Commuting - Woohoo....10,002 Miles Today

Been commuting for two & half years now to get to 10k miles. Went through several cassettes, chains, tires. tubes and brake pads. Overall well worthed it. Thanks for everyone here keeping me motivated.




H23NC,

Nice!

Although at first I thought that you rode 10,002 miles "today". I was like, "dang this guy is super fast".

Nice!

Although at first I thought that you rode 10,002 miles "today". I was like, "dang this guy is super fast".

How about, that's just what I thought.

Oops sorry for the confusion. I usually put in 26 miles a day, not 10,002 miles a day....:lol:



How about, that's just what I thought.

Congrats! Tell us more..., When did you start? Where? Why?... you get the picture.

Michael

Congrats! Tell us more..., When did you start? Where? Why?... you get the picture.

Michael





I started commuting back in April 2006. The reason I got into this was because of my health. I didn’t know I was obese at 255 lbs for my 6’ 2” frame but after my doctor showed me the blood report I was petrified by the shocking results (LDL & blood pressure thru the rough, sugar level on borderline).

Don’t let an engineer speak to the world, so I’m going to outline some major events that I have experienced in my almost 3 years commute:


2006 (From April to November):
1) Bought a Trek 7.2FX at Free Flite to start my 24 miles round trip commute
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2133501
2) Chased by a dog
3) First flat with no tools to repair flat or a cell phone to call for help, so walked the rest of 6 miles to work and found a lost cell phone on bike trail (2 miles away from work at this point, why couldn't let me find it sooner).
4) T-boned a car that was trying to make a u-turn on left lane (I was in the in the middle of emergency/left turn lane).
5) Horrified to ride again in crazy suburb of Atlanta and concluded the year with 1704 commute miles and lost 35lbs.

2007 (From March to December)
1) Brave enough to ride again and regained 10 lbs to 230lbs.
2) Trek 7.2FX had a bent frame from last year accident, so bought a Trek 7.3FX from the same store.
3) Bad fall from locking up rear wheel and caused some nasty road rash (out for 1 month)
4) Straightened out 7.2FX frame and geared it up for winter beater (2 X 15lbs Battery, 35 Watts HID & 55 Watts Halogen Headlight).
5) Changed the route to a longer and safer route (26 miles roundtrip)
Same route as last year going to work, but return route changed:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2133524
6) Bought a used 2004 Bianchi Vigorelli road bike for $500 and start riding it to the gym (17 miles round trip) to do some weight lifting.
7) Finished the year with 4903 miles and weighed in at 170 lbs (lost 60 lbs from being 230 lbs at the beginning of the year)

2008 (From Jan to Present)
1) Freaking out drivers with my powerful 3000 lumens HID front light.
2) Bought a 1999 Trek 5200 OCLV carbon for $500 and commuted on it occasionally.
3) Most flats ever in one week, almost one everyday, so switched to 23cc Gatorskin with Performance Thorn proof tube and Mr Tuffy tire liner (no flats since April).
4) Smoked several roadies on my 7.3FX running with new tires (120psi) and single front 53 tooth crank.
5) Found 2 cell phones and returned to owners. Never missed a day since the beginning of the year, 4089 miles and still counting. Weighing in at 182lbs with mostly muscles gained from weight lifting.

wow. I love these types of reports-they really motivate me, and think about how much more I can accomplish. Also, whenever I think about slacking off a bit, I think about all the success stories I have read here.

Keep it going, Nutcase!

Just to give an idea of what you have done for the planet:

Assuming you would have driven a car getting 22 mpg and paying an average of $3.00/gal over the last 3 years, you saved:

454 gallons of gasoline from being burned
8,818 pounds of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere (that's 4 tons)
$1,363 dollars, some of which you spent on bike repairs

On behalf of the planet - THANKS :thumb:

Your wallet will have to thank you itself.

Wow.. very impressive. I've been commuting for about 5 months but I don't do it every day (~3 days/week). Looking at your route, those look to be some pretty busy roads (I know marietta a little bit). What time of day do you commute? Are the busy roads 4 lane?

