DogBoy

I have a dilemma. I started bike commuting in early May, and I really enjoy it. But now, class has started (2 nights a week), so I need a car to get me to class (50 miles puts it out of bike range). So 2 days a week, I must drive. Then, Thursday night is the bike-club night, so to get to the start of the ride on time; I find I need to drive from work. Now I’m only riding my bike 2 days a week, and frankly that sucks. So my questions: how can I work it out so I have a car so I can get to class, and still bike to work more? My commute is 5 miles, and I could leave a car at work overnight, but it seems odd to drive my car to work with my bike, and then bike home so I can bike the next day….should I just enjoy the 2 days a week and not worry about it, or is there something else I can do?

naisme

That sounds like a solution. Many people just starting will drive their car with their bike, bike home, bike to work, then drive home. They get used to the routine, and slowly the car stays home, and they bike more often.
School isn't going to last forever, so... enjoy,it's hot and sticky anyway. One question is that 50 miles one way or round trip? I'm doing 25 miles one way to work, well, I add miles as well, so my commute really isn't 23 miles, it's more like 40 to work and 23 home.

DogBoy

School is 50 miles 1 way, and I need to get there by 5:30, and work ends at 3:30. I'm not that good a cyclist

madpogue 

Yoiks, where are you going to school that's 50 miles from Madison? Maybe it's too late to suggest this, but aren't there suitable classes at MATC?

Here's another thought. How long does class last? If it's over by 7:00, bring your bike with you when you drive to class, and ride for an hour or so after class wherever that is. It's a change of scenery from the same-old same-old in Madison, and it's a nice time to ride (cooling off, but still enough light).

DogBoy

Waukesha. UWM- MBA course. Class from 5:30 to 9:00. I'm too far along in the program to switch to Edgewood, and UW-Madison's nighttime MBA program is not flexible enough to accommodate my work/life balance.

madpogue 

Dang, that's more like 60-ish miles (unless it's from the far East side). And on some of the best riding nights of the year!

Hmm, if work ends at 3:30, could you drive to Dousman or Wales by 4:30-ish? Then take the Glacial Drumlin trail the 8-12 miles into Waukesha. Ride back will be pretty dark, but on that trail, you'll have to watch out for whitetails more than Impalas. Probably won't be any trail fee cops out at that time of a weekday.

Or maybe just pound off some rec miles in the morning before work those days.

catatonic

Ask your employer if you can park your car at work, and bike to work?

That is, if your willing to leave your car there. Some palces are safer than other for that, but I left my car here at work for months on end once, since all I ever used it for was hauling crap around for the boss.