I have a long history of bike riding, however, a bad accident many years ago put me off riding for the last fifteen years. About a year ago, I and my family got back into riding and I've caught the bug again. So, after spending the winter months fretting over whether or not to try commuting, I finally decided to take the plunge and build a commuter bike hoping that the expenditure would be the final straw to getting me out on the commute. I put together a '97 GT Nomad (pics will follow when I have a chance) 21-speed, 700c hybrid road bike with racks, lights, and locks that turned out to be a nice smooth riding bike.

So, with weather this morning at 5:30am sitting right in the high 60s with low humidity and zero chance of rain, I decided to take my shot. What more could I ask for to push me over the edge. 14.4 miles, 1h20m later, I was sitting safely at my desk having completed my first commute!

Luckily, I'm not having stamina issues, and as a Clyde (275lbs) and 50+, I'm pretty happy with the numbers and can't wait to see them improve over the coming weeks. I'm aiming for commuting two to three days a week since family, scheduling, and work obligations will require me to drive at least a couple of times a week. I figure at 60-90 miles a week plus the leisurely rides with the family in the evenings and weekends, the weight will start coming off, and my time/speed will improve.