Originally Posted by
rec3036
I keep saying i am going to start riding my bike to work... but I am too much of a wimp to do it...
What is really stopping you from riding in, the full distance? Here is how I did it at my last job and will do again at this job.
First I map it all out and get what I think is a fair route, trying to use as much bike trail as is reasonable. For me it is 20.3 miles one way.
Second I find some incremental places I can park and ride in. For instance there is a good place 10 miles away that I can park in the morning and ride into work. Then after work I ride back. If that kills me I will find a place closer. If that distance works will I'd do it a few more times to make sure I'm not overdoing it then I'd find a place a bit further away to start out.
It's possible you never go all the way back and forth to work. You may stay at the abbreviated distance. What I am doing is preparing for a full one way commute. Once I do that I'll either ride into work or from work to home, not both, due to time schedules. However once I am doing a full commute I'll be in shape enough that if I have a free evening (rare) I can do a two way commute just to push myself.
So.... if the full distance is a hindrance look for a place to park and do a partial.