I have a 30 mile round trip I started 5 weeks ago and I think it was this last week where I finally started to feel like the trip wasn't a big deal. I have started to take the ride home a little easier than the ride in so I don't blow my legs out. Not a lot easier, but maybe 10 -15 minutes more to get home. It seems to help recovery for the next day.
interesting thread
over the past year, my commute has been from 5-8 miles (two different jobs)
It takes me about 2+ weeks to adjust to the commute if I stop riding
your adjust time of 5 weeks to a commute about 2+ times as long as me indicates some general physical adjustment time. I also dropped about 10-15 lbs over the spring.
Two weeks ago, I sold my car (gad-zooks!) we have one car in the household now, but my wife uses it for her job... so I'm commited to biking year round, or using the bus (which goes right by my house and work place). I'm looking forward in a way to the dark months of winter here in the midwest...