Awesome !

Oh yeah, and.... do you have bike lanes?

My hat's off to you. Hope to join you soon(ish). Cheers to your good health, my man.

The physical accomplishments are incredible, with the amount of weight lost, and then the build up you did. Did you find the cycling burned a lot of calories, and if so roughly how many calories per day were you consuming from January until now? Congrats!

Glad to see you gained some weight back!. The way you were going, you were going to need to carry ballast to keep from floating away!:)

Congratulations, and thanks for the motivation!

Great story and great results! :thumb:

Definatly an insperation!

I'm in the same boat. Hit 240 in Feb. Cardioligist told me stories of a slow miserable death with diabetes and another heart attack. Dieted for a couple months. Started riding a little over 2 months ago. Will make 500 miles this weekend.
Lost almost 30lb. Bouncing around 210 right now. Mostly the riding and smaller meals now. Got to buy new clothes as they are all falling off me now. :lol:


So what sort of drops are you seeing in your blood tests?

I can't wait to do my next one next month to see what mine are.

Did you happen to be in Marietta a couple Friday's ago and get asked about your lights by a couple with a kid in a red Toyota 4Runner at the corner of Cherokee and the North loop?

And here's a copy of Cleanair Campaign log sheet to show my number of commute

:thumb: thanks for the compliment. Don't let any obstacles or the environment despair you, your mind can accomplish great things.

At first my coworkers were kind of un-supportive by saying negative things, now they have become somewhat more accepting that this is my mode of transportation whether they like or not. So don't let any negative comments get to you, soon your persistence will overcome their skepticism.


H23NC.



wow. I love these types of reports-they really motivate me, and think about how much more I can accomplish. Also, whenever I think about slacking off a bit, I think about all the success stories I have read here.

Keep it going, Nutcase!

Sparky,

No need to thanks, just trying to save myself and few pennies for my wallet.



H23NC,



Just to give an idea of what you have done for the planet:

Assuming you would have driven a car getting 22 mpg and paying an average of $3.00/gal over the last 3 years, you saved:

454 gallons of gasoline from being burned
8,818 pounds of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere (that's 4 tons)
$1,363 dollars, some of which you spent on bike repairs

On behalf of the planet - THANKS :thumb:

Your wallet will have to thank you itself.

Yes Cobb 41 Parkway is a busy 4 lane mini highway (2 lanes on each direction) and some section is 55 mph speed limit. Good thing there are plenty of right turn lanes and wide shoulders. No bike lanes but there are bike trails on Old Hwy 41/Kennesaw Ave & Atlanta Rd.

This rear mirror has saved me couple times: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=847&item=00-0472&slitrk=search&slisearch=true

I usually leave my house at 7am and arrive work at 7.48am. With a road bike, I can get there by 7.38am.

H23NC,




Wow.. very impressive. I've been commuting for about 5 months but I don't do it every day (~3 days/week). Looking at your route, those look to be some pretty busy roads (I know marietta a little bit). What time of day do you commute? Are the busy roads 4 lanise?

Awesome !

I don't know how much I burned, but roads are pretty hilly here. I guess I must be burning a lot b/c my diet is still the same from my 250 lbs weight.


H23NC,





The physical accomplishments are incredible, with the amount of weight lost, and then the build up you did. Did you find the cycling burned a lot of calories, and if so roughly how many calories per day were you consuming from January until now? Congrats!

Congrats dude! That's awesome!

I don't know how much I burned, but roads are pretty hilly here. I guess I must be burning a lot b/c my diet is still the same from my 250 lbs weight.


H23NC,

Yeah, I have zero will power where food is concerned, if anything I eat MORE! ( That's why I got rid of the car! )

Have dropped 30 lbs, down to 195 from 230ish. I'm 52 but most people have hard time putting me higher than early 40's.

:) Yes, I'm feeling smug.

Good job Nutcase! Keep it up.

