BikinPotter

I put slicks on the new mtb last night & went for a short ride. Sweet! Rolls good, still with lots of cush.

Tomorrow is Thursday (my Friday) and I'm going to commute to work.

My one-way commute is 6.1 miles, according to Google maps (I haven't installed my cyclometer, yet. Gimme time, gimme time) but it's pretty much flat or downhill for most of the way. Which means it's flat and a smeg of a lot of hill on the return.

My return strategy: After work I'll ride the 4.5 miles along the Duwamish trail back to pick up the #125/11 bus to take me back up Capitol Hill. 10 miles is good enough for my first commute in 4 years. I work 4 days a week, so my immediate goal is to commute 2 of the 4.

chasm54

Try riding the hill. You'll be amazed how quickly it makes a difference to your fitness. You know you want to...

BikinPotter

Of course I do! I've ridden the hill before. I was in better condition then, if no lighter than I am, currently. I haven't been on a bike in four years. It will come. No need to stress my aging knees. I'll let you know how it is in a month.

goldfinch

Good plan Potter! Let us know how the commute goes.

Beachgrad05

Wishing you luck. I have commuted to work twice this week so far. Drove today as I am riding with a cycling pal after work instead. Commute tomorrow tho.

Can't wait to hear how the first time went.

tergal

Sounds like a good plan, It doesn't take long for you to adapt to the ride and start looking for more hill.

Not sure what your civil Laws are like over there, but riding around the bike paths roaring like a lion may get you in trouble

BikinPotter

That's why I took along my duck call! It's handy when there are pedestrians about. A couple of quacks of the duck call alerts people that I'm coming up upon them. They will invariably step right into my path to see what the noise is. That's just human nature, whether I ring a bell, quack like a duck, roar like a lion, or politely say, "On your left!" But I'm prepared for that. The duck call usually gets a friendly smile. And little kids love it.

Today I am a commuter. Ride report:

The night before:

Packed comestibles sufficient for the day, including breakfast. I hate riding when I'm full.

Laid out biking clothes, gloves, helmet, etc.

Packed Ortlieb pannier with work clothes, along with bike lock & cable.

Note to self: Pick up an extra inner tube to carry with basic tools. If I get a flat I'm stuck walking. Maybe a small pump. Those CO2 things are probably fast, but boy, are they heavy.

Today:

Conditions: Partly sunny at 7:00 a.m. Temp 39 degrees F, 3.89 degrees C

I'm excited, and kind of nervous, too. Then I realized I was remembering commuting on my other bicycle, which didn't fit me and tended to be an unpleasant ride. I could do it, but I didn't really enjoy it. I LOVE riding my new bike.

Hopped on the bike & off we go.

Note to self: When it's 39 degrees F, bring your lightweight balaclava to keep your ears warm! And gloves with fingers!

Kept getting caught at traffic lights, so I had a hard time getting warmed up, until I went past downtown. It's not the most attractive route, but this morning was all business. Only one little section of hairy road where traffic goes from 2 lanes to one, with drivers who believe I should be killed for delaying their rush for the freeway onramp. Sorry folks!

Note to self: Find a way around that particular stretch of road until they finish fixing it.

Blah blah rode, enjoying the sensation of movement. Not sure of my speed. I WILL get that cyclometer installed this weekend. Got to work warm, but not sweaty, a full 15 minutes sooner than I expected. Wowed my coworkers with my physical prowess.

Only 8 more hours until I can ride my bike

chasm54

LOL. Good for you. Do get a tube, and a pump.

kookaburra1701

Awesome! I know it seems like a big hassle to get all the stuff gathered together for a bike commute, but if you keep at it and make it a habit, soon you'll be wondering why you ever used to bother with the car.

I've been commuting exclusively by bicycle this spring, and with no other lifestyle changes at all I'm down 12 lbs in a month.

chefisaac

you will LOVE commuting to work! I love it so much. Great way to get the miles in and really nice to be able to clear my mind.

chefisaac

And I find packing the night before is crucial because in the morning I do not have the ability to think at 4 am. Hop in shower, shower, dress, go.

Also keep an extra pair of work clothes at your work if you can. Its handy when you do forget (underwear for example).

jyossarian

Don't stress your knees going up hill. Shift to the granny gears and spin up the hill. Your knees will thank you and there's no shame in using them since that's what they're there for.

tergal

Ha, should mount your duck caller to a air horn .

Grabbing a pump and a spare tube is the best idea you have there, i normally have a snack in my bag so if i get a flat i swap my tyre and make a picnic out of it .

Really confuses some of the "speed" racers around here to see me with my feet up on the bench eating a bar watching the birds fly around .

Half the battle in commuting i found is the direction you pick , i have about 4 differnet routes that i like depending on if i am running late or early , if i want to cruise or ride hard.

Keep up the good work, let us know how you are doing.

BikinPotter

Ride report wrap up:

The 6.1 mile ride to work was ok (see report above). The return trip was ok until about mile 2. Then my quads started whining like a couple of spoiled children. "Please stop! Please stop! Please stop! Oh, please stop." Then my brain stepped up. "You know, this is very tiring. You're probably over doing it. Listen to your thighs, begging to be relieved of this torment. What do you think you're doing? Getting in shape? What makes you think YOU can get in shape? Aren't you embarrassed by the REAL cyclists blowing by us like we're standing still? You look like a lemon in that stupid yellow jacket!"

Meanwhile, my thighs are still crying, "Please stop! Please stop! Please stop!..."

Shut UP, whiny babies! We're doing this! Get over it! Just keep turning the cranks, we'll be fine. Nobody is dying today. Screw you, Brain.

And thus I arrived at the designated bus coordinates, where I rested my thighs and kept my brain quiet with the newspaper. oo! Comics! A short bus ride, "Oh, no! We have to pedal some more?"

Brain and Thighs don't know it, yet, but we're doing this again, next week.

chasm54

Excellent. Your legs will shut up after a while, as you know.

jyossarian

Ride over the weekend. Don't mash, just spin. It'll help work out any lingering soreness and get your legs used to riding on a more frequent basis.

Daspydyr 

Great adventure story, thanks for sharing. +1 on packing a tube and pump. I also like the idea of putting slicks on a MTB. IMO you have more stability and variety. Then on the weekends or when you want to get muddy you change out the tires and hit trails. Best of all worlds. Welcome back to the crazy people.

I am thinking that a ride by the Bass Pro Shop this weekend for a duck call is in order. Hmmm maybe a turkey gobbler for me, would be appropriate.

mlander

Great job knowing this for what it is! It's real name is Resistance as dubbed by Steven Pressfield in his wonderful book The War of Art. It creeps up any time we try to better our places in life in any way, especially creatively or physically. It is a force of evil.

And, yes, good job on the commuting thing! I absoluly LOVE to walk out of my building on a sunny day to find my bike waiting on me. Then you get going and the wind blows the stress right off your body.

BikinPotter

That's the plan! Sunday is "Bicycle Sunday" along Lake Washington Blvd. It's a very popular bicycling route, but on certain days during spring/summer they close the blvd to car traffic. It's really nice. A bit crowded, but it will be perfect for me. And the weather is going to be good. I'm thinking of taking the kayak out later today.

chasm54

Wow. That's lucky, having a bike that can take a kayak.