My first mini-commute - Success!
07-09-07, 01:02 PM
#1
Top Speed 53.1mph
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Jacksonville, AL
Posts: 159
Bikes: GMC Denali Road Bike ($150), Generic MTB ($50)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My first mini-commute - Success!
Well I've been contemplating the whole commuting thing for a while. I finally bought myself pretty much everything I needed to keep from having excuses to go for it... the latest purchase was a Third Eye mirror that mounts to my glasses and a crank wrench for maintenance.
For me, the real commute it's about 19 miles each way (38 total... 14 of which is a paved bike trail). Well today I had some recall work done to one of my cars so I dropped it at the dealer and rode the 3 miles to the office and the 3 miles at lunch to go pick it up. Not anywhere near what a real commute would be, but it was me on the road with plenty of traffic riding my bike and going down 3 miles of the same path I'd take on a real commute. Overall a pretty good experience. No close calls, everyone gave plenty of space. Now I just need to find a place about 6 miles from here to park and ride the rest of the way in and work up to the full commute.
I'm still a noob to street riding even though I've done plenty of it in my small town and have read most of the guides and tips out there for it. So I'm a bit gun shy about doing the full commute since so much of it is on much more busy streets. But hey any victory is a good step towards the full commute.
And for the record I had one killer hill on my route and a triple set of train tracks to cross. So not hazard free even in that short of a distance.
Oh and I broke only a few of the cardinal sins of bicycling on the road... I ran a couple lights (after stopping and seeing there was no traffic) and I pulled off the road a couple times to let the traffic pass till there was another big open gap. Oh yeah and I rode on a small strech of sidewalk but it was behind some businesses that had fensed off lots so no obvious threat was placed to any pedestrians.
For me, the real commute it's about 19 miles each way (38 total... 14 of which is a paved bike trail). Well today I had some recall work done to one of my cars so I dropped it at the dealer and rode the 3 miles to the office and the 3 miles at lunch to go pick it up. Not anywhere near what a real commute would be, but it was me on the road with plenty of traffic riding my bike and going down 3 miles of the same path I'd take on a real commute. Overall a pretty good experience. No close calls, everyone gave plenty of space. Now I just need to find a place about 6 miles from here to park and ride the rest of the way in and work up to the full commute.
I'm still a noob to street riding even though I've done plenty of it in my small town and have read most of the guides and tips out there for it. So I'm a bit gun shy about doing the full commute since so much of it is on much more busy streets. But hey any victory is a good step towards the full commute.
And for the record I had one killer hill on my route and a triple set of train tracks to cross. So not hazard free even in that short of a distance.
Oh and I broke only a few of the cardinal sins of bicycling on the road... I ran a couple lights (after stopping and seeing there was no traffic) and I pulled off the road a couple times to let the traffic pass till there was another big open gap. Oh yeah and I rode on a small strech of sidewalk but it was behind some businesses that had fensed off lots so no obvious threat was placed to any pedestrians.
07-09-07, 01:07 PM
#2
not a role model
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,659
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by nightc1
Oh and I broke only a few of the cardinal sins of bicycling on the road... I ran a couple lights (after stopping and seeing there was no traffic) and I pulled off the road a couple times to let the traffic pass till there was another big open gap. Oh yeah and I rode on a small strech of sidewalk but it was behind some businesses that had fensed off lots so no obvious threat was placed to any pedestrians.
07-09-07, 01:23 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,242
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Many congrats!
Be creative and think of another way to get a few miles in regularly. I'd suggest upwards of 15 round trip is something you'd enjoy 2-3 times a week.
I don't find myself ever pulling off the road, but you're situation might be different. Don't worry about the criticism--just work on getting comfortable.
Be creative and think of another way to get a few miles in regularly. I'd suggest upwards of 15 round trip is something you'd enjoy 2-3 times a week.
I don't find myself ever pulling off the road, but you're situation might be different. Don't worry about the criticism--just work on getting comfortable.
07-09-07, 01:24 PM
#4
Top Speed 53.1mph
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Jacksonville, AL
Posts: 159
Bikes: GMC Denali Road Bike ($150), Generic MTB ($50)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by JeffS
That's not a good start.
07-09-07, 01:32 PM
#5
Infamous Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 24,360
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
Congrats on your first commute. You might want to concentrate on developing good habits and avoid making bad habits...habits.
