What is the speed limit on the A5 road?

Why the shoulder hate?

Is there no way you could get on the other side of the hedge and ride through the fields?

I think the best point is, grass can hide dangerous holes.

The only option I believe you have is to ride on 2" tires (minimum), so when you bump the edge of the road at times (and you will), that you will stay stable. Get a fiberglass whip antenna about $10. Mount a Pool Noodle that sticks out horizontally from the side of the bike towards traffic ($1). Mount lights on each. (5 to $20) Get a GoPro camera to record all traffic coming up on you. (used older models are reasonable). Then take 1/3 of the paved surface to ride safely. When drivers act aggressive show the vids to the appropriate authorities. Is it only 1.7 miles? Come on man. Trust me when I say that you will need to learn these skills if you are going to ever get off "your" bike path. If you want some nightmares try the Astoria bridge at rush hour in a big ass storm.

Not knowing the actual situation, this depends heavily on driving culture and what you're willing to do.

Don't do it unless you feel ready -- fear is your spidey sense telling you you're out of your element. That there is Strava data for this section tells you that at least some people ride it (but you don't know why).

As someone who has ridden a lot on highways with little or no shoulder (albeit in the US), here are some thoughts:

1) Be considerate and try to help drivers get by you. The vast majority of people reciprocate if you try to work with them. Don't expect consideration if you don't intend to be considerate yourself. Think about how you'd feel if you were a driver and be the cyclist you'd want to encounter.

2) If you start riding this section, expect it to be rough at first. After you've been out there a couple months, motorists will expect to see you and the experience gets WAY better

3) Motorists treat you much better if you look like you know what you're doing. Wear bright clothing, be properly lit, use a mirror and know where everyone is, ride with a confident stroke, and make it clear via positioning and hand signals that you know what's going on at all times.

4) Motorists are most likely to do whatever the person in front of them did. This means you need to push the cars out. Ride left, but as they approach, drift right and wave -- you're basically herding the cars. Since the road is busy, it sounds like the effect you want to achieve is to pushing everyone over (including oncoming traffic). This is doable, but you need to pay attention because some drivers are much easier to work with than others.

5) I would not ride on the shoulder for many reasons. Also, do not ride too far right even though you'll often pull in to let them squeeze by. Otherwise, they'll drive like you're not there.

6) Rather than use cameras as BBassett advises (BTW, I've ridden the bridge he references a number of times), memorize all hostile drivers. People are creatures of habit meaning they tend to show up about the same places at the same times. In future when you see them, initiate a friendly 5 finger wave 2 seconds before they pass you from behind -- if you don't let these people under your skin and strip them of their anonymity, the treatment is completely different.

7) Be especially alert for wide loads hanging over the edges of trucks (common with construction) and towed trailers that dance around -- these can hit you even if the vehicles hauling them give what would normally be enough space if the drivers aren't mindful of their loads.

That's what I would do. Ride the grassy shoulder. It's totally doable for 1.5 miles. Just cruise through it, don't push too hard.

banerjek and acidfast said it all. Both great advice. Nothing to add. I'd give that commute a go.

It's not even 1.5 miles. Honestly with heavy traffic I would probably use the pavement and/or trails if available. Looks like there's a sidewalk/path/pavement that ends at Clampernow road, and then another trail/pavement picks back up in between Tagharine and Duncastle roads. It's 1.0 miles exactly between those points. If you don't have a bicycle conducive to riding in the grass on the edge, then hit the road and sprint the distance.

I personally can't stand 2-lane roads with heavy traffic. 2-lane roads with bike lanes, or 4-lane roads where motorists can easily pass are much less stressful. If there's a shoulder, path or sidewalk (pavement) available on a 2-lane road with heavy traffic, then I'll usually take it and be extra cautious at side roads and driveways.

+1 for riding on the shoulder. Get a bike that can take 2.5 inch tires, a mountain bike or monster cross, as well as visible clothing, lights, and a mirror.

