Commuting - Can't get a full week of commutes in.

Well I made my first rain commute home last evening. Definitely need to get some shoe covers. My feet were so cold by the end of the ride.

Can't get a full week of riding in. Got moved to a different station for today, too far to ride. Not neccessary a bad thing since my legs needed a bit more recovery from a long ride taken 2 days before.

Any tips on developing leg stamina so I can make these rides everyday? I try to ride at least 5 days per week, but haven't seen much benefit. Of course less wind would probably help too. That's a constant fight it seems like.

Oh well at least I'm making the effort when ever possible. I also plan my errands on days off on bike commutes. I even stopped at NTB to set up an appointment for my car while on my bike.

I can see part of your problem. I work in the care field too. People critically depend on me too. One, try part way rides. When I do I ride the nice part and drive the rest. Or just ride, say, Tues and Thurs, but longer. How is it working out?

Definitely need to get some shoe covers. My feet were so cold by the end of the ride....

Any tips on developing leg stamina so I can make these rides everyday? I try to ride at least 5 days per week, but haven't seen much benefit....

Oh well at least I'm making the effort when ever possible. I also plan my errands on days off on bike commutes. I even stopped at NTB to set up an appointment for my car while on my bike.

Hang in there, sebring! If you are going to ride every day, you definately should treat yourself to some shoe covers, rain gear, etc. etc. As for developing leg stamina, that's going to come with saddle time. Believe me - I think we all struggled with that at the beginning. I ride a trainer in winter now to keep some weight off and spare myself the frustrations of re-start every spring, but after a few weeks, you'll have stamina and may be looking for a longer ride home :eek: .

As far as the stamina thing goes, I ride every day and I still have moments where I can't believe how beat I feel physically. It's mainly a mental game though. Eventually you'll reach a point where your mind doesn't question your body's abilities, even when your body complains a little. This is also the point where (assuming you are properly dressed to handle it), your mind starts to tune out the weather.

I started at just 2 days a week. Now I ride 4 or 5, plus I like to ride a little on the weekends if I can. Sometimes my legs are so sore. Sometimes my chest is sore from breathing hard. Seems that sort of thing doesn't really go away. Thing is, even if I'm sore it doesn't make any difference. I still want to go, I still do go, I still go as hard as I can, and I still enjoy it.

Anyway, you'll know you've got the stamina when you can gain weight even doing it every day.

it'll come -- for the first year i bike commuted i rode the bus part way IN to work, 9 miles, as it's mostly uphill.

even just going a few miles TO work and all 9 back my legs were slush by friday

then one day the next spring i just started biking the whole way, realizing the uphill TO work was actually faster than bus, and have been going both ways for a few years now, unless the weather's really miserable.

it'll come, i've been doing the exact same route for a few years, so it's just second nature, and i know where every pothole is, and exactly what to expect from my commute and from my body.

oh and get a good nights rest. the nights i stay up to late or go drinking too much with friends i definetly feel it the next morning - makes me slow and sluggish, where as most mornings i LOVE getting into work. feeling charged and fresh after a nice brisk ride when everyone else is feeling tired and blah is a great feeling :)

how long you been riding 5 days a week?

man i used to be BEAT when i started my commute. but beat in a good way, i'd say it was like that for a good 3-6 months.... now after 2.5 years, it doesn't really phase me.

my advice; sleep alot, eat well, and enjoy whuppin your body into shape without having to spend any extra time exercising...

You need proper recovery. A little stretching, massage, and, most importantly FOOD with complex carbohydrates immediately after riding (alternatively a fancy "recovery drink" which gives you the carbohydrates you need to reload). Also, you will recover faster if you don't spend a lot of time over-exerting yourself (sounds obvious, I know); stay within your limits for your rides and you will recover more easily. Good luck!