bigeasyrider

I did it today -- bike commuted for the first time! I got a bike in June, and prior to that I haven't ridden in twenty years. Over the summer, along with riding with the family and cruising around for errands and fun, I've been preparing to commute. I've been reading BF, outfitting, planning and trying different routes, and riding longer stints to build up strength and experience.

Today was really great. But, here's a good rule of thumb: don't forget your street map! I wrote out my planned route, but then promptly left the road map on my kitchen table. It goes without saying that I took wrong turns both going and coming, adding a LOT of distance to my overall ride. Total it should have been just over 16 miles, but I ended up riding closer to 27 miles. Hi, I'm stupid. *L* Anyway, it was great nonetheless.

I'm riding a Specialized Crossroad Sport, a hybrid leaning toward comfort. If I had to do it again, I'd go a different way. Instead, I've gone with converting it a bit. I've lost the suspension seat post, switched to a Specialized Sonoma Sport saddle, switched from 38 to 32 tires, switched to mtb pedals with straps, added a rack and fenders, and lowered the handlebars. It's not ideal, but it works. I think there's probably a road bike in my near future. (straight bar (Specialized Sirrus)?, touring bike (Jamis Aurora)?, racer (Jamis Ventura Comp, Specialized Allez)?, I'm not sure. A lot more research to do there.)

Here's a question just for kicks that I'll probably figure out on my own as to what's best for me, but I'd be curious to hear others' opinions. Do you think it's better to ride the major thoroughfares or to move over a block or two and ride though the residential blocks? I'm riding in New Orleans, which is urban but not like a downtown sort of grid. The options are either major roads that are two or three lanes each direction with commuter traffic or the residential streets that regularly parallel these roads but have the block to block grid. On the major roads it's not possible to take the lane in an ongoing manner because the commuter traffic is too dense and fast. There is room to the right, but there are often parked cars, and it's not possible always to maintain enough distance between traffic and the parked cars really to insure not getting doored. The major roads are a faster, more direct route, however. The residential streets would involve a lot more twists and turns, and of course you're inherently encountering a lot more intersections. I've searched BF and found related threads, but not found any directly addressing this question. (If you know of one, I'd appreciate a link to it.) In any case, I'd be interested in hearing people's perspectives on this.

So, it was a way great day. I get it. I understand why people get into this so much. Sure the commute takes twice as long, but it's way more than twice as much fun. I'm in.

ride4jc

I'm with you on welcome to the commute. I did my first on Tuesday and today I'm going to have my second. I commute into the DC area and I stay OFF the major thoroughfares.....but I'm lucky, the Washington and Old Dominion Trail takes me within a mile of my office and then I can go through neighborhoods until I finally 'emerge' and arrive at my office.

SOOO - my newbie weigh in is that I prefer a longer route over trails and neighborhoods than the major streets. DC drivers, in spite of the proliferation of bikes, can be pretty brutal.

Welcome!

chipcom 

Congrats on your first commute.

As for your route, only you can say what works best for you. Personally, I mix it up...part of my commute is on narrow 'country' roads, part on residential urban streets, part on multi-lane urban arterials. Experiment with your route options and cobble together the route that is safest, and the best trade off between speed and comfort.

Podolak

Hey much congratulations. It is good to get experience on your current bike so you have a better idea for your second one. You are definitely doing it the right way. Besides, it is always a good idea to have a backup.

As far as your route, I do enjoy less busy streets. However, I don't like to go WAY out of my way to avoid them. Chipcom's suggestion of trying it all out and figuring out what works best is the way to go for sure. You'll find the right mixture where you are more comfortable on some of the faster roads so they can compliment the somewhat longer side roads. I wish we all just had a dedicated bike route all the way to work though. I know they would still screw that up somehow.

capejohn

All that stress getting ready for your fist commute for nothing huh? 8>). It's only a bike ride after all.

Answering your route question. You will work it out on your own no doubt.

cg1985

how "fast" are they going? Just curious.

There is no residential streets for me to take on the way to work, or i'd do it. This is just because I commute between two cities, so there is only two options, the expressway, or the main roads between the city. But it's not too bad. Cars Traveling at 45mph. I take the lane pretty frequently, but it's easier because I leave and commute before most people are on the road. So There is less traffic to deal with.

corripio

Congrats on your first commute. You should try biking the different routes to see which one you like best. There may be certain areas where the side streets make you feel safer and more relaxed...they might even take less time because of less traffic.

You've no doubt read a lot of comments on here from people that opt for a longer commute (either time or distance) to avoid unsafe roads or roads with a high density of idiot drivers. It definitely takes riding on a particular road to figure out if it's a good one or a bad one. I've tried several different routes for my commute, some better/easy/safer/more comfortable than others; I've basically put together a route that not only gets me to work safely, but also gets me there not stressed out by the cars!

bizzz111

In the morning, I stick to the main streets. There's absolutely no traffic when I ride in. Allows me to get into work faster.