You have a lot of good advice to try here. Like others said only you know how dodgy this is. Someone here I thought used a pool noodle attached to his rear rack - to force people to pass with at least 3 ft. And it worked for him pretty well from what I remember. In upstate New York - I mostly cycle in NYC but I run and drive upstate - I always slow down well behind the cyclist when in a car. I’ve had cyclists wave me around them when they’re prepared for it and when they can see it is safe to do so. And I’ve seen plenty of cars take the opposite lane while slowing down for both cyclists and runners who have to ride or run in the street. There’s a real lack of shoulders as well and it looks very similar. That said I’ve had a close call while running by totally clueless drivers. No bright clothing will help as they’re typically on their phones. If you could ride with one of those air horns I think that would be the only way bc you need to get their attention.

Mostly it’s thoughtless and careless drivers that you have to be concerned with. And there are so many of them. It’s awful how threatening they are. And of course in NYC (and elsewhere) you have the jerks who willingly put your life at risk bc they are awful human beings. It is what it is and you can only do what you can. Good luck whatever you do!

Re #31, I can assure you, No one commutes through the winter , riding on the Megler - Astoria bridge.. on a bicycle..

but the Ilwaco _Astoria bus does have a 2 bike rack on the front..


Summer there are a few hardy 'lets ride from Canada to Mexico on the west coast highway cycle tourists, then..






.....

I received a PM pointing out an error in these suggestions as I wrote them from a US perspective -- making them backwards for UK riders. In areas where people drive on the left side of the road, you should ride right when the vehicles are further behind and drift left shortly before they reach you.

The general idea is to ride in the traffic lane rather than along the edge of the road. By riding further out, you push the vehicles out and get them to slow down a little as they approach you. By moving towards the edge of the road as they get close, you make the drivers happier by looking attentive/considerate while creating space for yourself. The wave thanks them for the space (which in reality you simply took) and makes them and the vehicle behind feel better about your presence. You then just keep repeating the process.

This process may sound like weaving about, but done properly it is both natural and effective.

If you ride too close to the edge of the road, motorists will act like you aren't even there and run you off the road. Dealing with motorists is a lot like working with large hostile dogs. If you're calm, assertive, and communicate your expectations clearly, you'll find things work out well the vast majority of the time. Having said that, you should always be prepared to deal with exceptions...

Hi! We're all curious what you decided to do! A5, Duncastle, or something else?

Hey there! I recently got back in to my old accounts (both SBcycling and this one!). Here's the answer after a very long time... (are any of you still here?!)

I didn't really stick with cycling. I persevered with my old Fiat Panda during university then when I graduated and had a better job, I bought a nicer car.. then a nicer car... then a more reliable car... then a more reliable and nicer car... many finance agreements later (finally now PAID OFF!!!) on the final year of my 20s I am once again considering cycle commuting and a life of cycling.

Things are now just in place...
- No more paying monthly for a car and feeling guilty if I pay for it but don't use it... I can simply get rid of it any time now or leave it sitting. I'll still need to pay insurance but £30-£40 a week saved on fuel if I don't use it.
- I now partly live with my girlfriend in the city, so that 1.5 mile stretch that was always a barrier, is no longer a barrier. I don't need to go on a road whatsoever thanks to our decent in-city cycle lanes and greenways.
- I have the money to invest in quite a nice e-bike now, particularly if I were to get rid of my car long term but as it stands, I've bought a very inexpensive single speed folder (to fit in the back of the car when needed) to hopefully ease me into cycling.

The plan is... should I stick it now in the summer, and as the light / temperature drops back into Autumn and Winter... I'd love to be waking up on Christmas morning to one hell of a Tern or something similar. But no big decisions like parting with the car until the notion is proven to be practical and enjoyable. Just in case.. you know.

