Do you depend on your bike to get to work?
04-05-11, 01:10 PM
#51
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+1 on the seeing a doctor comments if it's seriously regular insomnia. Oddly enough, based on my limited knowledge of sleep disorders, I often hear of regular exercise being a common prescription for people w/ sleep disorders. A good bike commute is just that... regular exercise.
As for your other questions, I ride in all weather. I don't have studs yet so excessively icy conditions force me onto metro, but otherwise I just ride regardless.
I ride through minor illness too. If I'm too sick to ride, I'm too sick to be at work.
I've been bikeless for almost two weeks. My life is way more boring w/o my bike commute. It takes a lot to keep me from it. Thank goodness I'll be building up my new bike this weekend and back in the saddle next week.
As for your other questions, I ride in all weather. I don't have studs yet so excessively icy conditions force me onto metro, but otherwise I just ride regardless.
I ride through minor illness too. If I'm too sick to ride, I'm too sick to be at work.
I've been bikeless for almost two weeks. My life is way more boring w/o my bike commute. It takes a lot to keep me from it. Thank goodness I'll be building up my new bike this weekend and back in the saddle next week.
04-05-11, 01:25 PM
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There is a seen in the Movie the Rock
Sean Connery says to Nic Cage
Losers said the tried
Winners get the Job done
Every time I think about wussing out I see Sean in my face...
Sean Connery says to Nic Cage
Losers said the tried
Winners get the Job done
Every time I think about wussing out I see Sean in my face...
04-05-11, 01:46 PM
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I only wish I had weather radar and da intrawebz 30 years ago...I'd wouldn't have been caught in nearly as many thunderboomers!
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
04-05-11, 02:11 PM
#54
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Currently very sick and tired, and yesterday after work I rode to the grocery store. Once you really start it is just as easy to get on the bike, sick, tired, sore...and usually for me the 1/2 hour after my ride I feel my best and most energetic. Then I get around the bummer people and they all bring me back down to earth, so I start looking forward to the ride home. Start listening to books on your commute, it makes it a funner go sometimes.
04-05-11, 02:17 PM
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I think you're making waaay to much out of this.
You just have to get on your bike and go. Reason for my initial start in bicycle commuting was my car breaking down. Was in the shop for a couple weeks, and biked every one of those days. Then, when I got it back, I was in the mindset of riding my bike everywhere. Only filled my tank a couple of times from middle of September to the end of the year.
Of course I've ridden through snow, rain, sickness, and exhaustion. It's not easy most of those days, but it's worth it for a multitude of reasons. You just need to push yourself.
Push yourself.
You just have to get on your bike and go. Reason for my initial start in bicycle commuting was my car breaking down. Was in the shop for a couple weeks, and biked every one of those days. Then, when I got it back, I was in the mindset of riding my bike everywhere. Only filled my tank a couple of times from middle of September to the end of the year.
Of course I've ridden through snow, rain, sickness, and exhaustion. It's not easy most of those days, but it's worth it for a multitude of reasons. You just need to push yourself.
Push yourself.
04-05-11, 02:31 PM
#56
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I've found that the key is to keep doing it and eventually you will get to the point where it becomes a habit... try not to berate yourself for missing days and I think it's a bit silly to ride if you are sick, stay home instead of making your co-workers sick... I know this isn't feasible for some people but especially if you have sick days stay home and get better.
If you skip a ride for whatever reason, just remember that tomorrow is a new day that you will likely be around for, so you can ride tomorrow if you can't today... just try to make sure you're riding more than you are not. I've found making my commute as enjoyable as possible makes me more likely to do it, even though I took long ways around busier but direct roads... slow down and smile on sunny days, stuff like that.
If you skip a ride for whatever reason, just remember that tomorrow is a new day that you will likely be around for, so you can ride tomorrow if you can't today... just try to make sure you're riding more than you are not. I've found making my commute as enjoyable as possible makes me more likely to do it, even though I took long ways around busier but direct roads... slow down and smile on sunny days, stuff like that.
04-05-11, 02:44 PM
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If you were to commit to commuting three or four days a week, you might find your insomnia decreasing. You might find your don't get sick as often.
I'm 42 years old, work as a bike mechanic standing on my feet 7 hours, have a 30 minute commute to work and 30 minute commute back home.
