trekker pete

Since starting bike commuting on and off over the last 3 years, a 4 commute week had been a goal. I just knocked it off this week. Would have made it a fiver had i not had an alarm malfunction on monday.

Over these few years weather/laziness has interfered with achieving this goal.

I am hoping for all five days next week.

My daily round trip is a smidge over 25 miles, a mile longer if i take the scenic route home which i did a few days.

I find that the key to doing this is finally convincing myself that the joy of riding, the day long endorphin buzz and sense of achievement trumps and desire to stay under the sheets for an extra 20 minutes.

Not sure why it has taken this long to finally realize something that was painfully obvious from the start. I just hope I can make it last when the morning ride turns a bit nippy in a month or 2.

Added bonus. Dropped a roadie on the way home yesterday. Admittedly he was a painfully slow roadie, but, that's besides the point. Dropped another dude this morning on a hybrid who was even slower and appeared to be a newb from the startled look he gave me in response to my "on your left" greeting.

Sure wish there was more cycle traffic out there for the commute, be it roadie or commuter (commie?). I find that when someone in my sights, all leg fatigue/being winded vanishes and I find another gear. I remember a week or so ago in the thread about draft ninjas, someone said, "it's a commute, not a race". to that i reply, what's the difference? If I'm on a bike and somebody else is on a bike.....it's a race, even if the other fella doesn't realize it!!!

tligman

you go!

EasyEd

Right on. I too made four of five days this week, but my round trip is only 19 miles. Awsome job!

Sundance89

Congratulations! If you aren't already, start visiting the "Living Car Free" forum and read the many blogs on the web of people that are doing it. I found that with this as my highest goal, it was an easy shift to commute to work by bike every day, let alone every other task. The cycling lifestyle becomes the norm rather than some exception that you are "doing".

Congrats in advance for what I'm sure will be your first fiver next week and beyond!

CptjohnC

Great job, and very inspiring! I did my 'biggest' mileage week so far (at something over 62), and I'm shooting for an 85 mile week after next. Then I change jobs, and my mileage options will be more limited.

agarose2000

I did 100+ last week without even realizing it when I did 5 days straight of my 36 mi round trip commute. It's a lot of fun - kudos to you!

I try to stay about 22+mph on moving speed when I'm rolling - even then, the lights take me down to a 55min commute over 18.5 miles each way. I live in NorCal in a very bike-friendly area, so I end up catching a large number of commuters and bike teams on the same nice route. I agree that "prey" can be a good motivator not to slow down - I'd like to say that I actually intentionally speed up to catch riders ahead, but I'm honestly going hard enough whenever I'm moving that not slowing down is perhaps all I can reasonably give.

I got pretty tired by the end of the week, but not too bad despite the 2x/day hammerfest.

(I actually RAN 100+ miles per week a few years ago in peak training in comparison!)

JeffSG

Sweeeet! Glad your enjoying the ride. I'm with you on the race part...but don't tell the roadies that.

Ride safe,

Jeff

capejohn

100 mile week is good. But so is 50. Nice going and keep riding.

GeneO 

Way to go!. That was my first milestone. No I am doing 500/mo with ease. Then it gets into time limitations

trekker pete

got called in today to cover for someone. I thought about riding, then realized getting there a half hour or so later would cost me a few $$$$ and grabbed the car keys.

It was an absolutely glorious day. No clouds, no humidity, maybe low 60s. As I passed a roadie in my cage I was kicking myself for not getting on the bike. Could have been a nice start to a 6 commute week.

Won't let that happen again tomorrow! Guess I better get to bed, then.

nighty night.

CCrew

Same thing, but I opted for the bike. It by far was one of the most beautiful days yet this year. Got a great sunburn too

Congrats on the mileage. Keep it up and before long you'll look back and think that was nothing.

dcrowell

Before I moved (yesterday), my commute was 33 to 40 miles round-trip depending upon route. That meant only three days a week put me over the 100 mile mark.

I'll get fewer miles now, but I'll ride every day. I just did my first trip into work, and it clocked in at 3.3 miles. Assuming I take the same route home and do it every day of the week, I'll manage a whole 33 miles. On the other hand, I won't drive at all, and I can take alternate longer routes.