Commuting - My first commute..ish????

JUST got in from checking out the route I'll be taking to rehearsals starting next week!! I have never ridden by myself and was a bit scared [edit: I'm lying. It's way more than just a bit] to ever do it, but I'd gotten so used to having my nice long rides that I didn't want to loose it when I was just getting 'fast'. Rehearsals are very likely to kill that, so I thought I'd sneak it in by commuting :D Do you have any idea how freakin GIDDY I am that I did it all by MYSELF?? lol Even picked the route!!! :fun: :fun: :thumbup:

So am I in the commuting club now? :D

Congrats Natophelia. How long was the ride? My commute is only 3 miles. The point is that you are using your bike to get places.

Welcome to the club.
-Duncan

Congratulations! :D

Thanks guys :D It's about 17 miles round trip. Probably less if I don't get lost and putter around in this one neighborhood with winding streets. Very nice pretty neighborhood though. I did it in the midday Memphis heat to get more used to it for the HH100 :beer:

Oh no..I think I'm hooked already..I'm sitting here planning routes to and from work in my head! I've got that worked out, but it's so close to home -MAYBE a 10 minute ride- it's almost not worth the trouble and safety issues (hard to get from home to work without getting around some pretty nasty traffic during rush hour). But the wheels are turning in my head....If I could do that I could go so many days without using my car at all!!

Do you guys commute in rush hour?

Nat

Yup! Fortunately Portland is a bike-savvy city and the drivers here are used to sharing the roadway. My route is roughly 5 miles one way and I've dealt with very few traffic snarls so far. I also have easy access to a rail-trail that takes me straight to work, so I can opt for motor-free passage if the mood strikes. I'd say my particular situation is ideal compared to some of the commuting routes I've seen described.

I've learned that when I assert myself, and adopt the manner of one who will assert himself (sharp and unambiguous signaling, making eye contact, etc.), the going is made much easier.

I commute in rush hour but I have bike lanes for 90% of the ride. No dangerous turns, overall it is a safe ride.

The most dangerous part is in front of a DMV.

-Duncan

Congratulations, Nat! :D Glad to have you among us!

Originally posted by Natophelia
Do you guys commute in rush hour?


Every day. In fact, I would argue that it is by far the safest time to commute. There are two factors here:

1. Generally the drivers at those times are actually going somewhere and have more important things to do than harass a cyclist (unlike some of the dole-bludging surfies around here).

2. The more traffic there is, the less scope any driver who does have a go at you will have to do whatever it is they are trying to do.

The most important thing is to be assertive and decisive in your actions (a very important note here: I said assertive, not aggresive).

<edit> Can anyone think of a more ironic name for this time of day than "rush hour"?

Originally posted by Chris L

The most important thing is to be assertive and decisive in your actions (a very important note here: I said assertive, not aggresive).

Important distinction! There's few things uglier than a cyclist with a 'get the Hell out of my way' attitude, particularly when that same cyclist will rage mightily against those motorists that display a 'get the Hell out of my way' attitude.



<edit> Can anyone think of a more ironic name for this time of day than "rush hour"?

I've thought the very same. (Yeah! What ChrisL said!)

What about 'fume hour'? (Sort of a double-entendre there) Or perhaps 'idle hour'?

-Rob

Originally posted by RobCat
I've thought the very same. (Yeah! What ChrisL said!)

What about 'fume hour'? (Sort of a double-entendre there) Or perhaps 'idle hour'?

How about "sitting in my little metal box going nowhere feeling stressed" hour!

I forgot to post the other thing. :D :p

Originally posted by Chris L
How about "sitting in my little metal box going nowhere feeling stressed" hour!

I forgot to post the other thing. :D :p

:p

Bearing all this in mind, I will give it a shot for real some time this week :) There's one three way stoplight in particular that I'm concerned about, but taking any other route would leave me traveling with VERY heavy traffic. Guess I'll just have to do it and see! :D

Congrats Natophelia. The first step is the planning. Then the apprehension. Then doing it. And finally the wonder... at why you didn't do this before, and why you were so worried in the first place.

Conquering fear (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30463&perpage=15&pagenumber=1) is a recent thread with plenty of good advice. You've probably read it already.

We look forward to your first commute report!

There's one more thing -- if you are reheasing for ballet/a show, you will be well and truly warmed up by the time you get there.

R