I have had the following realisations too in recent years, because the notion of cycling never fully left me. Particularly in times of trouble with cars (repairs, warranty debates, even one insurance claim last year) the absolute headache and uncertainty over many factors spoils my otherwise love of car ownership, driving and maintenance (which I 90% do myself and enjoy)

For one, there's an Enterprise car club or just flat out rentals. I'm over 25 now and driving over a decade so I can hire a car - maybe a fun luxury or fast car - for a day or two. Carrying big things - well I've owned some big but still not practical cars, you still can't fit many big items in them due to openings, support beams... and when I HAVE fitted things in, like a bookshelf, I found permanent damage on the door cards or head liner sadly. Turns out... Enterprise can rent me a VAN ... of many sizes. So even those one offs like moving a lot of rubbish or furniture, are STILL better served without 'a car' as it were.

Many around me don't drive themselves so they can't really point the finger at me if I no longer someday have use of the car... after all they could equally go get a license and a car, right?

My career is quite good now I've done what I should have done a decade ago, programming. But this extra time at the desk, the mental frustration at times... has caused me to be quite irritable and driving doesn't blend well with that. I am very much looking forward to the health (posture, mental health, fresh air, daylight) benefits as well as any bonus financial benefits of cycling. As well as a hobby hopefully more fun to get into like maintaining and seeing where I can go with my bike . As I turn 30 I also, whilst thankfully having no real medical things to complain about so far, do feel differences now in how much I can throw myself 110% into something mentally before getting tired... or physically now, unlimited energy has turned into a 'fair usage limit' of energy, quite a high one mind you still, but I can see that as life goes on, if everyone older than me is to be believed, this sort of levelling off and eventual decline of physicality will happen...but I look at active people who are even older, and they somehow escaped it - by USING their bodies and minds. This whole combination of benefits, addressing factors of getting busier, and older, sounds so much better than the gym.

I bought an expensive Concept2 rowing machine a few years ago to address a bit of strength and cardio - at home - all seasons to take care of fitness for a sedentry lifestyle. Only to find it didn't quite stretch and workout as many muscles as I hoped, nor was getting sweaty in my small room or having to come home to do that for a while, much fun. Contrast this with new cycle / greenlanes being built to connect my city ... walks in the park from time to time on days off. I have this overwhelming 'gosh I'd like to spend more time here'. Cycling through them to get to work is the perfect, regular, excuse, right?

This was a bit long, but to anyone still reading, hope it's been good to hear an update. I'll be sure to stay active on here to let you all know how it goes

Welcome back SB! Definitely unfold that bike and ride it! Let us know how it goes, and definitely show us some pics.

Thank you! It's definitely no Brompton or dream machine but hoping it'll be the stepping stone to commuting. If the bike being lousy or heavy is the only thing dragging it down, but I'm otherwise enjoying it, that's a good sign to invest in a better bike in a few months!

I'll definitely post a review / pics in the appropriate section

Welcome back! Sorry to have lost you to The Dark Side for so long. It happened to a lot of us, I think. We rode bikes as kids, then strayed from them when having a car seemed cooler.


I'm still here; been here many year. Did you miss me? :D I don't think this is even my original account; I seem to have lost that one during a software upgrade...

I've decided that once my car is paid off, I'm going to really think hard before taking on my car debt again. (assuming it's stays reliable)
4 years ago, I moved closer to work, in the same city. Now I bike commute almost every day, even in the bitter cold in the winter. Rain stops me sometimes. (As long as I have the car, I may as well use it when needed, right?) There in Northern Ireland, you'll be glad for the fenders.


This is a great plan. That Tuck you got is a basic folding bike. On the heavy side, with older components, but hopefully reliable. The folding hardware looks just like that of my Schwinn Loop; very clunky and with some play, but functional. I just LOVE folding bikes, for the reason you stated and many others. (we have a great Folding Bikes subforum here, by the way)

If you're going to spend the big bucks, Brompton is the way, for a city-dweller. The fold is more compact, quality is higher, they're made in the UK, the dirty parts are inside the fold and they roll on little wheels when folded. Here in the USA, we're starting to see Brompton Renewed shops, where we can save several hundred dollars vs. new and still have their warranty. Their main technician even participates in the aforementioned Folding Bikes subforum here. May I recommend a G Line, with the larger wheels & tires, to better smooth out bumpy roads and cobblestones... It costs as much as a nice used car, but upkeep will cost a lot less.

To me, the ultimate situation would be to share a hatchback-type car or SUV to share with the spouse when needed, and folding bikes for the day-to-day transportation, and an electric cargo bike to need the car even less.

eBikes are a game-changer, by the way. Suddenly, weight is not as important and sweating is not required, even on a hot day.


Yes. I don't really have car troubles, but now and then, I feel like: "I earn good money, why do I feel like I don't have any discretionary? → Oh, $630/mo car payment, $100/mo insurance + gas, maintenance, etc." With the money I'd save by not having a car, I'd easily be able to rent one a couple days a month if needed. Heck, our local home improvement store rents trucks and vans for $25 for an hour.

As you get older, you'll care less about this finger-pointing about status symbols.


You're on the money here, too. Since I started bike commuting, I have more energy all the time, hardly ever get sick and my desk job is a lot more bearable. I even often go out at lunch on my bike to burn some more frustration and get some more fresh air. When I go a couple days without riding, I feel the frustration building up inside me again. One thing I will suggest to help with your success is to invest in some decent, breathable rain gear. I hear it rains a lot there, so if you're going to stick with the bike commuting, this will be critical:

• Jacket
• Pants
• Overshoes
• Rain cover for your bike helmet (this will also help during the winter)

I did something similar, bought a Total Gym machine. It just sits and sits. Even though I bike, I should still use it to keep the upper body muscles in shape, but somehow, I just never think of it. I want to get OUT.

Yes, do keep us posted.

Around post #25 I realized this was a Zombie thread. I started skimming forward to see who the Necromancer was. That it is the o.p. is slightly (only slightly) mollifying, however, there are a more recent train of threads in 'Living Car Free' with the exact same themes. Same city even, and a 1.7mi. stretch of bad road that had them spooked. If o.p. there is the same as the o.p. in this thread, the situation is beyond hopeless. It is now bordering on pathological that they keep starting multiple threads about wanting to give up car ownership and cycle full time, but seemingly ... can't.

Full disclosure: for our 20 year anniversary last year, I took DW back to her birthplace in Northern England when we turned a financial corner after decades of living in poverty. Because of said poverty we made transportation and utility cycling the backbone of our domestic economy. It has served us well. We live at a Middle Class standard, and are at least as comfortable as our better paid friends and family. We are both profoundly visually impaired, but I have been at times legally allowed to operate a car during daylight hours. I never took the State up on their generosity because I care too much for this Planet to use a car for short trips around town and a 4.5mi (one way) commute.

My wife and I were shocked and appalled to see how many cars there were stuffed into what, in the U.S. would be a small suburb, albeit one built to European road standards (narrow!). Cars with one set of wheels hoisted onto the sidewalks on both sides of the streets leaving only a single car width open, down the center. The country roads are shoulder-less, and the speeds are high although the drivers are far more skillful than is the average here.

I'm not sure I could be an active cyclist in the UK. We went to Manchester where DW imagined things would be better for cyclists and ... I don't know. I saw some, but not many. There really isn't a very aggressive pro-cycling advocacy leading to bike friendly infrastructure like in Portland, OR, USA. We sold everything salable and moved to Portland, OR, USA on the strength of the bike friendly reputation PDX has earned. If there is a city(s) in Ireland with a similar reputation, I'd find it and call it good. In the meantime, I'd find alternate routes to the scary road. I'm pretty sure we've added a good mile to our morning outbound which equals two for me as I turn around and do the inbound leg right after delivering DW to her worksite. Even in a pretty bike aware locale, a savvy cyclist has to make judicious road choices for safety's sake.

Even after admitting that present conditions for safety are much improved over 8 years ago, the o.p. is still unsure. Life's too short already and constant anxiety is proven to have negative impacts on longevity.

Reached the same conclusion long ago about this poster(s)' "situation." I think there were several posts years ago (that have been deleted) that also pointed out what appears to be the nature of the poster(s)'s "barrier" to cycle commuting.

If it has not been addressed in eight years, even with improved financial and much improved safety conditions, it is unlikely that repeating the same helpful advice about bicycle commuting the OP(s) already was given by numerous posters years ago will overcome his "barrier."

Hi all, my bike came today and as soon as tomorrow evening I'm planning to leave my car at the work multi-storey and cycle to my girlfriend's house (3.5 miles) and that is essentially going to be the new transport setup. Even if I only do it to/from work most days, that's much more progress than I've ever made in all of the eight years since this first crossed my mind as a possibility.

Smaug1 Ah yes, seen just 'Smaug' when I did that tag. I'm glad to be back. I did at times check into the UK cycling forum CycleChat but never really found it as culturally rich as this site, this site has more of a global feel and until recently with the whole new look (or software upgrade at some point) it had an old internet golden years charm of a forum vibe too. I wonder if there's a way to get the old theme back? Moving closer to work makes sense when you weigh up commute costs over months and years, I see that a lot on here as advice. I can only imagine more so in the US with a continent size of 'driving' range possible. I worked out that over-paying mine with some money I set aside as a house deposit was worth it as it saved me some £3,000 in interest over the next four years as well as the hit I had from taking that money out of its special bonus account. And now I can save that old car payment towards rebuilding it which means in under two years time I'll be back where I was yet still two years of not having car payments. Started watching Dave Ramsey last summer and really changed my attitude towards debt. I can only aspire to be like you with the winter thing. The plan is... stick this single gear, hopefully my fitness catches up quickly and being 29 with luckily no major issues I hope it will. THEN, if I'm still going strong by winter, maybe buy something nice for Christmas you know? I'll have over six months of 'proof of concept' then which I've never got as far as before. I'm thinking my first upgrade / bit of kit will need to be a rack to take the pressure off my back with a backpack. Read on here that no matter how cold it is, backpacks cause a sweaty back so that doesn't sound too fun. Yes, the Tuck is heavy, and basic, but my thinking is... on the cheap side, better a single speed with less issues than crappy doomed to fail bargain basement or no name gear set.. but I might disagree up some of the hills this week, we will see... Not sure where to post my review of it. Living car free... Folding... or Commuting. All apply in my use case I suppose. My girlfriend doesn't drive and doesn't seem too bothered to, but then she lives in the city and everything is close by. I wonder how good the electric bromptons are. her place is small / upstairs flat too, so a full size bike, there isn't even a garden to put one in. A small utility space out the back, might look into a small upright shed if I do invest in a proper e-bike. Rented one out at a national park near here once, absolutely phenomenal was pulling her little girl around in a trailer effortlessly even having a bit of fun speeding along a lake. Cargo bikes interest me most, although the odd person who has a nice expensive carbon framed bike I know (topping out around a grand) thinks I'd be crazy to spend that money on a commuter. But then none of them care about replacing car trips with bike trips either, it's a hobby to them just. Yes, the car payment was a financial and psychological burden to me, more than I realised. I do look forward to renting out some fun cars if I were to get rid of mine, but for now, it is there and that feels nice to have too. As I get older I truly do care less. Some people younger than me are already making a lot more money, but hey, they're all over the country, up early, outdoors, they're working hard for it. They also have more expensive taste in foreign holidays, they drink / smoke and whatnot, they buy designer clothes and upgrade their iPhone so when it comes down to it, they're often broke more of the time than me and managing to save less. It was powerful learning how to live within my means. I made the mistake of upgrading my car along with the modest pay increases I have gotten in the recent years. Hasn't destroyed me but has 'kept me back' I suppose. A desk job is what I like most, given the options. I was building a shed I bought my mum for her birthday this last few days (today was a bank holiday in the UK) and it was fun, like a mega-Lego or Ikea set. But being in the sun, feeling the muscles ache, physical effort - my hands feel rougher all of a sudden - not for me. But that desk job also introduces a level of guilt to me of not exercising enough. Especially days where I'm so wound up / tired mentally from screen time, looking at code, dealing with people at work that I'd not be bothered to go to a gym, or take a walk and I'm a horrible person to be around. I hope cycling to and from work soaks in a lot of that agitation. So glad to hear it's literally delivered on those things for you. I have a cheap enough 'Trespass' branded waterproof / windproof bright yellow over layer from around 2016, I stuck that in the car boot tonight. I need some over trousers for sure. It definitely rains a lot but we've had an odd stint of sunny days this past month. Mother Nature likes to give us an occasional false sense of security, then laugh in our face with rain when we trusted her once more ;-) haha Hoping I can take the bike into the lobby, or failing that ,some remote corner of the multi-story a few levels up where it's just residents of the apartments and office workers. Yeah rowing wasn't for me, I also found all the online fans only really did it as part of a bigger routine or because they actually did row professionally or at a decent enough level.

Leisesturm I-Like-To-Bike Hello guys! I totally get where you're coming from. I was SBcycling and SB1501 when I originally got locked out of this account but thanks to this forums brilliant admins I have regained access to this oldest account from 2015 and plan to stick with it going forward. I never did delete any threads, mind you. I have had this notion over the years and you're right that I never properly progressed - despite some great advice, I'm sure from both of you as well having re-read them recently. There probably has been quite a few threads really.. well I'll stick to this one for now! I'm not sure who Necromancer, but that isn't me! I'd be quite shocked if they're from the same city as me. This time I feel is different, and all I can really do is share the journey on here for anyone who still cares to hear. Here's why:

- Now I can avoid that 1.7 mile stretch of road and for all intents and purposes, move in with / stay with my girlfriend who lives right in the middle of the city. I'm 29 and still not moved out so there's two birds with one stone too by 30...
- Unlike 2016-2019, where I work now is one location, since the P-word, working form home is also more realistic in the future too. Back then my jobs were farther away, multiple locations and places with even less cycle infrastructure (try 9 or so miles with no dedicated path!)
- I've actually just bought (and today received / taken for a quick spin) a bicycle again that's at least free of rust, reliable and fits into my car! It's also cheap enough that I haven't had to invest so much that it'd impact me financially if I didn't realise this idea (yet again)

In addition to the 'barriers' for cycling... I've uncovered a tonne of 'barriers' to driving, car ownership and a life of just continuing how I have been. Despite it being the most convenient, accepted and viable route that I and everyone around me does;-

- I love cars, but they are pricy, they make you lose sleep when they are outside subject to damage and abuse (be it innocent kids damaging them or malicious people), I've lost a tonne of sleep, ruined good days with my partner stewing over some silly damage to my car or bad repair job that I paid a lot of have done right, only to have collateral damage done with an entire dispute to follow, such as bodywork repairs... that's a headache. It ruins my love of cars.

- Cars also never stay perfect. Stone chips. Cracked windscreens. Scratches from washing them. Damage happens, this is reality. Sometimes it annoys me but that will never change, putting big money into paint correction, alloy wheel refurbs... I've contemplated it. It's more money for still not much improvement and frankly, I'd put the money in but if my car gets written off tomorrow my fault or not, I won't get the £500+ for a paint correction, or even set of new tyres which is a 'need', that's all lost money. It bothers me too much.

- Road rage. Arguably I've never been the best mentality wise for the road. My reactions are quick. I'm quite aware. I have the capacity to be a good driver but the mentality that makes me actually, probably better off giving it up. Or minimising my time on the road as much as possible. Thankfully I don't need to be on the road as I don't have kids of my own, my girlfriend and her kid get by without a car for need things. Although mines has been nice to have (and so far, it's going nowhere) I think using it seldom, or if it did go, hiring one for the benefit of all of us is my best bet. I have tried, honestly, and it's too easy for me to get pissed off and make a move that could get me into trouble, or more likely, just rub people the wrong way which is never a good thing is it? I'm not giving up but for years I've tried, and done alright, then sooner or later, some lousy stupid experience that I feel awful for or something that irritates me irrationally. Don't get me wrong, it's not like the movie 'Unhinged' but as my brother often says, it just takes that one person having a horrific day or with nothing to lose.

- In 2018 we lost our dad to stomach cancer, he was 55 at the time. This year, this past month, also found out our mum has progressive aphasia (essentially dementia) at 58 despite both of them, prior to the illnesses seeming fairly healthy with no issues. My dad did drive trucks and didn't really look after his health in fairness which probably didn't help. How much of both those issues may genetically be passed down, who is to know? But the best thing I can do while I'm relatively young and healthy is to make my lifestyle healthy in a permanent way that works. Not the rowing machine which was short lived, or gym memberships or notions of Apple Fitness but something that fits. I think cycling can address it to be honest, or at least hopefully help me be in the healthier side of the odds.

- Life has gotten harder. I'm studying programming as well as working in a role now with my long term employer and I do enjoy it, but it's challenging. I enjoy studying but it's also challenging. Being between my partners (with her kid) and at home with my mum who's been getting worse this last year and a half even before the diagnosis. Then the pressure of studying. It's easy to feel frustrated and going between places has it's own challenges - be it home, my girlfriends or work. Cycling at least offers a buffer between them places. I'll be a bit more tired / flooded with endorphins and I truly hope that make me a bit more resilient and pleasant in all situations.

- I'm turning 30 and my desk job has me sedentary. That might be good and well as it's always been but I already can feel that I'm not an early-20s person anymore. Think I've mentioned it a few times since being back on here but little things like being a bit more tired easily, feeling my joints, feeling muscles I've not used in ages when doing DIY things from time to time to time. In fact, during DIY is when I most feel my limits. At least some of it is just not using the muscles or exerting myself half as often as I could / should be. My life and job doesn't require me to. But that's besides the point. Office work, car commuting, they might be comfy but they're not good for posture, for fitness and for me, mentality! Cycle commuting again balances this without demanding forging an interest in going to a gym or going for a run for a runs sake. This is something I'll feel better about life / myself / taking control of my health if I do into my 30s and beyond. Hopefully before the inevitable ageing things come in. I've seen it with my mum in particular, how just not bothering to go out and exercise sort of makes you more fragile and maybe even less healthy overall.. I don't want to do that if I get a choice into it when I get older. I'm not in my 40s.. 50s yet but someday I will and it will probably only be harder then. It was a decade ago already I posted on here, was coming at this from someone 'turning 20', another interval like that, and I'll be 'turning 40' and that sounds horrific! Hahaha

- Living within my means and just simply not having car expenses is a bonus. I can afford to own and run one just fine if I wanted to. If I had to buy a house - on my own single income - I'd not be able to afford car finance and a mortgage. I'm lucky I don't need to worry about that now, but it's nice to know I'd be able to save and afford that if things changed. Versus putting money into something that is not an investment or advancing my life frankly.

This has turned into quite the essay, but I enjoy sharing perspectives / reading perspectives on here. It's why forums > social media sites at large.

If you're still here.. well, you probably think it's just a repeat but watch this space. At the very least, I'm giving it a try - as soon as tomorrow.

Today I did my first cycle-home-from-work ride. And at lunch, cycled along the quay to get some groceries (a bike lock, that was risky) then to the shopping centre in the opposite direction. Locked the bike up at the work multi-storey car park. Finally, after a decade of thinking this was a way I could get around, the first actual step has been taken.

The difficulty now is sticking to it. I'll be cycling over tomorrow morning. Weather is still perfect. That won't last... and I feel the single speed folder in my legs. But I felt the same on my Norco / Giant bikes (a bit lighter) initially too after years of not cycling prior. I am hoping and intending that I rise to the challenge of it. Today I was up the hardest hills with a backpack on my back...

Is it bad I'm contemplating an electric Bosch drive bike already though? I feel like with that... I'd be unstoppable.

If an ebike keeps you on the bike, it's a good thing. There was someone here who said his ebike enabled bike commuting because his commute was quite long. Not only that, his job was of the manual labor type so cycling on top of that was too much. He said he got more exercise with the ebike than with the conventional bike because with the conventional bike, he just wouldn't be riding.

Today was the second day, of going to and from work as well. Today I could go in at any time, no real constraints. Tomorrow's additional challenge is to be there early enough to get a shower before 9am. The single speed makes it hard, but it's far from impossible. I just need to stand and sort of 'walk pedal' the bike up hills. Yesterday and today I faced the primary hardest-hills in terms of commute.

It has been tough going. It's funny how when starting, at some points of your journey you're hatefully cold... muscles not wanting to work. And a few minutes later you're high off the scenery, the path seems flat and easy to traverse with minimal effort... then a few minutes later the same flat feels difficult... then pleasant again. Then a hill. And I question all of this and think of the beautiful Lexus I left at the work car park.. However, then, I'm passing a busy road with traffic, feeling embarrassed to stop and take a rest (someone shouted something out a combination of mock encouragement) amidst the slow moving traffic on my way home actually). Then I see motorcyclists doing what they do, tailgating cars.. taking risks, I see a car in the inside lane flying past and undercutting another. It's that crap on the road I'm still glad to be free from. Despite the struggles.

Still, these worst hills haven't been too impossible as I'd have thought. With a light bike it'd probably be a little bit easier. With electric, woah, I'd be flying. The folding bike thing is turning out to be more of a necessity at my girlfriends as there's simply no room for a full size bike upstairs. That means in terms of a better bike, I'm limited to mostly Bromptons right? And when you consider electric... they're the price of a decent used car here. Although... as I type this, no car of mine on her street. The same mix of people who annoyingly park where I park, the same group of kids who leaned on / kicked balls at and put handprints all over my car about two weeks ago, they're all out there.. but I no longer have a horse in that race so my mind is surprisingly blissful.

I'll cycle in tomorrow morning. And back. Same on Friday but I'll likely take the car with me on Friday. It'd be more cycling in any single week than I've ever done, even when I did it for fun. I keep reminding myself, if I don't do this, commuting by bike, it'd be finding ways to fit riding in outside of work but then I'm doing that instead of spending it with family or friends. Other than that... it's a gym membership and right now, home form work, I just couldn't be bothered to also take time away from everyone, same old traffic and parking frustration, to do that. Last time I went to the gym I was pretty annoyed at all the druggies were around me. Sadly it's where a lot of them hang out. Me as the skinny, short guy I am, got weird looks. I get that on the bike but it's a little easier when you're passing them stuck locked in traffic!

So in summary... I'd be lying if I said there weren't doubts or some negative notions in my head during cycling but overall, I'm still leaning that way. Still going to continue it. I need some bad weather, rainy, colder and duller days now - which I'd absolutely HATE, but need to sort of prove to myself, that it's do-able, on this bike.

Nice description of the emotional highs and lows. Keep going.

You may want to record your ride with an app. I use Ride With GPS. You can share the record with the rest of us so we get an idea of how steep and long those hills are.

As for difficult conditions, I may have said this already: sometimes I suffer, such as in bad weather, but once I'm home, I never regret riding compared with the alternatives.

As for staying warm, I like to start out slightly cold since I will build up heat. I occasionally record my choices in a spreadsheet, including what I wore, the conditions, and how well it all worked. I can refer to it when the season changes and I don't remember what works for today's conditions.