Commuting - The countdown is on. Tomorrow I ride

I've been wanting to bike-commute to work for a while now (over a year?), and have been slowly mentally getting ready for it. I also slowly built up an appropriate steed for the journey. Couple weeks ago I rode the route, it's 14mi and change one-way; easily doable. But on the fixie conversion I built for it? I had to find out. Over the July 4 weekend I rode close to 30mi with a couple friends, but it was very meandering and just kinda knocking around, and didn't involve any of the hills I'll face on the commute to work. So last night I took it out for a ride on 80% of the actual route (Denverites: Quebec/25th to the DTC via 26th-Yosemite-Lowry blvd-Rampart/Fairmont-High Line Canal Trail-CC Trail-E. Union-S. Yosemite), but ducked into the Cherry Creek Reservoir instead of heading to the office (did about 50% of the loop before turning around; it was getting late). The route is fairly flat, with some slight grades around the reservoir.

I was worried about the ups and downs on the fixed, but last night's ride instilled all the confidence I needed. I'm ready. Today I brought a change of clothes for tomorrow, and I'm going to leave the laptop here overnight, so all I have to do tomorrow is ride. Thurs I'll be driving again (have riding plans after work in another part of town). It's only one day (this week), but it's a stake in the ground; a platform to build on. I'm excited and nervous, but I think I'm covered. Thanks to all the great info/insight here :D

I'll report back on how it goes...

Jeez dude, about freakin' time you started commuting. You already got the fitness and miles to do it and commuting's supposed to be easy compared to the rec and training rides. I commute on a fixie too so congrats on making the right choice! ;) And if you're wondering about racks, panniers, messenger bags, backpacks, etc., there's a bunch of threads in this forum on each so a quick search will turn up tons of info.

I'd give you the whole welcome to the HHCMF shpiel, but you've been riding forever so you're already familiar w/ the benefits of the HHCMF. Welcome!

HHCMF? --edit-- nevermind, I gots it (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=HHCMF). Sweet. Next up, leg shaving (all the ladies on the Lancaster PA ride will be happy to hear that)


and yeah yeah I know it's about time; I'm slow....

Welcome aboard. :)

You managed to miss the cool weather.

I also work in the DTC but come in via a North route from Thornton. I enter from the west using happy canyon, monaco, belleview, and quebec (among a few others).
Consequently, I have no insight regarding the part of town you are riding in from.
Welcome again

You ride Monaco?! :eek: From my house I drive from 23rd down Monaco all the way to Prentice (just past Belleview). I'm not riding on Monaco, which is why I'm gonna use the MUP's most of the way....

Yup. Monaco pkwy that is
It isn't that bad at 6:45 in the morning. It is relatively light in traffic and I tend to take a lane as needed.

My route to work:
1) 120th ave to 88th ave
2) Platte at 88th to the cherry creek trail
3) Cherry creek trail to downing.
4) Another street from downing to Washington park.
5) Washington park to franklin
6) Franklin to buchtel
7) buchtel to madison
8) madison to iliff
9) Iliff to dahlia
10) dahlia to happy canyon
11) happy canyon to monaco pkwy
12) monaco pkwy to belleview
13) a path along belleview and quebec.
14) Jump onto quebec heading south
15) Take a left after berry and ride to the triad.

Now that I have bored you with that route...:p
The reverse is the same until downtown. I ride up market street and take the 120x to northglenn and ride home from there.
All in all, I do not deal with traffic much. A little crossing university and colorado but that is about it.

We could see about getting you on more streets.... :p j/k

Monaco pkwy is veery different than Monaco St. --yer on Monaco St. after Happy Canyon, and that part isn't bad. Monaco Pkwy heading north of Hampden is about like riding up Colorado. No thanks. I'm pretty comfy taking lanes and riding on the road, but the larger arteries (Colorado, Leetsdale, Colfax, for example) I'll stay away from, but that's me.... :)

Ack!
I'm insane...my bad
That shows how much a pay attention to street signs.

I also tend to avoid larger arteries... excepting a few times riding down belleview at 4pm. Egads! Not again.
I think the only major road I regularly ride on is 120th ave at 4:30 pm and the north section of colorado from 120th to 88th at 5 am. It's lovely having a six lane road almost to yourself. However, motorists in the northern suburbs are quite perplexed when it comes to cyclists on the roadway.

what time do you tend to land in the DTC? Maybe we can meet up for a coffee er somethin (doesn't have to be tomorrow)? I work half a block from Belleview/Ulster, can meet at any of the Starbuck's in the area or at Peabody's over on DTC blvd (same strip as Tin Star, Illegal Pete's)...

what's taking you so long? Just do it already, sheesh.

Hope it goes well... I find riding to work a great start to the day.

I'm near Boulder and bike to work in Westminster a couple days a week. Even though I ride the same route as I drive, the traffic seems lighter when I'm on the bike.

what time do you tend to land in the DTC? Maybe we can meet up for a coffee er somethin (doesn't have to be tomorrow)? I work half a block from Belleview/Ulster, can meet at any of the Starbuck's in the area or at Peabody's over on DTC blvd (same strip as Tin Star, Illegal Pete's)...

Around 7am. We should meet up. Unfortunately, my new position has my schedule a bit out of wack. So freaking busy I'm thinking of every other day riding the bus halfway in like I do in winter. It's not really to save time but to keep my energy level up. Must ponder....
Anyways, I will try to remember to send you a PM when I figure out a decent time.

Well hell, that wasn't so bad. I realized last night as I was going to bed that hey, it's just another bike ride, only just to work. What's the big effin deal? There isn't one. Doy.

So I got up at 5:30, showered, put on riding clothes and headed out at 6:10. I saw about a half-dozen other commuters. I kept telling myself to go slow; I sweat incredibly easy. I just kinda let the bike do the pedaling, except for the hills up/around the reservoir, and then I just kept it steady but not crazy. All in all, an easy morning ride.

I pulled into the parking lot at 7:15, not too shabby at all. I cooled down in the parking lot a bit before locking the bike up and heading upstairs. I was all fine and dandy, then started sweating all over again getting dressed :roflmao: So today was the only day this week I can ride in, but I hope to get at least two if not three next week. The bonus is more time on the fixie, and that's just fun :D

So yeah, why the heck haven't I been doing this for a while now again?

OH!

I did have a moment of OH SHT -- I was coming down a section of MUP that goes under I225; the path meanders and descends at the same time before crossing under the freeway. I wasn't thinking very much and leaned the bike into one of the turns and GRRT! I clipped a pedal. Thankfully it didn't throw me or anything, but my "nice" Performance Campus pedals have scratches on them now :(

The last time I rode that section of Cherry Creek I was on a crappy mountain bike. OMG those hills were huge. I wonder if they still are that big? :p

... my "nice" Performance Campus pedals have scratches on them now :(

You are now a commuter. :)

That wasn't so bad, now was it? Now I can officially welcome you to the HHCMF where we fight the war on terror on a daily basis by using less oil and stay strong by riding our bikes so that we'll have the stamina and strength to get away from the gas-starved zombies when gas hits $10/gal. Just remember to keep some deodorant and wet wipes at the office and drink a lot. I prefer Jim Beam.

Thanks jyo, I look forward to showing off my well-sculpted legs as I quaff my Maker's rocks at the local watering hole, my trusty steed patiently waiting for me outside. R0ck.