Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Ride from house or Drive to ride?

I don't even drive, so I ride everywhere. That's the only way I can find time to ride 100 miles a week and more, 52 weeks a year. Actually the concept of "taking a ride" is pretty foreign to me. I just ride when I want to go someplace or do something.

The first thing I did was learn how to ride in traffic. It is a skill you can learn, and to me it's worth it. I have found lots of alternate routes that are scenic and pleasant, but there's times when I just have to take the lane in rush hour.

I live less than a mile from a bike path. It's only 5k though, so my main route that I ride uses the bike path and some residential streets coming out to exactly 10 miles.

I would like to be able to do more than that, but I live in a fairly rural area and all the roads are two-lane highways with no shoulders, and lots and hills. I tried riding them once and after going two miles and getting buzzed by a couple of trucks, I immediately started pedaling for home.

I live in the country also. I ride "laps" on my 1/4 mile gravel driveway every morning then on weekends we load the bikes and go to a near by small town and cover the neighborhood a few times. There is a few miles of paved "side roads" near me but I have to climb a pretty steep hill to get to them. One of these days I'll make it over the top. Other than that it's a narrow two lane,no shoulder curvy 65 mph hiway and I'm NOT getting on that.:eek:

The first thing I did was learn how to ride in traffic. It is a skill you can learn, and to me it's worth it.

So, how exactly did you learn it? I don't understand why there aren't more bicycle classes around.

The skill seems to vary with local traffic patterns, climate, and general social attitude. In The Cities, it's actually fairly easy once you establish a few basics about lane positioning and such. Knowing how and when to sprint helps a lot, too. It's skill that's best learned by doing often. Pretty fun when mastered, too.

So, How many of you are lucky enough to have bike-accessable roads all the way to and from your house?

I live out in the country just a bit, and I have about 3 miles of 55mph 2-lane, no should deep rocky ditch road between me and anywhere worth riding. I have my neighborhood...but even if I make the whole trip (down every road, in each cul-de-sac) its about 2.5 miles...

So i have to Drive to where I want to ride...which is just another excuse for the begginner (me) to not ride every day. Today, I didnt ride because I did 4 hours of yardwork (HARD yardwork) and another 2 of painting the walls. I really wanted to go today too. Most of the places I feel comfortable riding (i dont really like road-riding yet without a dedicated bike lane) are public spots, and have strict sunup/sundown rules...

So how 'bout you...how many of you just jump on and go from the house? And how many of you are like me, and have to take the bike somewhere to ride it?


My wife and I like to mostly haul our bikes to differant places to ride... We only live about a mile from one of the largest trails in Indiana, but it is a hard mile to ride with all the traffic on the road we have to take to get there. We like checking out local parks and other places, so we haul the bikes on a rack, most of the time.

75% of the time I ride from my driveway even though I live in Nashville and about 5 miles from the airport. After about 6-7 miles I am free of traffic. Nashville is getting more bike friendly. 1 day a week I take my bike to work and ride in rural areas of Sumner -Robertson counties. If I drive some where to ride it is a group ride or I am going to the Natchez Trace Parkwy to ride.