I'll throw out my recent riding schedule.
Thur. 3/24 no work, got in a 16-mile ride. Rode to a bike shop, picked up a frame, strapped it to a backpack, rode my bike with another bike on my back 8 miles home.
Fri 3/25 44-mile training ride.
Sat. 3/26 36 miles, short training ride, directly to work, commuted home
Sun. 3/27 no work, 60-mile training ride
Mon 3/28 30-minute commute to work, 30 minute commute home
Tue 3/29 24 miles, rode to interview for another job, commuted to work, commuted back
Wed 3/30 no ride, had a coworker give me a ride 80 miles away for a work-related training session. Commuters can be too smug cause there are times when motorized vehicles are needed.
Thur 3/31 28 miles, short training ride, directly to work, commuted home
Fri 4/1 30 minute commute to work, 30 minute commute home
Sat 4/2 51 miles training ride, work 7 hours, 30 minute commute home
Sun 4/3 30-minute commute to work, 30 minute commute home
Mon 4/4 13 miles, like you, couldn't sleep, got maybe 3 hours of sleep, commuted to work, worked for nine hours, commuted home
Today, slept like a baby for nine hours, no work, so I'll take the day off, don't do *****, sit on my butt, recover. Regular commuting by itself and in conjunction with training lets you get to know your body and it's limits. I hate to waste a sunny 80-degree days indoors, but I know it's time for a rest, and I'll reap the benefits of the rest.
Tomorrow I'll do a short training ride, work, commute home
Thurs, I have no work, so I'll get in 60 miles of training.
This isn't extreme by any means. There are tons of people older than me who work as much and ride more. There are people who work less, don't ride at all, and are constantly exhausted. My point is that in my experience, riding might increase physical fatigue, but there's a good chance your body will compensate and reward itself with quality sleep. I suspect there an element of the subconscious at work also. You put in the physical activity, you feel justified to sleep, and the sleep comes.
Try commuting five days a week for a couple of weeks as an experiment. See if positive changes come about. If not, see a doctor. I'm pretty confident even if he prescribes medication, he'll also suggest commuting on a regular basis.
I'm 42 years old, work as a bike mechanic standing on my feet 7 hours, have a 30 minute commute to work and 30 minute commute back home.
I'll throw out my recent riding schedule.
Thur. 3/24 no work, got in a 16-mile ride. Rode to a bike shop, picked up a frame, strapped it to a backpack, rode my bike with another bike on my back 8 miles home.
Fri 3/25 44-mile training ride.
Sat. 3/26 36 miles, short training ride, directly to work, commuted home
Sun. 3/27 no work, 60-mile training ride
Mon 3/28 30-minute commute to work, 30 minute commute home
Tue 3/29 24 miles, rode to interview for another job, commuted to work, commuted back
Wed 3/30 no ride, had a coworker give me a ride 80 miles away for a work-related training session. Commuters can be too smug cause there are times when motorized vehicles are needed.
Thur 3/31 28 miles, short training ride, directly to work, commuted home
Fri 4/1 30 minute commute to work, 30 minute commute home
Sat 4/2 51 miles training ride, work 7 hours, 30 minute commute home
Sun 4/3 30-minute commute to work, 30 minute commute home
Mon 4/4 13 miles, like you, couldn't sleep, got maybe 3 hours of sleep, commuted to work, worked for nine hours, commuted home
Today, slept like a baby for nine hours, no work, so I'll take the day off, don't do *****, sit on my butt, recover. Regular commuting by itself and in conjunction with training lets you get to know your body and it's limits. I hate to waste a sunny 80-degree days indoors, but I know it's time for a rest, and I'll reap the benefits of the rest.
Tomorrow I'll do a short training ride, work, commute home
Thurs, I have no work, so I'll get in 60 miles of training.
This isn't extreme by any means. There are tons of people older than me who work as much and ride more. There are people who work less, don't ride at all, and are constantly exhausted. My point is that in my experience, riding might increase physical fatigue, but there's a good chance your body will compensate and reward itself with quality sleep. I suspect there an element of the subconscious at work also. You put in the physical activity, you feel justified to sleep, and the sleep comes.
Try commuting five days a week for a couple of weeks as an experiment. See if positive changes come about. If not, see a doctor. I'm pretty confident even if he prescribes medication, he'll also suggest commuting on a regular basis.
