Part 1: The Morning Ride
I did it. I rode to work on my bike. I use the Runmeter app on an old iPhone 3GS so my GPS data isn't the most accurate, but it gives decent approximations. Things worth noting from the morning bike commute were...
a. The ride was more like 12 miles, not 10. 10 miles is the straight shot when you're in a car.
b. A school bus of all things did about 50 MPH right past me and gave me a little jolt. The bus didn't try to share the lane at all, though there was a lane open.
c. There was a dude carrying a 24-pack of Budweiser who looked like he had just visited the local Stop 'n Rob - didn't expect someone would be carrying a suitcase of beer at 8:15am.
d. Though it was a nice cool morning, I still sweat. Tomorrow I'll leave the sweatshirt at home.
e. I arrived to work about 3 minutes late, which isn't a major issue. I have the kind of job where that's OK. I can simply work 3 minutes over. Wish I would've read and listened to Joeyduck's advice about leaving an extra 15 minutes early.
f. It was about a 45 minute ride and I found myself riding pretty quickly.
g. It was a good ride overall and I look forward to the ride back home at 5:05pm Pacific Time.
h. I didn't LOOK like I was commuting. And I like that. I don't like fenders or rear racks or baskets. I looked like I was riding for exercise and I was striving. I wore active shorts and an active polo that are athletic enough for riding, yet nice enough for the office so I didn't have to change clothes when I arrived at work. And since I don't eat a big lunch I didn't have to pack a lunch either. I just stowed away a nice granola bar.
:-)