indianatrails

Today marks the 1-year anniversary of my 1st commute. It’s changed my life. Many years I thought it couldn’t be done: 36 miles each way. A time-trial setup gets me there in under 2 hours. A carAM-bikePM-bikeAM-carPM pattern keeps it do-able. I’m fitter, smarter, happier, less stressed. I don’t even seem to mind that I’m writing to this forum while at work...think the second half of “Office Space”. Might do a little fishing later.

Some random lessons learned:
Morning sweat doesn’t smell. Pretty sure anyway.
Rednecks can look just like regular folks when they’re not behind the wheel.
Double the wind speed vector and this is the approx. percentage you will arrive early or late.

Besides the ususal “tricks of the trade”... what other unexpected stuff have you learned?

tatt2ed

I have learned that drivers have incredible vision when driving past me at 20+ mph. The reason I know this is, that so many yell out (I have even had some slow down along side me) tell me how nice my tattoos are. Now, being a collector I know that it takes more then 2 seconds to know if my tattoos suck or are "nice". It is fun though and if it helps to keep drivers and bicyclists in good standing all the better. I sure I hope I don't meet a tattoo hater though =(

Here is what they are mainly looking at I think? I am standing still and the judges are still deep in thought.

https://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...ne1568/14.html

BTW the legs are looking better now that I am riding 100 to 150 miles a week.

RahTx

Congrats on the 1-year! I'm just now at my 1-month mark and even then I've probably only done it an average of every other day. One (obvious) thing I've learned is that you can talk about starting to commute by bike as long as you want, but you really have to try it to find out if it will work. I moved to within 3 miles of my work almost exactly a year ago, and the first thing I thought about when moving here was that I could bike to work. Well, I talked about it a lot, but it took me 11 months to get off my lazy a$$ and DO IT.

One unexpected thing I learned is that on days where I get lucky with the traffic, I can get to work as fast or faster than if I drove (especially since it takes me a couple minutes to walk in from the huge parking lot). So, to potential bike commuters out there, if you live within a few miles, you can take "not enough time" off your list of excuses to drive.

Another unexpected benefit I found, at least for me, is that once I got into a routine of doing it, I started actually showing up for work a little early (as opposed to when I was driving I'd invariably be a few minutes late).

I've also found that around here the weather gods have a sense of humor. Normally in late June, North Texas would be in the middle of a drought, daily highs around 100F, and humidity up the wazoo. Since I've started commuting, it has been unseasonably wet. Found it amusing the first few times, but it's starting to beat me down every time I visit weather.com and see 8 out of the next 10 days have T-Storms in the forecast :-/

Lastly, I've learned the hard way to be over-prepared. Normally for a 6 mile round trip ride, some people might not even bring so much as a saddle bag. Well, I've found that the hassle of bringing a change of clothes is well worth it after riding in my jeans in the wet weather and had to try to hide out in my office the entire day because of the dreaded skunk stripe (kicked up some dirt, so it wasn't just wet - yeah, that sucked). I'm also naturally sweaty, so add that to the heat/humidity and I end up needing a change of clothes anyways, despite what the weather has in store for me.

Bklyn

Congratulations!
I remember my one-year anniversary like it was, well, 9 months ago. Your second year goes even more smoothly!
My big revelations:
• I'm not as good a rider as I thought I was. Which means I'm probably not as good as I think I am now.
• I don't yell as often as I once did, and I'm more likely to laugh at bonehead drivers.
• But I'm also not above a stream of Samuel L. Jackson-grade profanity.

Ride on, ride on.

HardyWeinberg

Not commuting 36-72, but 10-18 miles/day (depending on routes, errands, relocations), I'm almost not sure I started to learn anything until after the 1st year. I'm amazed when something comes up and it makes me feel like I'm learning to bike all over again, which continues to happen several thousand miles along. I don't know what the next thing will be.

JumboRider

As of today I found that rabbits multiply like, well, rabbits. There must have been 20 of them on my route today, and each one wanted to run in front of my tire...I am sure of it.

badhat

i've learned to keep canned air and a pump cuz while its nice to save the money and take the extra 5 minutes to hand pump a tube most of the time, when youre late for work or when its 15 degrees F or 105 degrees F, its nice to just be able to pull the trigger and go.

SDRider

I've learned to check my cell phone battery before I head home in the afternoon because the one day that I don't check it is the day I need it and it will be dead. Same goes for the iPod.

Oh, I also keep a floor pump w/gauge and a spare tube at work.

Try to avoid riding through parking lots, they are far more dangerous than the road.

Artkansas 

That's quite a commute. My longest commute was 17 miles each way. But I've been commuting for so long that not much is unexpected. The most important thing is to remember to look at the clouds and the trees.

SDRider

Damned suicidal bunnys...either that or it's the orange tires you have on your bike. Maybe they though your tires were carrots?

bikedaddy

I've learned that speed bumps aren't meant to speed over on a bike unless you want broken spokes and for your pannier to fall off.

Overall, I think I've learned to be more patient when I am in my car and to enjoy the little things a bit more.

tatt2ed

GREAT IDEA!

acroy

number one learning of this past year:

kill em with kindess works better than getting all het up and yelling back.

i've always commuted via bike, since kindergarden. to school, to jobs, during college, now to work for the last 6 years. only break was a five-month internship, no way to bike safely to work. the daily drive almost made me suicidal.

cheers

badhat

yeah i keep a floor pump at home, one at my moms house (shes out in the country about 10 miles away), and one at work.

rando

1. you don't have to go as fast as you can all the time.
2. hydrate!
3. don't ride on sidewalks against traffic
4. scenic route funner than fast route (for me)

AGGRO

I've learned that people late for work are more dangerous than drunk drivers. I've learned that the shortest route isn't usually the best.

The most important thing is I've learned to PLAN

baron von trail 

I've learned that getting up an hour earlier isn't all bad; that cranking up the heart rate via pedaling at 6:30 is better than smoking hlf-dozen cigs; that coffee is optional; that breakfast is not; that riding home is easier than riding in.
Congrats on your 1 yr. 36 mi each way is no joke. I do 25.
Question: Did you commute through winter? I intend to, but figure it could be trouble. BTW: I live next door, in Ohio. So, your winter feedback is of special significance to me.

vulpes

+1 Git'n het up an' hollerin' don't make no more sense 'n squat'n with yer spurs on.

thdave

Resist the temptation to take short cuts so that you ride predictably. Then the cager knows what to expect.

indianatrails

+1 but wife and boss say -1, so every ride's a time trial

Last ride of 2006 was 11/28 AM in total darkness. Then we got the winter from hell as you recall so I stuck with local trips. Normally we get very little snow. Got some neoprene booties for next winter though.

Gone fishin'

caloso

I've learned it's a good idea to keep a spare pair of undies at work, just in case.

robmcl

Marathon Plus tires really work.

DataJunkie

I have learned that one should never pass fit women dressed in cycling shorts and an exercise bra. Well... I already knew that one.
hmmm....

Whenever you increase your mileage at first it makes the commute seem long. A few months later the new distance seems short.

SDRider

In case of what?

<--Rides commando wearing bib shorts 100% of the time.

SDRider

Bah, I ride 700x23c Continental GP4000 tires and I've had exactly one flat in the past year. Keep your tires properly inflated and look ahead for hazards in the road and you'll be fine...I guess that's another tip huh?