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
07-09-07, 02:32 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 84
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yes, don't pick up any bad habits like this ....
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/317270-do-you-stop-your-commute.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/317270-do-you-stop-your-commute.html
07-09-07, 02:46 PM
#7
Shut Up and Ride
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 578
Bikes: Cannondale t-700 [commuter], Cannondale MT-800 [Tandem so the Lil Misses can keep up], GT I drive Team [My tricked out Racer MTB]
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Congrats on your ride.. keep it up.
As for myself, I consider that filtering up to the front is enough of a gift. I wait for the light to change. Makes me feel like a good citizen
Oh yeah, lest we not forget....
Rules for new commuters:
~Just do it... then just keep doing it
~Ride It Like You Stole It
~Keep The Rubber Side Down [This one is of critical importance!]
~When you start talkikng youself out of riding....just Shut Up and Ride
~Buy new goodies/bikes with the money you save
~Constantly show off sexy biker legs to wife/gf/bf/whatever
~It never gets easier, you just go faster[well at first it gets easier]
~Work..it's the ugly time between rides
~Objects in your mirror are stupider than they appear
~The unintelligible comments from passing cars are always compliments
~Sweat and snot[in winter] are sexier than you might think
~If 2 bikes are headed in the same direction they are racing
~Your new name is Fred [or Wilma]
~The response to "Get on the sidewalk!" is "Ride your freakin' bike!"
~Once you are completely soaked, you can't get any wetter.
~Don't worry Be Happy
~Perfect your shower time down to 4.25 minutes. You'll be doing it a lot.
~Yes, helmets are dorky, but you should still wear one.
~Laughing at JAMs makes them madder than giving them the finger.
~Don't ride through Garbage Juice..especially when cornering.
~Quickie Marts are the cycling oasis [Gatorade fits the bottle holder].
~When you are bonking, chug down a coke...aka "Rocket Fuel"
~When someone bails you out, you are obligated to pay it forward 2x
~Biker Tan... Set a new higher standard for Farmer Tan
~Bicycles, the other fun thing between your legs.
Congratulations on your first ride !
As for myself, I consider that filtering up to the front is enough of a gift. I wait for the light to change. Makes me feel like a good citizen
Oh yeah, lest we not forget....
Rules for new commuters:
~Just do it... then just keep doing it
~Ride It Like You Stole It
~Keep The Rubber Side Down [This one is of critical importance!]
~When you start talkikng youself out of riding....just Shut Up and Ride
~Buy new goodies/bikes with the money you save
~Constantly show off sexy biker legs to wife/gf/bf/whatever
~It never gets easier, you just go faster[well at first it gets easier]
~Work..it's the ugly time between rides
~Objects in your mirror are stupider than they appear
~The unintelligible comments from passing cars are always compliments
~Sweat and snot[in winter] are sexier than you might think
~If 2 bikes are headed in the same direction they are racing
~Your new name is Fred [or Wilma]
~The response to "Get on the sidewalk!" is "Ride your freakin' bike!"
~Once you are completely soaked, you can't get any wetter.
~Don't worry Be Happy
~Perfect your shower time down to 4.25 minutes. You'll be doing it a lot.
~Yes, helmets are dorky, but you should still wear one.
~Laughing at JAMs makes them madder than giving them the finger.
~Don't ride through Garbage Juice..especially when cornering.
~Quickie Marts are the cycling oasis [Gatorade fits the bottle holder].
~When you are bonking, chug down a coke...aka "Rocket Fuel"
~When someone bails you out, you are obligated to pay it forward 2x
~Biker Tan... Set a new higher standard for Farmer Tan
~Bicycles, the other fun thing between your legs.
Congratulations on your first ride !
07-09-07, 02:47 PM
#8
Top Speed 53.1mph
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Jacksonville, AL
Posts: 159
Bikes: GMC Denali Road Bike ($150), Generic MTB ($50)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Jaleel Johanson
Oh and most of the bad things I did were on the way back to the dealership to pick up the car. On the way to work I only ran one light... I stopped... but then knowing how long this one odd light takes to go I crept on across at pedestrian speed before taking back off.
I may do a split ride. Drive in one day, bike home that evening... bike back in the morning then drive home. It's either that or find a good middle of the road place to park to break up the commute and get used to riding some of the roads I have mapped out.
