Commuting - First commute today

Thanks for the advice everyone, I got my bike set up over the weekend, and rode in today. I think the toughest part was getting the helmet on my daughter. I don't think she is happy at the moment with riding in the trailer, but hopefully that will change. It actually didn't take much longer to ride in than to drive in, maybe an extra 5-10 minutes (the commute is only about 4 miles on city streets). I've wanted to ride in before, but my daughter wasn't old enough when we first moved here, and we really didn't want to ride with her in the dark.

Dave

Congaratulations. I feel like it is again my first day of commuting. Have not been able to commute to work for over 2 months. Been off shift. Now back on. Shift work makes commuting possible. Hurrah.
My boss is skeptical. I feel much less hassled when I commute to work by bike over stinking car, with all the nuts on the road, which #### me off. Thay are crazy. My head is much clearer when commuting on bike. My commute is 25 miles.

Good for you! :D

If you're anything like me, you were almost irritatingly peppy for the entire morning after your ride. I was in bliss mode into the afternoon on the day of my first commute. Gotta love starting the day like that!

-Rob

Originally posted by RobCat2002
Good for you! :D

If you're anything like me, you were almost irritatingly peppy for the entire morning after your ride. I was in bliss mode into the afternoon on the day of my first commute. Gotta love starting the day like that!

-Rob
:eek:

I knew this, so I'm glad to see it written. :D

Thanks, I really enjoyed the ride in. A added bonus is that I don't have to grab a cup of coffee as soon as I get into work!

My daughter still doesn't like the trailer that much. Hopefully it will get better, she has only been in it three times.

Dave

I thought kids LOVED riding in little wagons. :P How old is she?

I did my first trial run today--biked to town and back. I've been coming home rubber-legged from little 5-mile building-up rides, but somehow once I had done the 8 miles into town, I didn't want to get off the bike!

Anyway, cruised around town and came home, about 18 miles total, and feel great, apart from sore butt and knees that feel kinda...wobbly. I expect I'll be doing my first REAL commute this Saturday. (That's the next day I can be sure of daylight for the entire ride--I'm not ready to attempt long rides in the dark yet.)

It usually takes me a few weeks to optimise my route. Some roads and junctions are much better for cycling than others.
Good routes make a huge difference to the safety and enjoyment of city riding.

Originally posted by Inkwolf

...feel great, apart from sore butt and knees that feel kinda...wobbly...

If your machine is a good fit, your knees should forgive you shortly. As to your derriere, I must take a moment to wax rhapsodic about chamois liners! Slip 'em on before you ride and your hind-quarters will be most appreciative. I bought a pair and was amazed at the comfort. I could ride all day.

One caveat: Don't look at yourself in a mirror after having put them on. The effect is...disturbing.

-Rob (Oh yeah, that's attractive...)

Thanks, I'll have to think about that! :D

I did my first commute last night after all--the knees were feeling better. It's amazing what you can hear at night in the country that you can't hear during the day.....frogs singing, little streams gurgling, barn gates creaking eerily in the wind, Sasquatch breathing...:eek:

This morning my knees feel okay, but I have all the sore muscles I was surprised not to have after last time. Time for a soak in a hot tub....

I ride at night through a park in town. Its always deseted at that time, and the wildlife comes out to play. Bikes are just about the best way to see wildlife. You can get much closer, and animals dont seem to spook like they do when you are on foot.
Its just nice to be able to see fox and badger on the way back from my shopping trip.

In London I used to see heron and kingfisghers on my ride to work.