Last edited by vredstein; 04-05-11 at 02:48 PM.
04-05-11, 03:07 PM
#58
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04-05-11, 05:11 PM
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A couple of times I've ridden because I thought the weather was too dangerous to drive. Once a few weeks ago we had ice on the roads, cars couldn't make it up the hill near home (including mine) so I had no choice but to get on the bike, which has studded tires and had no trouble.
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04-05-11, 05:58 PM
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I think you just aren't getting enough sleep.
* Slick: The right tires, and HTFU
* Cold: HTFU
* Thunderstorms: Wait for them to end, then go home. Cut off early if possible. Go in early if necessary. Or, cross your fingers, you're probably more likely to get hit by a car anyway.
Weather is obviously a regional problem with regional solutions. Our T-storms are generally 30-60 minutes, but other places have longer storms.
04-05-11, 06:13 PM
#61
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I confess I don't like hail--it stings--but I've ridden home in it.
04-05-11, 06:33 PM
#62
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04-05-11, 06:49 PM
#63
The Drive Side is Within
when I'm riding a lot, I sleep GREAT!
sounds to me like your work is high stress and rife with late night projects.
as a teacher putting off grading a small stack of papers here at ten of nine, I get myself into that a little, but it balances out.
sounds to me like your work is high stress and rife with late night projects.
as a teacher putting off grading a small stack of papers here at ten of nine, I get myself into that a little, but it balances out.
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The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
The bicycle, the bicycle surely, should always be the vehicle of novelists and poets. Christopher Morley
04-05-11, 10:05 PM
#64
----
Im trying to commute every day and for the life of me....I just can't. Heck, im lucky if I can get 1 day a week in...and im just at a loss as how people do it on a regular basis. My average is 5 days a week but very often I commute 6 or 7 days a week due to the nature of my work. I've been doing this for so long I almost can't remember what it was like when I didn't. My current commute is 20 miles RT. This was a rare winter in that I missed a total of 8 days of riding and took the bus.
For those of you who depend on your bikes, what happens when you've been up all night working on a project? You only get 3 hours of sleep...how do you get up in the am to ride 30-60 minutes?I often leave work at 11:00 or 11:30 (like tonight) and have to be in fairly early- like 9 am the next day. I can occasionally fall prey to stress related insomnia when I'm in the midst of a really busy project (or multiple projects) I just ride my bike anyway. It's the best stress release I know.
What about when you get sick? You can't take every day off...eventually you'll have to stroll in to work ..possibly nursing a cough....how do you ride in? I don't want to jinx myself here but I rarely get sick. And I have one of those jobs that literally doesn't allow for "days off" or "sick days". When I am sick. I ride in, it usually makes me feel better.
What about if you've just had a rough couple of days and a bout of insomnia strolls into your life...then what?I just ride anyway. I sleep better when I'm riding.
What about just sheer exhaustion? Every once in a while I'll be at a location where my commute is more intense in terms of terrain (mountainous) than it currently is. In those cases I've opted to drive when I'm just exhausted (it was also a 30 mile RT) and the thought of doing the 1 mile 12% average grade at the end of the ride home was too much to bear. But here in Boston or when I'm in NYC the bike is better for me when exhausted than any of the alternatives.
I mean the list goes on, of things that happen to us that can make it difficult to get up every day. Many of you will say, well, I'll take a few days off....or the wife will drive me...but I guess im directing this to those of you who depend on your bike for work. You have no wife, brother, sister, dad, mom, roomate, neighbour to give you a lift.
I just end up taking my car..but what about those who have no car? or public transport takes hours to get to work. I wish I could ride in everyday but the reality is I can't.
Thoughts?
**edit** I forgot to add weather problems...such as high winds, thunderstorms...that's what kept me off my bike today..the possibility of thunderstorms that never materialized.I'm not crazy about thunder and lightning but I must admit I love my smart phone and weather radar. I can plan my ride better. When in an urban setting I'm less freaked about storms but choose not to ride along the river on the bike path if I can avoid it during big storms. BTW, the bigger danger in a storm may not be lightning but falling tree branches and the effect of blinding rain on auto drivers. I just rode in during a thunderstorm yesterday- a little freaky but it was okay.
