Chris, I'm impressed. You will be amazed at how your fitness condition changes.

Wow I didn't expect such a response. Thanks very much everybody for your encouragement and advice! My ride was great today. I work Wed-Sun so this is only the second day of my week, yesterday I ran out of time and had to drive. I work a closing shift tonight so I rode mid morning which was nice. I don't know if I'm improving this quickly or if it's because I got six whole hours of sleep last night but I felt like I kicked butt today. I was able to keep the bike in the highest gear for the entire ride. There aren't any big hills on this route, just a couple of overpasses and then a slow climb right at the end but as I crested one of the overpasses I went to shift into high gear for the downhill side and realized I had been in high gear the whole time. The first time I rode I never got into the highest gear except for downhill. The other two times I've ridden to work I get about two miles from my house and get this overwhelming feeling of regret/dread/"I'm never gonna make it," and then around the half way mark it turns into "I can conquer the world on my bike." Today I didn't go through that, I just got on the bike and started pushing. It feels like such an accomplishment when I get to work. I know I will have bad days just like good days but today was a very good day.

For my bike however it was a different story. I noticed a "tick tick tick" sound from the rear wheel and checked and saw that I could wiggle one of the spokes. No problem there's a bike shop on my route. The guy there was very helpful, said my rim wasn't bent the spokes just needed to be tensioned. After getting some advice I bought a spoke wrench and went on my way. By the time I got to work though the tick was a big clatter and both front and rear wheels were way out of alignment. I started to wonder if they could actually come apart while I was riding. Made it safely though, and I've been reading about spoke tensioning and got them both dialed in pretty well. I'm curious to see if they stay tuned up on the way home.



You would barely recognize it if you haven't been here in the last year or so. There was a huge 2 year long highway project and it's much nicer now. No more stopping in the fast lane to turn left onto a dirt road. There is a sidewalk on the east side of the highway in Coeur d'Alene, and when you get into Hayden the signs start saying "Bike Route" and it is separated from the highway by a big grass swail. It goes all the way to Garwood rd and from there I get on the new frontage road all the way to the park. The path is nice and clean, no glass or anything, just some gaps and potholes.

Here you go!

Starting out in Coeur d'Alene
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4...D720/ry%3D480/

Stopped in here
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4...D720/ry%3D480/

Government Way heading north out of Hayden
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4...D720/ry%3D480/

Nice path to ride, too bad it doesn't go much further than this
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4...D720/ry%3D480/

Pope Rd
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4...D720/ry%3D480/

Stopped here for no apparent reason
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4...D720/ry%3D480/

Chilco Sawmill - There used to be probably a dozen mills around here. Now there's just this one and one in Priest River.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4...D720/ry%3D480/

Random 45acp round on the ground
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4...D720/ry%3D480/

Broke 100 miles on this ride
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4...D720/ry%3D480/

The park hides itself well in the trees, we actually have over 65 rides. In the foreground is a model airplane field.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a4...D720/ry%3D480/

Too bad it wasn't sunny today, this area is ten times more beautiful in the sun.

Thanks again!

Very impressive way to start out commuting by bicycle. Very ambitious.

As others have mentioned, be prepared to take rest days, especially early on.

You are doing it right. A+.

Chris, awesome. Enjoyed the pics.

If you ever need new wheels, Petter White cycle, can build you some of the best wheels I seen, for fair price.
After seven years of not riding and 35lb heavier, my original 27" wheel on my 1983 Cannondale where no match for the beating it was getting.