I don't know how much I burned, but roads are pretty hilly here. I guess I must be burning a lot b/c my diet is still the same from my 250 lbs weight.


H23NC,


Great motivational story! Thanks for sharing it

My goal last year was to ride 7500 miles and use my vehicle under 5000. Managed 6800 riding w/2 operations(deviated septum and hernia). Drove a little over 7000 last year. The recovery time set me back a bit and I ended up driving much more than I wanted, but this year I'm already over 4500 cycling which projects to 7700 for the year and I'm projecting around 4800 miles for my truck. It helps to have a 40 mi rt commute w/moderate hills. 4 bikes(well five counting my wife's)are set up for commuting w/bags racks etc., except for my SS conversion which is set up for speed. I use a fanny pack for my lunch...yeah, that's right I wear a fanny pack on my singlespeed...and ride it tues-thurs while using my #1 commuter Monday and Friday to take and bring home work clothes. The system is working great. Have lockers at work and my co-workers ask me on potential raindays if I rode my bike today. When I say yes, there's the inevitable, but respectful headshake and genuine concern re thunderstorms.

My breakfast consists of raw oatmeal, ground flax seed, wheatgerm, protein powder, meuselix(sp?) and 2% milk w/a banana. Fish oil, Centrex and an allegy pil, also. I work in a warehouse on the docks and am constantly hydrating w/at least 2 28 oz bottles of Gatorade per day. I get the economy size and fill my bike water bottle. It's WAY cheaper in the long run. Lotsa brown rice, chicken, leafy greens and fruit, too.

Please, continue to share your perspectives as they are truly motivating...especially now that we've hit the 'dog' days of summer and it's hot out there on those afternoon commutes! :thumb:

You are making good progress there. What bike do you ride and where? I'll definitely see you around in Marietta vicinity. That was probably someone else you were seeing. I'm happened to be on AJC metro section, check it out here (2nd photo down):
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/stories/2008/07/29/atlanta_a_m_marietta_square.html

I'm trying to hold on to my large clothes as long as I can for commuting only though.

Binder clip works well on clipping large pants. Belt is too heavy and would not look right on large pants.

I punched too many holes on my old belts and the tongue is hanging down like I have a master black belt. I figured a way to make my belt shorter and that is to cut the belt on pin end side (only works on belts with clamp on teeth).

My HDL was like 60 something, blood pressure 118/65, blood sugar normal, 40 bpm resting hr



H23NC,




Great story and great results! :thumb:

Definatly an insperation!

I'm in the same boat. Hit 240 in Feb. Cardioligist told me stories of a slow miserable death with diabetes and another heart attack. Dieted for a couple months. Started riding a little over 2 months ago. Will make 500 miles this weekend.
Lost almost 30lb. Bouncing around 210 right now. Mostly the riding and smaller meals now. Got to buy new clothes as they are all falling off me now. :lol:


So what sort of drops are you seeing in your blood tests?

I can't wait to do my next one next month to see what mine are.

Did you happen to be in Marietta a couple Friday's ago and get asked about your lights by a couple with a kid in a red Toyota 4Runner at the corner of Cherokee and the North loop?

dang, congrats man that's a ton of dedication.

This rear mirror has saved me couple times: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=847&item=00-0472&slitrk=search&slisearch=true

H23NC,

Check out the blackburn mirrors. They have several versions. I use the road version. Incredible view.
http://search.performancebike.com/search?p=Q&ts=custom&w=blackburn+mirror

You are making good progress there. What bike do you ride and where? I'll definitely see you around in Marietta vicinity. That was probably someone else you were seeing. I'm happened to be on AJC metro section, check it out here (2nd photo down):
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/stories/2008/07/29/atlanta_a_m_marietta_square.html

I'm trying to hold on to my large clothes as long as I can for commuting only though.

Binder clip works well on clipping large pants. Belt is too heavy and would not look right on large pants.

I punched too many holes on my old belts and the tongue is hanging down like I have a master black belt. I figured a way to make my belt shorter and that is to cut the belt on pin end side (only works on belts with clamp on teeth).

