Introductions - Itching to bike my commute

Hi, Bike Forums!

My name is Chris, I'm a 24 year-old from the Richmond, VA area. Over the past two years I have really felt the itch to start biking my commute. It just seems like a really cool way to help stay in shape, reduce the ol' carbon footprint, learn something new, and stick it to BP for sludging up the gulf.

I'm a student with very little extra cash, so my bike is a Target-issue Schwinn Clear Creek hybrid/comfort bike.

I came to Bike Forums to look for some helpful advice on bike commuting safely, especially as it pertains to my specific situation. I'm excited to be here and look forward to becoming an active participant!

Welcome Chris. The folks in the Commuting forum can give you loads of help, ideas and info to get you riding to work. Good luck. :beer:

awesome

depending on how paranoid you are, you will need to start shopping for spare tubes, tools, band aids, etc. to be prepared for a flat or other problems that may occur.

google maps now has cycling as an option. this may help you find the safest route to take

How many miles would your commute be? Are there any road accommodations along the way? I have an old ten speed road bike that's pretty peppy, but the more and the longer you ride, the more comfort becomes important. Enjoy your ride.

i used to commute on a bike, the biggest problem i faced in the UK is almost no employers have showers and i really didn't enjoy smelling myself all day, if you can overcome the shower problem then it's easy, you need a change of clothing and i would definitely carry 2 spare tubes, a folding bike tool, tyre levers, ID, cash and some band aids, you could put a back pack together with all of that in it, i used to carry sufficient cash to pay a cab to take me home if i got ripped up, then you've only gotta survive the idiots, take some time devising your route, i would avoid dangerous junctions-riding further to avoid danger makes sense, lastly watch the weather reports rain and especially wind would have me getting the car out! i have more than once ridden home in falling snow-in abject misery swearing at my stupidity for not expecting it! enjoy your cycling

Hi there, and welcome to Bike Forums. I'm in Richmond, too. While there are no bike lanes, as you know, I've found the drivers to be quite courteous, at least in my travels by bike. How long is your commute? Once you start, you'll wonder why you ever commuted any other way.

Hey Chris (and tulip). I'm also in Richmond and as soon as I work up to the distance, I'm planning to make my 22-mile, round-trip commute from the West End to downtown for similar reasons.

Hope to see you over in the Commuter forums (http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?20-Commuting) and around town.