Originally Posted by
suncruiser
So I'm starting to like my commute to-from work out here in Seattle, it's been a major challenge/workout compared to my work commute in fairbanks. Went from 1.9 miles each way to 15 miles each way (and hills now! So many hills! ) plus an extra 2 miles one way to visit my wife in the hospital. 136 miles last week on my newest acquisition, my Charge Plug Sora. I'm glad I got a competent drop bar bike for this, riding an upright that far was slightly uncomfortable.
(Sorry guys, felt like I had to share)
Two summers ago I started a commute that was about 14-15 miles each way with some long hills on country roads. I wasn't used to that much riding every day, and the first week was torture. Didn't know if I would last. But by the end of summer I was in as good a shape as I'd been in since I was in high school. I got a lot of help from the commuter forum guys here. They moved me from a backpack to a rack and panniers, which made all the difference. Sweating up those hills with a full-sized laptop and a change of clothes in my backpack, usually against a side-wind that treated the pack like a sail - that was some rough going. Also I learned that adding a mile or two to the trip in order to avoid nasty traffic was well worth it. And not to be in a hurry - find a route with pleasant scenery, play some nice music or listen to a good book, and enjoy the ride.