Ginny

I'm going to start commuting to work on the weekends tomorrow. Week days I have to pick up 6 kids from school, so until school is out, it's weekend commuting for me.
At 7.5 miles, it should be pretty easy. BUT it's mostly downhill going so it's mostly uphill going home.
I'm looking for some bike trails I can get on in the beginning for the home commute since I'm not good on hills yet. I'd have 3-4 miles of the ride home in one long rise that I'd be going 5-6 mph. Those drivers going home will wish me dead if I keep them from going the 45 mph that most go.
The road is two lane each way, no sidewalk and no shoulder which would mean for me to be safe I'd have to take the lane.
The bike trails would probably add 4 extra miles to my nightly commute. While that's fine, I'll be riding alone, in the dusk (I leave work at 7PM) and I'm a girl. Idiots in cars I think may have a tendancy toward being a$$h0lish to a female (perceived as weaker) than to a guy in full kit.

What do you think would be the best way; take the lane and hope I can do better on hills pretty quick, or find a trail to take and load up on the lights?

Thanks,
Ginny in Denver-ish

aMull

I'd say at first take the trails, 12 miles will prepare you for the hilly commute when you switch. You shouldn't start climbing 4 miles right away, and on fast roads.

cooker

I'd take the trails...no way I want 45 mph cars overtaking me when I'm going 1/10th their speed.

cooker

Also look for sidestreets and shortcuts. Often adjacent neighbourhoods have walkways between them that allow bikes through but not cars.

-=(8)=-

Trails.....always !
Hills are mosty mental !!
Tackle them in your mind and you've won !

HardyWeinberg

Definitely trails if there are no neighborhood or whatever slower streets paralleling your main route. You will get better at the hills, but give it time.

daredevil

My commute is uphill also. I have no choice but to take a two lane road with no shoulder. I found that if I look like I know what I am doing to drivers, (high visibility clothing, nice bright daytime visible tailights) they treat me well. The traffic in my area isn't terribly heavy though. It can be at times but it's not like it's non stop. I do have a fair amount of large double trailered trucks though. I never completely take the lane but I don't try to hug the fog line either.

newbojeff

1+ on the trails. It may seem inconvenient for it to be longer at first, but if you keep it up your 7.5 mile option is going to seem short. I'd love to be able to tell my wife that I have to ride the extra 4 miles because its much safer. Sounds more pleasant as well as long as its in a relatively safe area.

Good luck!

CBBaron

I'm going to disagree and say taking the road is fine. If traffic is going 45MPH then I'm sure the speed limit is 35MPH. Take the lane, wear bright clothes, and work on the hills. With two lanes each way the cars should have plenty of room to pass you and you won't be holding up any one. I usually prefer to have several bright blinking lights if it is not sunny.
If your like me such that, I usually don't have extra time for a casual ride on my commute. Adding 4 miles would add 15+ min to my commute which my wife already considers too long. So most days I take the shortest route and ride hard. If you have the extra time then enjoy the longer trail.
I'm a large guy so I can't comment on the safety issues of women.

Craig

zeytoun

Taking the road is fine, and there's nothing wrong with it, especially since there are two lanes in each direction.

However, the questions I would ask are how comfortable the OP is on the hill, and is there any place that she can bail in case of emergency? If she has ridden this hill often and knows she is physically up to it, then great. And if there is at least some space off of the road that she can bail out to (if she gets buzzed, bonks, has a mechanical issue, etc - it happens!), then all is good.

I have a steep hill on my commute that has an average grade of 10%/max grade of 14%. It has bike lanes most of the way up, but they dissolve at the top of the hill for a right-turn lane. I can physically make it up the hill, but I find the stress of dealing with taking the lane at the very end quite stressful, so I take an alternate route that is a little less steep, a little less busy, and has a little more room.