A bit of description of your route profile.
- Suburban streets, fairly well even for ups and downs, but overall there is a 200 ft elevation change - down to work - up to home. I pass farms, schools and shopping malls. Most roads are just 1 lane in ea. direction w/ max speed limit at about 30 mph.

What kind of bike you ride. (photos would be cool)
- Hybrid with drop bars and big fat slicks

How you carry your gear and what or how much (volume) stuff you bring on the ride.
- I use a red fabric rectangular lunch cooler without the lining so it holds more, mounted on a back rack. I also started using a courier bag for small items that I kept forgetting - it functions like a man-bag with keys, wallet, pills, documents. Pretty much anything other than clothes or food.

Distance & time (average speed if you care to share)
- 13 miles 50 minutes in, sometimes longer home but always under an hour

Other
- I shifted my work hours to avoid peak traffic - so I'm in from 8-4, but actually arrive at 7:30, am showered and dressed by 7:45.