My HDL was like 60 something, blood pressure 118/65, blood sugar normal, 40 bpm resting hr



H23NC,


Yeah had to be somebody else.
I actually have a closet full of clothes that had become too small that now fit so getting luck there. Three notches on the belt.

a resting bpm of 40?!?!?! wow thats low! I'm still in the low 60's. About the same blood pressure though.
My issue has never been high LDL its low HDL. I managed to clog up three arteries to my heart at 37 and get stints in them. :o
My last test was 105 overall but my HDL was 32 and thats sucking down 1000mg of Niaspan a day. I am hoping to see big improvements in that with the exercise. if I can get that up to 45 and my LDL stay the same it will make my Cardiologist happy.

My commute is Chastain from Canton hwy to just past KSU. Doesn't look like our normal routes cross. I do go down to the Square sometimes on the weekend and planning on looping out to Kennesaw Mt looking for a nice 25+ mile loop to put some miles on so maybe we will run into each other.

This is my Commuterized M400 Cannondale I ride http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=76840&d=1216686595
Cool about making the paper!

My hat's off to you for biking in with medical condition. Those gatorades would definitely boost your hot afternoon ride home. I'm not a big fan of gatorades but every now and then would try one and it does make a difference in hot sunny days.

I'm still wearing long sleeve shirts and pants to protect my skin from road rash and sun burn. People think I'm crazy for wearing that much in summer.


H23NC,





Great motivational story! Thanks for sharing it

My goal last year was to ride 7500 miles and use my vehicle under 5000. Managed 6800 riding w/2 operations(deviated septum and hernia). Drove a little over 7000 last year. The recovery time set me back a bit and I ended up driving much more than I wanted, but this year I'm already over 4500 cycling which projects to 7700 for the year and I'm projecting around 4800 miles for my truck. It helps to have a 40 mi rt commute w/moderate hills. 4 bikes(well five counting my wife's)are set up for commuting w/bags racks etc., except for my SS conversion which is set up for speed. I use a fanny pack for my lunch...yeah, that's right I wear a fanny pack on my singlespeed...and ride it tues-thurs while using my #1 commuter Monday and Friday to take and bring home work clothes. The system is working great. Have lockers at work and my co-workers ask me on potential raindays if I rode my bike today. When I say yes, there's the inevitable, but respectful headshake and genuine concern re thunderstorms.

My breakfast consists of raw oatmeal, ground flax seed, wheatgerm, protein powder, meuselix(sp?) and 2% milk w/a banana. Fish oil, Centrex and an allegy pil, also. I work in a warehouse on the docks and am constantly hydrating w/at least 2 28 oz bottles of Gatorade per day. I get the economy size and fill my bike water bottle. It's WAY cheaper in the long run. Lotsa brown rice, chicken, leafy greens and fruit, too.

Please, continue to share your perspectives as they are truly motivating...especially now that we've hit the 'dog' days of summer and it's hot out there on those afternoon commutes! :thumb:

The real savings you're not seeing is the medical expenses you would have incured had you not followed your doctor's advice to drop some weight. That's a savings that might very well be in the six or seven digit bracket. Grats on the 10k... and we'll expect an update when you get to 25k.

I started commuting back in April 2006. The reason I got into this was because of my health. I didn’t know I was obese at 255 lbs for my 6’ 2” frame but after my doctor showed me the blood report I was petrified by the shocking results (LDL & blood pressure thru the rough, sugar level on borderline).

Don’t let an engineer speak to the world, so I’m going to outline some major events that I have experienced in my almost 3 years commute:


2006 (From April to November):
1) Bought a Trek 7.2FX at Free Flite to start my 24 miles round trip commute
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2133501
2) Chased by a dog
3) First flat with no tools to repair flat or a cell phone to call for help, so walked the rest of 6 miles to work and found a lost cell phone on bike trail (2 miles away from work at this point, why couldn't let me find it sooner).
4) T-boned a car that was trying to make a u-turn on left lane (I was in the in the middle of emergency/left turn lane).
5) Horrified to ride again in crazy suburb of Atlanta and concluded the year with 1704 commute miles and lost 35lbs.

