I'm late to this thread, but I think commuting is sort of like parenting. You start out mostly unprepared for what lies ahead, but you handle each new challenge as it comes. It's exhausting, but you soon get used to it. As time goes on, you figure out all the things that you wish you knew in the beginning. Although you get better with time, you still have your hard days, but the rewards are worth it. After a while, you look back and feel happy you made the choice to become a bike commuter.