First Commute
 

Well today was the first day of my commute. I decided to leave the car at home and make the commute to work. Now it is not long distance (6 miles to and 8 miles home safer route to get home) and I have to say I felt great all day. I had a bunch of energy throughout and can't wait to go to work in the morning. Is there something wrong with me for wanting to go to work? I think it's I just can't wait to to ride in again.

Riding your bike to work makes you younger.

I've also recently started to commute and that's exactly how I feel. And don't your legs feel great all day, too? When I sit down at my desk, my legs have this pleasant warm buzzing feeling, like they are telling me "come on, let's get back on the bike!"

Before I started commuting, I imagined myself riding to work maybe once or twice a week, but now I ride every single day.

i love cycling in to work, even though it just makes me hungry for more of a ride -- and I'm always glad to hear someone else is doing it too -- welcome to the club!

Does the danger not bother you in the morning, or are the traffic conditions worse in the eveining. I have a longer commute so I start before the traffic builds up in the morning. In the evening parts of my route are slowed by the traffic.

Congratulations! There's nothing wrong with looking forward to going to work.

I don't feel unsafe when I commute and I ride 9 miles each way. Part of my commute in the morning is even in a 55mph zone.

If you haven't already learned vehicular cycling yet, you should look into it. Since I've been really doing it, I've felt a lot safer. Bicycling Street Smarts by John S. Allen is an excellent introduction. It took me a while to learn to trust the techniques, because some of them are kind of counter-intuitive due to being taught bad riding techniques as a kid (as many people are). Once I got past that, I found that close calls became extremely rare.

Congratulation, mduggan. I used to think I'd like working at home. Nowadays, I prefer a little commute in the morning.

I leave around 5:30 and get to work within 25 minutes to 30 min. Traffic is not bad at that time of the morning hence the early departure. In the afternoon I take a slightly longer route home to avoid as much of the heavy traffic. So I'm heading out in about 15 minutes for the second day. Feel great already.

Can't say that I look forward to going to work anymore (reduced staff serving an increasing patron load)...but the ride home is such a nice way to decompress and transition back to sanity-land.

Congratulations on your first commute. Bicycle commuting will give you a different perception of reality. Now, you must understand that most people around you will be incapable of comprehending this new reality. Only you will understand it. I'm sure I've insulted a couple of people when I've told them bicycle commuting made me realize the definition of insanity is driving your car to spin class.

Started cycle-commuting in February of '87 and this is the most insightful explanation of why one would want to engage in this particular activity I've yet to run across. Print it and post it on your refrigerator. :p

Btw, congrats on your decision to ride. :thumb:

I know exactly what you mean; it isn't that I really want to go to work, but it is my excuse to ride. I started cycle commuting in May, and I'm loving it (though I think my wife thinks I'm a nutter -- which I probably am). In the past few weeks, I've begun looking for additional excuses for riding, and taking rides for their own sake. Keep it up.

Ever since I biked to work, the commute is the most enjoyable part! Definitely makes me want to go to work too. But alas, I think cycling has made me less productive. Not from cycling itself, but taking more breaks from research to look up cycling stuff. :thumb:

:thumb: I'm right on with you here mate - never have I wasted more time on the internet than I have since I started commuting on my bike =D

glad to hear it. welcome to the club!

someone recently asked if i ever dread having to pedal home after a hard day. i had to explain how I actually look forward to each ride, even if I get caught in the rain. it's what helps keep me, sort of, sane.

Congrats and welcome to the club.

I've been doing this for about two years now and I get down when I can't ride in. I've also managed to turn a 24 mile r/t into a 31 mile r/t just so that I can have more fun.

I love 1st commute threads! Don't you also look forward to leaving work too? (to ride again I mean)

Leaving for work and from work are the best parts of the day. I have found that after a stressful day the ride home relieves all the pent up stress.

abosofreakinlutely! :thumb: :-) my commute just got way short - 3.5 miles or there-a-bouts so I've been riding to work anyway but trying to sprint it out of the saddle most of the way including on the flats but I wish I had a higher 'high' gear. I'll tell ya, in that 15 minutes of pure exhilaration, I completely forget about all my stressors. only one thing finds it way back through, and she is beautiful :love:

Ok, so today was day 3 for commuting and it rained like hell so I had to drive. Bummed all day, no matter what tomorrow I will ride.