So I just went out and bought a CAAD 8 a week ago and plan on using it to commute back and forth to work. I haven't really ridden a bike in probably 15 years and this thing is a blast. I'm in the Marine Corps and in decent shape, but I think I jumped in a little to quick the other day. I decided to make the 28 mile one way trip to work the other day and man was that pretty hard. I'm stationed in Okinawa and the hills destroyed me. 2 1/2 hours later I finally made it to work sore and numb from the waist down. I work out regularly and I've never felt soreness like this before. I'm not even this sore after squat day in the gym. Well I figured I would share that story since my wife seems to think I'm completely crazy but hilarious at the same time.

That is quite a first ride for a commute. Keep at it and it will get easier. Just make sure to bring/drink plenty of water.

I remember "The Rock."
Never rode a bike when I was there... hated running though.

Definitely. I took a couple days off to heal, but I'm going back on a ride tomorrow morning before work. I'm going to keep it to an hour and just work my way up to that commute before I do it again.

Yeah. I hate running too. But I'm trying to get back in a little better shape. Just got back from Afghanistan and didn't really have much time to do any kind of cardio.

That is a pretty far distance for commuting, particularly if you are new to cycling. You might consider doing half-commutes. Take your bike on a car rack one day, ride home in the afternoon, ride to work again in the morning, and then drive home. That might be a good way to ease into commuting. That said, a 56-mile round trip is on the extreme edge for regular commuting. A few here commute that far regularly, but it would be a challenge for most cyclists -- for the time commitment if nothing else.

Welcome to the obsession and Semper Fi.

Just got great news. I found out I'm going to be working back by my house so my commute goes from 56 mile round trip to a 2-3 mile round trip. It seems like my CAAD 8 is now overkill lol. I'm going to spend more time changing into my cammies than I am commuting. I well. It will give me more time to ride for pleasure.

No, Nooo, that's bad news. If you had done that 56 mile commute for a year or so, you would've been a monster.

Congrats! Now you can just leave early and take the long way to work... Enjoy!

I commute via train and bike from Fredericksburg, VA to Fort Belvoir, past MCB Quantico. A bunch of Marines go from Fred to the main side base and commute from there. I go from Springfield to Fort Belvoir and back every day. Average almost 100 miles a week. My 61 year old legs and heart never felt better, except when I was 35 and riding my way through the FBI academy on base.

I would have been a monster wasted away to like 130 pounds. Right now I'm 190 so I would be nothing. I do get to ride every day though. I get up at 0400 and ride an hour or two depending how I feel. Then still have time to take a shower eat and coast slowly to work. Now if I could convince my wife to let me get a mountain bike for the short commute instead of my CAAD.