Going home, I mostly stick to the MUP with the occasional foray on the roads. I'm in no real hurry to get home, and it adds a few miles to my commute, plus it's quieter, less pollution, and more scenic than the main roads.

srmatte

I also just started this year. Where I can I always switch over to bike friendly roads. I'm fortunate that with only a 1.5m detour on my 12m ride I can bike through some very remote roads that cars trying for the shortest route go around.

Before I rode in I googled different routes and tried them with my car a number of times till I had it down.

good luck

bigeasyrider

On the major roads, the cars are traveling about 35-40 mph. The route is a fairly major artery leading to a freeway entrance and a major residential part of the city so the line up of cars remains very long and gets up to speed quickly from traffic light to traffic light. My practice has been always to take the lane when coming up to red lights (as there is always a line of right turn lane cars to avoid) and then move slightly to the right again when moving into the intersection in order to allow cars to move past me, and I remain in that position once I'm through the intersection. At times there are lengthier distances with no parked cars, and then I ride in what is effectively an unmarked bike lane, but I very deliberately move into the position between the traveling cars and the parked cars in advance of again coming upon parked cars. (I'm careful to look back and watch the traveling cars to try to confirm I'm being seen. I don't have a rearview mirror, but I think I'm going to get one.) As I suggested in my original post, that position puts me a bit closer to the parked cars than I'm really comfortable with. I'm not right next to them, but if a door suddenly popped open wide, the maneuver could be tricky. Just to note, I have seen others ride in this way. I'm not the only one out there doing it. But, I like to think things through myself and not just rely on having seen others do something. Does it sound like I'm making the best choices in this situation?

Thanks to all who have offered encouraging words. BF has been a great resource for me the last few months. The collective wisdom is brilliant, as is the feeling of community that exists here.

MyPC8MyBrain

Congratulations on your first ride. That's a pretty good distance for the first round, even if you have the route correct

And for all first time commuters, you get the rules to commute by... an abridged version of years of experience and forum expertise pounded into one shot list.

Rules for new commuters:

~Just do it... then just keep doing it
~Ride It Like You Stole It
~Keep The Rubber Side Down [This one is of critical importance!]
~When you start talking youself out of riding....just Shut Up and Ride
~Buy new goodies/bikes with the money you save
~Constantly show off sexy biker legs to wife/gf/bf/whatever
~It never gets easier, you just go faster[well at first it gets easier]
~Work..it's the ugly time between rides
~Objects in your mirror are stupider than they appear
~The unintelligible comments from passing cars are always compliments
~Sweat and snot[in winter] are sexier than you might think
~If 2 bikes are headed in the same direction they are racing
~Your new name is Fred [or Wilma]
~The response to "Get on the sidewalk!" is "Ride your freakin' bike!"
~Once you are completely soaked, you can't get any wetter.
~Don't worry Be Happy
~Perfect your shower time down to 4.25 minutes. You'll be doing it a lot.
~Yes, helmets are dorky, but you should still wear one.
~Laughing at JAMs makes them madder than giving them the finger.
~Don't ride through Garbage Juice..especially when cornering.
~Quickie Marts are the cycling oasis [Gatorade fits the bottle holder].
~When someone bails you out, you are obligated to pay it forward 2x
~Biker Tan... Set a new higher standard for Farmer Tan
~Bicycles, the other fun thing between your legs.

Congratulations on your first ride !

JR97

Congrads. 27 miles is no easy feat especially on an upright type bike. 90% of the non-bike commuting population gets on the cell and starts calling for a ride at 20.

But I would seriously look at a road bike with drops.. the aurora (total bike lust) would be a great choice. Not sure about your locale, but the late afternoon early evening winds/crosswinds just kick my @ss unless I'm down in the drops on skinnier tires.

Anywho.. as far as route goes, I take a little bit longer of a route so I can hit the MUP as much as I can. Time of day also is a big factor. I usually wait until 6:00 pm or later to leave the office because the major 4 leaf clover intersection I have to deal with right off the bat is pretty sparse after the 4:00 - 5:45 rush. After that, I can pretty much hit any road major thorough fair or not. But I still stick to the MUP because it's scenic, enjoyable, relaxed, and most of all seems to shield the wind with all of the trees.

The more direct route in the morning puts me competing with the big trucks, haulers, and car commuters who are running late no matter what time I seem to get up. But going home, things are usually 100% better after 6:00 pm. Makes for a long day, but whatever. I'm on a bike and enjoying it vs dealing with traffic, idiots in a hurry, and the sun beating down on me, if I leave an hour or two earlier.