I've been fighting a calf injury since Jan of 2016 so I've only been on the bike to test out recovery. Until today that had not gone well. Did a bit over six miles for "Ride Your Bike To Work Day" today and if my calf doesn't get all crazy this weekend because of it then I'll start riding consistent small miles to build a base. I figure commuting will help.

I'll park about five miles from work and bike in, then back after work. Doing that for a week, which is longer than I want, will help wake my legs up and prepare for whatever it is I feel is next. I keep moving my parking spot further away and before you know it I'll be able to do a full commute.

Hopefully.

I was off for a year a few years ago, I can't even imagine what this is like for you. Good luck and success!

Thanks! As long as I'm able to get back on the bike (and other activities), I'll be fine. It's a good time of the year to start riding again. Small, yet consistent rides which will then turn into commutes.

I started July 1 last year, parking 3 miles away, and doing it ~3 times a week. Rode only a couple times in October, then quit until this month, as I wasn't set up (mentally, and bike-wise) for cold/dark riding last year.

This year, already up 7-9 miles each way, and hope to invest in some fenders and better lights to increase the number of days that I commute. I did buy some street tires for my hybrid, hoping that will make the ride a bit faster/cooler.

Traffic is so bad on the beltway around Boston, that it doesn't take me much longer to bike than drive. It adds about 45-60 minutes to my day, but I have more energy in the evening than when I wasn't exercising.

This is key. I notice this as well.

Great to see all the posts, really helps my motivation! I'm back at it now too, I had a 7-10 mile commute, but got a different position with a much better org, only problem is it's about 18 miles away. There was a time when I envied those with longer commutes than me, but I had been off the pedals for several months when I decided it was a good idea to make the trip in and home, after that nearly 40 mile day, it scared me away for a bit. I'm still working back to it, but now park 7 miles from the office, so I can do the ride I'm used to. I love the idea of moving the parking sport back a bit till ya get to the full ride. I hadn't even thought of this till reading this post.

Next week, or the week after, I'm parking further away!

Joe

good luck! smart plan!