For those of you who depend on your bikes, what happens when you've been up all night working on a project? You only get 3 hours of sleep...how do you get up in the am to ride 30-60 minutes?I often leave work at 11:00 or 11:30 (like tonight) and have to be in fairly early- like 9 am the next day. I can occasionally fall prey to stress related insomnia when I'm in the midst of a really busy project (or multiple projects) I just ride my bike anyway. It's the best stress release I know.
What about when you get sick? You can't take every day off...eventually you'll have to stroll in to work ..possibly nursing a cough....how do you ride in? I don't want to jinx myself here but I rarely get sick. And I have one of those jobs that literally doesn't allow for "days off" or "sick days". When I am sick. I ride in, it usually makes me feel better.
What about if you've just had a rough couple of days and a bout of insomnia strolls into your life...then what?I just ride anyway. I sleep better when I'm riding.
What about just sheer exhaustion? Every once in a while I'll be at a location where my commute is more intense in terms of terrain (mountainous) than it currently is. In those cases I've opted to drive when I'm just exhausted (it was also a 30 mile RT) and the thought of doing the 1 mile 12% average grade at the end of the ride home was too much to bear. But here in Boston or when I'm in NYC the bike is better for me when exhausted than any of the alternatives.
I mean the list goes on, of things that happen to us that can make it difficult to get up every day. Many of you will say, well, I'll take a few days off....or the wife will drive me...but I guess im directing this to those of you who depend on your bike for work. You have no wife, brother, sister, dad, mom, roomate, neighbour to give you a lift.
I just end up taking my car..but what about those who have no car? or public transport takes hours to get to work. I wish I could ride in everyday but the reality is I can't.
Thoughts?
**edit** I forgot to add weather problems...such as high winds, thunderstorms...that's what kept me off my bike today..the possibility of thunderstorms that never materialized.I'm not crazy about thunder and lightning but I must admit I love my smart phone and weather radar. I can plan my ride better. When in an urban setting I'm less freaked about storms but choose not to ride along the river on the bike path if I can avoid it during big storms. BTW, the bigger danger in a storm may not be lightning but falling tree branches and the effect of blinding rain on auto drivers. I just rode in during a thunderstorm yesterday- a little freaky but it was okay.
04-05-11, 11:18 PM
#65
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Riding is just so much faster, I have a ~4.5 mile commute each way and it takes me about 14-17 mins including stop lights. The bus takes 30 mins or more (I've ridden a bus maybe 50 times in my entire life) and by car it's probably 20 mins or more.
I am just fast on the bike. I'm riding a cheap $150(new at store) commuter that weighs like 35lbs, 700c rims and still manage to do ~25kph average (~15.5mph) including all stop lights and A LOT of traffic causing me to stop frequently. I'm guessing I'm doing 29 moving!
On a road bike I was a lot faster too. Get off your ass and ride, more people should do it.
My co-workers all look at me like I'm an alien, no one who can afford public transportation/a car would ever ride a bike in a third world country but hah, the joke is on them. They're miserable when getting to and from work and I'm all-out sprinting grinning like mad.
I am just fast on the bike. I'm riding a cheap $150(new at store) commuter that weighs like 35lbs, 700c rims and still manage to do ~25kph average (~15.5mph) including all stop lights and A LOT of traffic causing me to stop frequently. I'm guessing I'm doing 29 moving!
On a road bike I was a lot faster too. Get off your ass and ride, more people should do it.
My co-workers all look at me like I'm an alien, no one who can afford public transportation/a car would ever ride a bike in a third world country but hah, the joke is on them. They're miserable when getting to and from work and I'm all-out sprinting grinning like mad.
04-06-11, 05:09 PM
#66
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Ask yourself what it is you DON'T like about riding. Maybe your bike isn't fitted well, or maybe you're wearing bad clothing.
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04-06-11, 07:50 PM
#67
In the right lane
A couple of times I've ridden because I thought the weather was too dangerous to drive. Once a few weeks ago we had ice on the roads, cars couldn't make it up the hill near home (including mine) so I had no choice but to get on the bike, which has studded tires and had no trouble.
04-07-11, 07:35 PM
#69
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Harden The F Up. (Youtube - Harden the F Up (NSFW obviously)
I just ride. I ignore the alternatives (unless I break my hand and can't like last year). They normally cost more or take longer.
