIG deal...

JPD, congrats on the discovery. i loved cycling as a kid and then was ridiculed in high school for riding my 10 speed to school and then didn't ride at all for 2 years after getting my driver's license. then it took me another few years to fully realize how much i enjoy cycling and how much money and time most people waste on their cars

** studded bike tires are really good for snow and ice
** also in Germany people think you're weird when you're a REAL bike commuter -- i.e. riding in the rain or snow or more than 6km or almost every day...
** windproof cycling stuff is really nice

as it's my 4th year of using the bike as my primary commuting transport, i already learned a lot in previous years (like when i rode w/o fenders)

Originally posted by Rich Clark

7. Ignore forecasts of rain unless the POP is 100%.



I can relate. I hate starting my ride in the rain, but don't mind on the way home. My 'rule of engagement' for the morning commute of 17 km (10.5 miles) is if it's raining wait 10 minutes. Hopefully I'll get a 40 min window (or at least 20) of no rain. Even if the weather man says a relentless onslaught is coming, I get on the bike and bust my ass to work. Because the bus sucks.

Some more things I've learned:

1) Some people are idiots. Saying I'm strange to buy $80 wind/water proof tights that will last a few years, but think nothing to spend $500 on some obscure part on the car that the mechanic may be ripping them off on.

Grrr. Dis I mention the bus sucks?:beer:

I learned this applies to life in general, not just bike commuting:

Common sense isn't [so common]


Dave

That knee injuries take longer to get over than I thought, and that commuting is a habit that is too easily lost. :(

Not that my season is over by a long shot yet! (Hopefully years!)

Ellie

The only thing I've learned this year that I didn't already know is just how much I miss rain when it's not there. :cry:

Originally posted by IowaParamedic
This is my first year of commuting. As the season draws to a close, I was wondering - What did you learn about commuting this year?

1. It was easier than I ever imagined
2. I appreciate a full moon during a night commute
3. Cold rain sucks
Iowa, you should try Haiku.

Riding is easy
Full moon on night commute
Cold rain sucks (so bad)

:D

Mine:

1) I don't have to ride my bike if I don't wanna.
2) I still wanna.

American { or should I say western?** society has been duped!!!!

Iv,e learned to be fatalistic , when i,m delayed for whatever reason, trucks taking up all the road & no room to pass ,traffic gridlock even punctures & mech.failure ect ect the delay puts you in a different place @ a different time so just maybe saving you from being involved in an accident. Fate, who knows!! so i,ve learnt not to "sweat the small stuff".