Finally decided to jump in the pool and start commuting to work 2 or 3 times a week beginning tomorrow. It's a shade under 7 miles one way on flat ground.

I am a little concerned about one section with not much shoulder and no street lights. I have blinkys and a headlight along with an obnoxious bright orange Coleman soft sided cooler for a trunk bag. I also intend to leave home extra early to avoid the bulk of the traffic, but paranoia is starting to creep in.

Wish me luck

Good LucK! I could do that if I chose to next Spring (live in Wintery Syracuse, NY, however, I'd be worried of stinking to high heaven when I got to work, or changing clothes. THen I'd have to find a bike bag worthy enough to be my briefcase.

Enjoy the commute!

Good luck MrYummy, you will be addicted in no time flat! You can never be too careful so it sounds like you have everything as it should be.

Professor Kev, what part of Syracuse do you live in? Do you teach up at SU?

Make sure to pack everything tonight, so you're not rushing and forget things tomorrow.
Good luck and enjoy!

I remember how nervous I was before my first commute, 5 years ago. You know, I haven't missed a single day since, except when I was sick or hurt. I bet you'll be saying the same thing in 2012. Good Luck!

Yeah, I know what you mean. For me it was kind of silly in a way - even though my commute is longish, it isn't like I was doing anything more than I would do on a weekend recreational ride. I guess for me the nervousness had more to do with worrying that I might have forgotten something stupid. Like packing a pair of pants in my pannier . Now I don't worry anywhere nearly as much - of course now I have to start worrying about lights and batteries.

Yesterday I was at a green festival, and they had a booth there for WABA. They had some books there, and I commented that the books were really only for recreational riding. The woman at the booth asked me "what other kind of riding is there?". I answered "Commuting", and she seemed a little surprised. Although I guess it does bring up the point that if you enjoy riding your bicycle, then commuting could also be considered a form of recreation. Just not the same as a weekend ride.

Anyways, back to the OP, good luck with the ride tomorrow.

Good luck with the ride! I know that in no time you'll be hooked!

The irony is that, on their website, they offered "Bike to the Green Festival and get $7 admission!" along with free bike parking. I guess she wasn't briefed on all the stuff that WABA is trying to do.

Anyway, yeah, to the OP -- it'll certainly be fun. I can't honestly compare my experience since we have large lockers & showers at work (never mind that my "commute" only lasts 1.3 miles.. lol), but you might get to work and wonder why you didn't try it before.

Had a nice commute today.

One broken rear rack, quickly fixed with a hex wrench, on the way to work. I also have got to find a way to carry less stuff. Really felt it this afternoon with the heat and riding into the wind.

All in all, I really liked it and am looking forward to commute number 2 on Wednesday.

Yeah, the temptation to carry too much stuff is one that is sometimes hard to fight. These days, I leave a spare pair of shoes at the office, and instead of bringing a laptop, I just bring a USB harddrive with the stuff I need for work.

When the weather gets cold, I might need a 2nd pannier to hold extra layers and all that.

Welcome to the HHCMF (Happy Healthy Commuting MuthaF*ckers) club! We're a happy band of bike commuters that giggle as we roll past gas stations, refuel at donut shops and enjoy the admiring, lustful stares of the opposite sex as we bask in the green light of envy coming from those unfortunate souls stuck in cages.

Be warned -- it's addicting. I started bike-commuting in April, intending to ride once a week on Fridays. I'm now riding 4-5 days/week.

Wait....

We get stares? Are you sure? Why hasn't anyone told me?

I've been missing out...