LBlue

How does one take "the plunge"?

I commute by bike in the summer time for running down town. I have ridden long distances (~500 miles/week during tours). I am doing a 100-mile benefit ride in September and have started training rides with my team (8-22 miles a ride).

But, I keep putting off commuting to work. For one, the city I live in is basically a basin, with me living up the hill on one side, and my work place being up the hill on the other side. My ride to work would go approximately like this :

First 1/2 mile : down a very steep hill
Next 1.5 miles: flat
The rest of the commute (5 miles): Up, up, up with the first 2 miles being quite steep on a road with NO shoulder and LOTS of traffic. There IS a sidewalk there, however.

I'm quite intimidated by this commute. Sometimes while driving I see other cyclists have a tough time of it going up the hill

I KNOW I can do it though. I have ridden hard routes that this one. I even have a great new bike that I love (K2 Enemy CX). But, I just haven't taken the plunge.

How do you make yourself walk the plank and finally take that all-important first step : day 1 commute?

mechanicalron

Do it on your day off and time the trip. see if you have to stop to rest or can just keep going. If it is a tuff trip, do it 1 or 2 days a week at first. Build yourself up to it but do the first one on a Sunday to see what you are in for. You will have to get used to the traffic.

Big_e

+1. Here in Dallas, on Sundays, bicyclists have the entire city to themselves. Try your route then and try alternate routes.
Ernest

tarwheel 

Just do it. Once you get in shape, you will be looking for ways to lengthen your commute. Also, if you start doing longer weekend rides, your commute distance will seem like a piece of cake.

ryanwood

Make Saturday out of it. If it has tons of traffic on weekdays, take that route on a weekend day so there's less traffic and you can get comfortable riding it and look for debris and hazards. That way you can be confident that you know exactly where you're going and the only thing you have to worry about it pedaling.

Ka_Jun

K2 Enemy CX? Nice ride. Just screams, "Come on man, commute on me already, you know you want to."

Just decide you want to do it, on your terms. The previous advice about doing some dry runs is good, too, just to show yourself it's possible for you. Do the research and some planning, I did a lot, prior to just doing it.

mhifoe

The nice thing about a big 5 mile uphill on the way to work is that it's a big 5 mile downhill on the way home.

neilfein

There's no way around the basin? Let's see your route!

fat biker

Do what Nike says; Just Do It!
As suggested, give it a fly on a Saturday.

Jeff, still fat

CigTech

If you know that you can do it, then whats the problem?