2007 (From March to December)
1) Brave enough to ride again and regained 10 lbs to 230lbs.
2) Trek 7.2FX had a bent frame from last year accident, so bought a Trek 7.3FX from the same store.
3) Bad fall from locking up rear wheel and caused some nasty road rash (out for 1 month)
4) Straightened out 7.2FX frame and geared it up for winter beater (2 X 15lbs Battery, 35 Watts HID & 55 Watts Halogen Headlight).
5) Changed the route to a longer and safer route (26 miles roundtrip)
Same route as last year going to work, but return route changed:
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2133524
6) Bought a used 2004 Bianchi Vigorelli road bike for $500 and start riding it to the gym (17 miles round trip) to do some weight lifting.
7) Finished the year with 4903 miles and weighed in at 170 lbs (lost 60 lbs from being 230 lbs at the beginning of the year)

2008 (From Jan to Present)
1) Freaking out drivers with my powerful 3000 lumens HID front light.
2) Bought a 1999 Trek 5200 OCLV carbon for $500 and commuted on it occasionally.
3) Most flats ever in one week, almost one everyday, so switched to 23cc Gatorskin with Performance Thorn proof tube and Mr Tuffy tire liner (no flats since April).
4) Smoked several roadies on my 7.3FX running with new tires (120psi) and single front 53 tooth crank.
5) Found 2 cell phones and returned to owners. Never missed a day since the beginning of the year, 4089 miles and still counting. Weighing in at 182lbs with mostly muscles gained from weight lifting.

Thats a great story, Thanks!

Ive been at it for 3 months. I'm also a big guy at 235# & 6 foot even.

I hope to stick with it and get the same results.

Cheers,

Michael

I always wanted a rear mirror that attaches to the handle bar end, but my 7.3fx has Ergo M1 grip that uses clamps on the bar ends. Thanks for the link though.



Check out the blackburn mirrors. They have several versions. I use the road version. Incredible view.
http://search.performancebike.com/search?p=Q&ts=custom&w=blackburn+mirror

Your kick stand looks unique. Most kick stands I have seen are installed little bit behind the bottom bracket. Chastain is not that bad because it's mostly sidewalk and there are bike lanes between 575 and Town Point Rd

I think I might have seen you before on Chastain on my way to the gym. Last time some guy was riding his unicycle on Chastain. There are quite of few cyclists use this road.

I ride to the gym on Friday off (9 x 80 work schedule) and weekends, here is the route:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2135379

I use my road bike going to the gym.

H23NC,



Yeah had to be somebody else.
I actually have a closet full of clothes that had become too small that now fit so getting luck there. Three notches on the belt.

a resting bpm of 40?!?!?! wow thats low! I'm still in the low 60's. About the same blood pressure though.
My issue has never been high LDL its low HDL. I managed to clog up three arteries to my heart at 37 and get stints in them. :o
My last test was 105 overall but my HDL was 32 and thats sucking down 1000mg of Niaspan a day. I am hoping to see big improvements in that with the exercise. if I can get that up to 45 and my LDL stay the same it will make my Cardiologist happy.

My commute is Chastain from Canton hwy to just past KSU. Doesn't look like our normal routes cross. I do go down to the Square sometimes on the weekend and planning on looping out to Kennesaw Mt looking for a nice 25+ mile loop to put some miles on so maybe we will run into each other.

This is my Commuterized M400 Cannondale I ride http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=76840&d=1216686595
Cool about making the paper!

My hat's off to you for biking in with medical condition. Those gatorades would definitely boost your hot afternoon ride home. I'm not a big fan of gatorades but every now and then would try one and it does make a difference in hot sunny days.

I'm still wearing long sleeve shirts and pants to protect my skin from road rash and sun burn. People think I'm crazy for wearing that much in summer.


