2nd day commuting
 

Hi,

Thanks to everybody here in the forum, I finally got Cannondale Cyclocross 5 and started commuting.
For the winter, I'm planning to drive to and take the bike trail (W&OD) to work.

1st day commute was fun. On the way to work was a perfect weather.
On my way home was raining, but I was prepared with a rain cape, a helmet cover, and a rain pants.
Full size fender definitely helped.
Road was half frozen this morning, but the 35mm tire were just good enough for this weather.

I wasn't (couldn't) riding fast, but it was just so fun.

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Well, you certainly got the first bad weather out of the way quickly! Good job!

way to go ... here's to many more years of having some fun getting to the office!!!!

I'm a little late, but nice bike and congrats!

1) What won you over for this compared to, say, the Cross Check?

2) You planning on driving out to the WOD everyday or do you think you'll eventually bike the whole way? What route would you take?

STI shifter, triple chainring, more comfortable handle bar and brake levers.
Also the aluminum frame. :) Of course I can mod CC to have all that, but it would cost more than Cyclocross 5.

Until my body & skill is ready, I'll drive W&OD, but I'll eventually drive from home.
This is my planned route. http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-s...25946277123336
(I forgot, but someone in this forum helped me with the route)
I drove through the roads, and it seems doable.
Americana Dr. is too much hills for me to climb (and too many parked cars).

Here is an alternate route.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-s...25816857856878
If the construction at Gallow Rd is done, I think this is also a good route.

Do you have any better suggestion?

13 miles is a great commute! I commute 8 miles one way from Sterling to Hernon. Half of that is the WO&D - a great trail. I'm envious of your commute because I've been ill for a couple months and have had to drive most days recently. Today was glorious weather for commuting - I hope yours went well.
Cyclocross bikes are versatile and yours looks great for your commute. Enjoy your rides and make sure you get a good blinky or two, some reflective tape, and a good light. I recently got a magicshine LED and found it a good addition to my lighting collection.

Once you feel your body and skill are up to, you can travel directly east from where you are all the way to Americana. There are dirt trails that link that area, but you probably are aware of that. I would take Americana from that area to Annandale Rd. From there your trek is the same.

Your current route might actually be better, but if I had to pick a way to commute with your point A and point B, that's how I'd do it.

That said, you ain't kidding about those parked cars on Americana. I actually lived in a Town House along that street and my god. Americana is a parking lot. I used to commute on it and it was pretty annoying.

For only your 2nd day of commuting, you were definitely well prepared!

It's almost as if you had access to some vast source of bike commuting information at your fingertips. :p