I have ridden home with a migraine which felt like someone was hitting me in the head over every bump, and of course riding makes your heart rate increase which also made my head pound.
As for thunderstorms - they aren't too common here, and the don't last too long. If there is one really close, I'll pull over and have a coffee. Most of the time there are other things taller around when you're riding anyway.
I just ride. I ignore the alternatives (unless I break my hand and can't like last year). They normally cost more or take longer.
I have ridden home with a migraine which felt like someone was hitting me in the head over every bump, and of course riding makes your heart rate increase which also made my head pound.
As for thunderstorms - they aren't too common here, and the don't last too long. If there is one really close, I'll pull over and have a coffee. Most of the time there are other things taller around when you're riding anyway.
04-07-11, 08:33 PM
#70
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Are thunderstorms really dangerous to ride in?
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04-07-11, 08:39 PM
#71
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I don't think I've heard of a cyclist getting zapped?
04-07-11, 08:49 PM
#72
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I don't ride everyday because I am lazy and in some cases I need my car for work during the day. Today was one of those days so I was planning on driving to work even though i would have rather ridden a bike since I was at a conference this week and didn't get any exercise. Anyway I went out to my car and the battery was totally dead. I texted my boss I was going to be late and jumped on a bike. I was able to borrow my wife's car for driving for work. Thats twice I have ridden my bike to work in the last 2 years when my car wouldn't start. Its nice to have a backup form of transportation. The bus takes forever here in Lincoln. I might be able to walk to work faster.
04-08-11, 12:58 AM
#73
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If you have issues with insomnia, you should get that looked at first. I think your QoL will improve dramatically if you fix that first.
What makes it easier to ride in? Well, my commute by bike only takes about 10 minutes longer each way than if I drive; that helps.
Regarding feeling sick, I find that a bit of exercise makes me feel much better. Helps relieve congestion due to allergies and colds. And, for healthy people, even strenuous exercise has no effect on the duration of a cold.
But the main thing that makes it easy, is that the thought that tomorrow, it won't be so easy. What if it rains tomorrow? Not as fun a commute on the road bike. What if I find out I need my car at work, to drive to a meeting? There goes a day. What if I get fat, get old, and can't bike to work anymore? That's what'll happen if I put it off for too long.
What makes it easier to ride in? Well, my commute by bike only takes about 10 minutes longer each way than if I drive; that helps.
Regarding feeling sick, I find that a bit of exercise makes me feel much better. Helps relieve congestion due to allergies and colds. And, for healthy people, even strenuous exercise has no effect on the duration of a cold.
But the main thing that makes it easy, is that the thought that tomorrow, it won't be so easy. What if it rains tomorrow? Not as fun a commute on the road bike. What if I find out I need my car at work, to drive to a meeting? There goes a day. What if I get fat, get old, and can't bike to work anymore? That's what'll happen if I put it off for too long.
04-08-11, 07:50 AM
#74
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I rode in hail on my tour. I was glad I was wearing my helmet. I was also glad I wasn't riding my recumbent as that would have meant looking into the rain/hail/wind instead of keeping my head down.
04-08-11, 09:22 AM
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I used to get sick or have allergies flare up everytime the weather changed.
In November I started eating raw vegetables and fruit everyday. Work has a cafeteria and I get a salad. At home I have mostly organic.
I haven't been sick or had bad allergies since.
As far as being exhausted, yes. I generally ride close to 100 miles on the weekend and my work commute is 34 miles round trip, so I am slowly building up. It doesn't help that I get home at 9PM on Monday and Wednesday nites, driving a car. But it just takes time to build up. But yeah, I'm not one to sacrifice sleep to ride my bike, but I do feel tons better anytime I ride my bike even if I don't get all the sleep I need.
In November I started eating raw vegetables and fruit everyday. Work has a cafeteria and I get a salad. At home I have mostly organic.
I haven't been sick or had bad allergies since.
As far as being exhausted, yes. I generally ride close to 100 miles on the weekend and my work commute is 34 miles round trip, so I am slowly building up. It doesn't help that I get home at 9PM on Monday and Wednesday nites, driving a car. But it just takes time to build up. But yeah, I'm not one to sacrifice sleep to ride my bike, but I do feel tons better anytime I ride my bike even if I don't get all the sleep I need.
