I just started bicycle commuting.

I live close to Little York & I-45 and work near Westheimer & Kirkwood. I ride from the house to the Galleria (~13.5 miles) and take the bus the rest of the way. I've not found a route I feel comfortable riding west of the Galleria. Too many idiots w/ cell phones, ya know? The only westbound arteries I know are Westheimer (gotta be nuts to ride that), Richmond (too busy for my taste) and San Felipe/Memorial/Briar Forest (same).

After work I reverse the process.

I ride a Trek 7100 hybrid and put my stuff in a laptop backpack. That's the perfect size for a pair of jeans & a t-shirt, the stuff that goes in the pockets, a couple of water bottles and a book. I drive in w/ my food for the week on the weekend and store it in the fridge.

I did ~125 miles last week. Feeling great!