I will tread on Greg Lemond. It does get easier for a commuter. It never gets easier for professional racer. Greg's quote is habitually taken out of context. Very good quote, by the way.

The commuter starting at zero may take months to a year to realize that it is easier than at the beginning.

Two months after I started my 22 mile roundtrip commute, I went to stand up out of my desk chair. I placed my palms on my upper legs just above the knees to push. I had a shock. My upper legs felt swollen in my hands. I thought I had some new malady.

Boy, was I wrong! I didn't realize it at the time but, I had already cut 20 per cent of my commute time.

I didn't start commuting via bike until age 51.