Commuting - This Sunday, my car will remain in the driveway...

In the past, my idea of "commuting to work by bike" was stuffing my bike into the trunk of my Saturn Ion, driving 1.5 miles up the road, parking in a little shopping plaza, then biking the rest of the way. That ride was about 4 miles each way, and just thinking of the hassle involved would turn me off to the idea of biking to work. Today, I decided to ride the whole way. The route I'm taking is 6.5 miles each way. When I get to work, (it's a supermarket, and i work in the deli) I'll banana up and drink some gatorade- it's on sale this week:)

Your bike fits in the trunk of your car? That's pretty cool... I hate putting my bike on the trunk rack I have.

Glad to see you've opened your mind to a 6.5 mile commute, vs. the 4 miler. :) Let us know how it goes!

Sunday's the only day I can commute (to church), 5 miles each way. Work is 21 to the office then I'm traveling all day.

I used to have a Saturn ION, how in the ever-lovin-hell do you fit your bike in the trunk???
I had to put mine in the back seat in order to drive it to the trail head. The trunk was barely big enough to fit a few bags of groceries and a body.

I used to have a Saturn ION, how in the ever-lovin-hell do you fit your bike in the trunk???
I had to put mine in the back seat in order to drive it to the trail head. The trunk was barely big enough to fit a few bags of groceries and a body.Was the body wrapped in a rug, or no? I find if you unroll them out of the rug it takes up a lot less space.

Was the body wrapped in a rug, or no? I find if you unroll them out of the rug it takes up a lot less space.
Well, he *was* a pretty big ol' boy.

Sunday's the only day I can commute (to church), 5 miles each way. Work is 21 to the office then I'm traveling all day. I was starting to get the idea no one on this forum goes to church on Sunday.

In the early '70's I had just graduated from seminary. My call was a special ministry that left me free of normal Sunday morning duties. Often I was asked to conduct services for one of the other area pastors in our denomination.

We were living east of Cincinnati. My wife was gone out of state. I loaded my robes and dress clothing into a backpack-style child carrier and cycled 25 miles to a church across the Ohio River from downtown Cincinnati. Around noon when the worship service was finished, I changed back into my cycling clothes and made the return trip. Oh, that I still had that much energy.

My bike fits in the back of my wifes ION with the rear seatbacks folded down and the front wheel off the bike it fits like a charm. I know this cause she had to come and get me a couple of weeks ago when I had a flat but didn't have my glasses with the bifocals so I could see what I was doing. It really stinks to get old but what the heck I called in well that day. Had a good day fixing the flat ( with the bifocal glasses) then took a nice little ride in the afternoon when I woke from my nap :)

I was starting to get the idea no one on this forum goes to church on Sunday.

I always do, as I'm the A/V guy. Sometimes I ride my bike. I don't often blog about it, though. Here's the last time I did. Photo included! (http://kc-bike.blogspot.com/2007/05/bike-to-work-week-ride-to-your-place-of.html)

I moved recently, which puts me about 9 miles from church as opposed to the 3.5 miles I used to be. That's not too bad, but most Sundays I also go to my parents' place for lunch, which is an additional 30 miles round trip. That usually makes riding the bike a bit of an inconvenience. It's also the only day my wife and I really have any time together.

My bike is a Gary Fisher Tarpon, and I fold down the rear seatbacks, remove the front tire, then I lay the bike on its side, and place it in the trunk. I sometimes have to go around to the rear passenger door and pull it all the way in so the trunk lid closes.

"My call was a special ministry that left me free of normal Sunday morning duties"

I'm a hospice chaplain during the week and so have Sundays free generally. Should be graduating from seminary this summer!

"My call was a special ministry that left me free of normal Sunday morning duties"

I'm a hospice chaplain during the week and so have Sundays free generally. Should be graduating from seminary this summer!

Many congrats! I commute to church on Sundays, but my ride is only about a half mile. The kids ride with me (that way they don't have to hang out after for long). The DW drives.

The short ride still counts in my book!

Cycling is quite spiritual and meditative for me. A lot of times, I work the demons out then. :eek:

Glad you've decided to ride the whole distance. 6.5 miles is about my very shortest route to work. I couldn't imagine loading the bike in the car to only drive 1.5 miles of that. It just never occurred to me. In the time it would take me to get my bike in the car, drive and unload I would be past that if I just rode.:)

Usually I take the 7+ mile route, sometimes the 9+ or 12 mile routes.

My bike is a Gary Fisher Tarpon, and I fold down the rear seatbacks, remove the front tire, then I lay the bike on its side, and place it in the trunk. I sometimes have to go around to the rear passenger door and pull it all the way in so the trunk lid closes.

My old bike, a medium-small bike with 27" wheels, would fit in a toyota corrolla (sedan, about saturn Ion size) trunk with both wheels off, rear rack left on. It would fit across the back seats with front wheel off, rear wheel on.

My 63.5 cm Schwinn World (32-630 tires, too) fit in the back seat of my Golf (about the same size) with the front wheel off. Never tried the hatch, don't think it'd work.

I use a car rack now.

Anyway, I drive 40 miles to ride 7. Otherwise, I'd have to ride... 45 miles. One way. :eek:

Sunday's the only day I can commute (to church), 5 miles each way. Work is 21 to the office then I'm traveling all day.

Sadly, they don't have showers at my church :D .

In the past, my idea of "commuting to work by bike" was stuffing my bike into the trunk of my Saturn Ion, driving 1.5 miles up the road, parking in a little shopping plaza, then biking the rest of the way. That ride was about 4 miles each way

I don't really understand why you'd do that? Surely it would take just as long packing the bike in the car, and then parking, as it would to ride the 1.5 miles? I mean, what's that, 10 mins at the outside? I don't mean to sound snarky - it's fantastic that you've decided to commute. I just can't quite make sense of how you thought about it!

Sadly, they don't have showers at my church :D .
I had a job with a commute of about 5.5 miles. It was in St. Louis in the summer. As long as I showered daily there was no problem. I blotted my self with moist paper towels in the men's room when I arrived.