Commuting - Making progress

Biked 10 miles today including what my son calls "kill valley" (two "coast at 35 mph, climb at 4 mph" hills). That's up from 4 miles a ride two months ago, and walking up those hills when I dared to try them.

I'm sending the check tonight for next month's EC course and then I will start doing a partial commute. That will fit my schedule much better than these pre-dawn training rides after walking two dogs a mile each.

Pedaling and happy,
Kevin S.

All right, Kevin! Just don't get suckered into a ride with that Pete Clark character over in Stone Mountain. That dude is a wild man. :D

This is what I live to hear, people enjoying biking as a lifestyle.

First and foremost, aside from all the real benefits, it's great fun!

:)

Kevin, don't confuse me with the "Pete Clark in Stone Mountain" that Raymond is making reference to. Just look in the phone book, there is more than one "Pete Clark!" ;)

O.K., it's me in Stone Mountain... :rolleyes:

:D

Pedaling and happy! What a great way to be! Keep it up Kevin!!

Originally posted by RainmanP
All right, Kevin! Just don't get suckered into a ride with that Pete Clark character over in Stone Mountain. That dude is a wild man. :D

Wild man? Just because he manages to bike 30 miles a day and post 100 messages a day? Nahhhh, he's just "active."

Thanks all for the words of encouragement.

Kevin S.
Who is now studying all the streets on his commute with the questions, "Could I bike this section with traffic?" and, "What alternative routes are there and how much longer are they?"

Kevin S and other aspiring commuters,
Don't be afraid to go a couple of miles out of your way to take streets that offer less traffic. On a bike you hardly notice a couple of extra miles. After a while you will be looking for ways to extend, unless your commute is kind of long to begin with. My morning ride is about 8.75 miles because I go in early when there is no traffic so I can take the most direct route on major streets. When I first started, my evening commute was about 11.5 using side streets and involved walking my bike on the sidewalk around one particularly bad intersection. As I got stronger, I switched to a 13 mile route that takes the same time as the 11.5 because I avoid that intersection. The last few days, I have been extending that to about 16.4 and may make that my regular route home.
Regards,
Raymond

Kevin,
Congratulations! :thumbup:

Whenever you're ready you and I can take on Pete on a ride around Stone Mountain. :D



Pete and Rainman, you are my inspiration.
Today I woke up feeling crappy (not sick, just crappy) and thought about driving to work.
Then I thought to myself, "Would Pete or Rainman do that?"

Everyone on BF inspires me to do better. Here's to each of you. :beer: