KrautFed

Well after several delays, I'm finally taking the plunge and commuting starting tomorrow. I did another test run on my "fun" route, and there's only one part I don't like and actually feel quite embarressed about. There's a section of about 100ft or so, that I get off and walk the bike up (its a hill). Its a combination of an EXTREMELY steep hill, very tight road, and limited visibility. I feel like a total weenie while walking my bike up it.

On the other hand, I made the 8 miles one way in 40 minutes, and that was stopping at every redlight simulating morning traffic (and not being able to go through redlights). The ride is extremely fun and I even skip the ONLY road in our city that has a bike lane just to take it. Lots of curves and lots of downhill after that one initial steep climb.

Some family members are concerned about me riding through rough areas getting to work, but I find the area not really all that bad, and actually full of friendly people. I took a water break at one of the gas stations in the area. I found the murals amusing.

Wish me luck that I make it in on time in the morning, and that I am full prepared with the "shower in a sink"

btw - bike is early 80s Schwinn Traveler 10spd. Just added computer, rear blinkie, and headlight today.

betes

Your bike looks great. Good luck and enjoy it!

Daily Commute

Looks good. Enjoy your commute. And how often do people who drive to work hear, "Enjoy your commute"?

KrautFed

Thanks guys, people do not commute much at all. The only ones I see in the morning/afternoon are on $7000 bikes and dressed to impress even Lance Armstrong.

Got my cyclocomputer fixed last night (wrong wheel dia) so I should be able to get my avg's. Almost finished packing my bag.

betes

Good Luck! I imagine you're done by now, so let us know how it went.

jyossarian

Good luck! After a while, you'll be able to blast up that steep hill section in a few seconds since it's only 100 ft. Til then, is there an alternate road you can take?

RonH

Good luck on your commute.
No shower where I work so it's a sink bath for me every morning. Sink baths can be challenging but very effective (no lingering oder) if done correctly.

KrautFed

I made it in to work, and on time. I even had a slight hiccup where I was running a little late and THEN noticed a flat when I pulled the bike out. I got on the bike and WOW it sure is nice riding in the morning. The hill I walk up is not 100ft long, thats just the part I walk. The hill is about .5 mile long, and I ride up it until the road narrows and then walk. Like I said, I could take a different route... but this route is FUN!

My computer reads:

DISTANCE: 8.06 miles
TIME: 40m 11sec (including pumping up flat tire, filling water bottle, etc)
AVERAGE: 12.0 mph
MAX: 36.1 mph (on a REALLY curvy part of the commute too)

My loaded messenger bag definitely causes me to change my riding style, with more upright riding (not all that bad considering I'm not trying to win a race, just get to work). I noticed something I forgot from years past... don't shift while going over bumps/rough road! I had to stop twice to put the chain back on. Also with the added weight of the mess bag, and being less manuverable (until I get used to the bag), I think I'm going to have to increase my tire size from 27"x1 1/8. I just can't seem to dodge, weave, wheelie, bunnie hop, etc like I do without a bag. I will also from now on alert pedestrians/joggers walking dogs while I come up from behind them. There was a 60+ yr old woman nearly knocked down when her dog noticed me (owner did not) and took off after me.

My weird sighting of the commute was: a man dressed as Jesus (I've seen him walking before) wearing a white robe and sandals. He has long hair and beard, and he also was carrying a bible. He was missing a 10' tall wooden cross that he normally carries. He was walking in the downtown district and when I yelled out "Amen Brother!" he turned, raised his bible and yelled back "God Bless you on this wonderful morning!". Our yelling gained attention from the traffic stopped at the light and everyone began giving short friendly honks and waves to both the man dressed as Jesus and myself.

My total time including cool down, cleanup, and changing at work was right around 1hr. I know I'll be able to drastically increase my getting ready time, because this morning I was fumbling with toothpaste wrappers and other packaging. Suprisingly I think I smell better, and am fresher this morning than mornings I drive my car in. I have all my riding clothes (athletic cutoff wicking shirt, sports undies, camo BTU pants, wicking socks, and shoes) in a small cabinet in my cube... all of which now smells like FeBreeze. I wonder how it'll smell @ 5pm? I'm going to rig up a clothes line under my desk sometime this week and try hanging up my shirt and pants to air dry more.

Brian Sorrell

Great story! Nice route! And I totally dig the mural in your pictures.

Conquer the hill!!!

rando

cool bike. good story... nice murals! enjoy.

CliftonGK1

There's a lot of those crew on the Sammamish River Trail, too. Carbon-everything ultra speedsters that ride in too big a pack for a not-always-too-wide MUP. Usually only see them in the afternoon, though. Not a whole lot of people seem to be out at 5:30am when it's still dark.

caloso

Nice commute. Fixed a flat, got to work on time, and received a benediction from JC Himself. Good job.

thdave

Many congrats. Sounds like you are hooked!

Funny how this ride takes so much energy to do, yet you have more energy when you do it!

Your bike is fine--don't worry about that. Riding is the fun part and that's fun if the bike is comfortable. No problem walking the hill, either. You will probably improve and ride it someday. Even if you don't, it obviously doesn't take you too much time to walk it. 12 MPH average is good. That's what I do and I've been doing it for several years. Actually, I go about 11.8 in the morning and a little over 13 on the way home, when I can get as sweaty as I want.

The commute is much more fun riding a bike than driving a car. What a world of difference.

et3surge

very cool, I am getting excited about starting soon myself after reading that. By the way being in Miami, if you have to ride in "bad" or even questionable areas, the best thing to do is change up the route every so often. If you are anyones target they will let you go until they figure outyour routine then they wait for you. So just change it up by a block east or west every so often.

good luck.

KrautFed

Thanks everyone. I used to play soccer (so I ran a lot) and there is just something about cycling. I don't know if its the constant wind across you, or the being able to coast/rest, or what... but there is no other physical activity (g-rated ) that makes me feel better afterwards. Its that extra spring in my step 1-2hrs after I ride. Legs might be a little tight, but I can just breathe so well and I feel like I could be in one of those crazy Starbucks commercials (without drinking anything but water )

Update: for my leg home, I was thinking about swinging by two local LBS's (within a block of each other) and let some of the local carbon boys go running for tetnis shots when I roll up, but forcast for some pretty nasty storms. I need to pick up some grip tape and 2 pumps (frame and then another emergency floor pump to leave at work). I'm hoping the storms hold out for another hour or two so I can make it home. I'm prepared for rain, but not lightning. Good thing I work in the same block as the Art Musuem and Public Library.

crtreedude 

Sounds like a nice commute - don't sweat the hill (sorry, very bad pun) just enjoy it as far as you can, and walk the rest. I have a section that I am not yet going up. It was irritating me for a bit, and then I figured that I enjoy walking as much as riding that section, so relax. With all the lose rock, it is pretty treacherous, so pushing wouldn't be wise.

The key is enjoyment - the key to car commute is doing it fast, since it isn't particularly fun.

KrautFed

holy crap what a toad strangler of a storm we had! I went to the library to hangout for about 45 minutes. The gaurd said I couldnt bring my messenger bag in ?! but he let me this time because it was the first time he'd seen me and I didn't know. How do school kids bring their bags in?

Anyway I waited for lightning to pass (it was still doing it, but not as bad). I got on the bike and WOW I need some clear riding glasses. I couldnt see anything without them because of the blinding rain, and I also couldnt see with them on because the storm making it so black out. I got wet as wet could be, but I enjoyed it once I got out of traffic and rain let up slightly. I had no batteries for my blinkie or my headlight, so that was a little nerve racking, but I'm gonna probably stop somewhere during work tomorrow for some for at least the blinkie.

Overall I'm pretty happy my first ride was in a huge storm. It can't get much worse weather wise in the summer here. Only the winter. My avg speed this time was 10mph but I honestly was riding very cautiously because for one, I couldnt see potholes/debris very well with my sunglasses on, and secondly, I had no blinkie so I was purposely WAY off the road and onto the shoulder and parking for most of the trip.

Can't wait for sunrise.