H23NC,

Hammer Nutrition HEED is a far superior sports drink. No sugar and no artificial sweetners, either.
http://www.hammernutrition.com/za/HNT?PAGE=PRODUCT&PROD.ID=4038&OMI=10082,10047&AMI=10082#info1

a resting bpm of 40?!?!?! wow thats low! I'm still in the low 60's...

A low heartrate can be related to heredity. My cousin has a rbpm of 44. Mine's in the mid 50s. I ride 150+mpwk. He smokes, NEVER exercizes and we're about the same age. I think I hate 'im...:p


Hammer Nutrition HEED is a far superior sports drink. No sugar and no artificial sweetners, either.
http://www.hammernutrition.com/za/HNT?PAGE=PRODUCT&PROD.ID=4038&OMI=10082,10047&AMI=10082#info1

Thanks for the link. I've been looking for a replacement for Gatorade as I've been aware of the sweeteners, but the rest of my diet is pretty good. I tried plain water for a while, but kept 'bonking' on the way home, so I got some G-ade in bulk and after a couple of days I noticed I wasn't bonking at all. Will give HEED a try.

Sorry for the 'thread hi-jack' OP...and thanks for the kudos.:)

Your kick stand looks unique. Most kick stands I have seen are installed little bit behind the bottom bracket. Chastain is not that bad because it's mostly sidewalk and there are bike lanes between 575 and Town Point Rd

I think I might have seen you before on Chastain on my way to the gym. Last time some guy was riding his unicycle on Chastain. There are quite of few cyclists use this road.

I ride to the gym on Friday off (9 x 80 work schedule) and weekends, here is the route:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2135379

I use my road bike going to the gym.

H23NC,

You ride right past where I used to go to school (KSU), where I used to live(the Mills at Chastain) and where I used to work (PGA Tour Superstore.) Small world.

respect!

Nice!

Although at first I thought that you rode 10,002 miles "today". I was like, "dang this guy is super fast".

We'd would have to start calling him "The Flash"

Your kick stand looks unique. Most kick stands I have seen are installed little bit behind the bottom bracket. Chastain is not that bad because it's mostly sidewalk and there are bike lanes between 575 and Town Point Rd

I think I might have seen you before on Chastain on my way to the gym. Last time some guy was riding his unicycle on Chastain. There are quite of few cyclists use this road.

I ride to the gym on Friday off (9 x 80 work schedule) and weekends, here is the route:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2135379

I use my road bike going to the gym.

H23NC,

That's a Greenfeild brand stand. Its not that uncommon of a mount. My bike did not come with a stand and in the Y on the chain stays it would interfere with the routing of the derailleur cables and the fender. Cannondale does make one that fits their bikes a little better as they have a little larger diameter seat and chain stays then most bikes. Roswell bikes is the local Cannondale dealer and didn't have one. It works ok but does lean the bike a little more then I would like . Going to do a little work on it and see if I can fix that.

I honestly am riding the street more and more. Most of my near misses have been using the cross walks.

I do use the side walk to pull that hill headed east coming up from Noon Day Creek. That gray fence on the north side of the road makes the turn blind and as stupid as people drive through there I just don't feel safe trying to lug up that steep grade in that curve. Once I get to the next intersection I usualy cross and ride the street the rest of the way. I definitely make much better time that way. When I started commuting it was taking me 25 minutes from Wall greens to Town point according to my computer. Now I do that same ride in 18..Well managed to do it in 17.30 Friday but it took pissing off a punk in a Mustang that was cutting traffic at 575 to do it. I had to take my lane and hold. Rode right down the middle of that turn lane to keep that punk from left hooking me in the bike lane when he cut somebody off. HE WAS PISSED! I got a Thumbs up from two drivers that saw it.

On Bikecobb mailing list I recommend them putting a K-Rail on the left side of the bike lane from Chastain Center to 575 bridge to stop that garbage. It dangerous in a car dealing with those jerks it really sucks on the bike.