Originally Posted by dchild

Congratulations! As a clyde who started commuting ~9mi RT 4 days/week about 6 weeks ago, I can tell you it's totally worth it. My strength and stamina are way up, I've made some new friends w/ other bike commuters at my work, and it's inspiring to my daughter. It did take me a while to figure out what I liked to wear, so I'll share what I came up with. I live in a dry climate and morning commute temps have been ~25-45, so YMMV based on your circumstances.

1. You are already doing this, but the bike shorts under the work pants has been great for me.
2. Polaterc makes a fabric called Power Dry which is fantastic (various manufacturers use it, I got some long-sleeve shirts from REI). It is a 2-sided fabric and the inner layer wicks really well. It keeps my skin dry during the ride and, by absorbing all the sweat, makes me stink a lot less before I clean up.
3. Get a lightweight jacket with pit zips! Traditional layering is hard on a bike since you have to stop to add/remove layers. With pit zips you can adjust them along with the cuffs and main zipper to help regulate temperature without stopping. I also often start with some behind-the-head ear muffs that I remove part way through the ride.

and my favorite tip: Don't ride a fast bike. That way it's obviously the bike which is being slow

Originally Posted by ShartRate

Another Clyde commuter here... The commute will get much easier much faster, trust me! There are a couple hills that I was struggling to get up a couple week ago that I can power right on up without doing as much shifting. Feels incredible.

BTW, it sounds like you have some route options similar to what I do. I have a shorter, hillier route and a longer, flatter route. I take short and hilly in the morning and long and flat in the evening. Not saying that is what you should do, but don't be afraid to mix up your routes a bit to vary your training and your scenery!