Spring is here! who is contemplating their first commute?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2008
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From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Spring is here! who is contemplating their first commute?
something so great about the prospect of commuting by bike, the fear, the courage, the anticipation, the preparation, the questions, the bikes, the reactions from colleagues, the feeling of accomplishment when to get there, and when you get home the 1st time. I used to have it pretty cushy with a shower a semi private place to hang stuff to dry. I'm sure there's someone else out there with GORGEOUS facilities that is just dying to give it a try. who are you?
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
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From: Mooresville, NC (Charlotte suburb)
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse, Trek 5000 TCT, Giant OCR
I won't get my first commute of spring until it is officially here on March 20. But I have ridden either to or from work about 70 times this year.
#7
something so great about the prospect of commuting by bike, the fear, the courage, the anticipation, the preparation, the questions, the bikes, the reactions from colleagues, the feeling of accomplishment when to get there, and when you get home the 1st time. I used to have it pretty cushy with a shower a semi private place to hang stuff to dry. I'm sure there's someone else out there with GORGEOUS facilities that is just dying to give it a try. who are you?
Speaking of GORGEOUS facilities, I posted in the context of a “Describe Your Commute” thread,
#10
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Bikes: 2013 Giant Escape 3
I wish I could commute, I have a 23 mile ride one way. Unfortunatly I have to be at work at 7 am (still dark). I figure I would need to leave my house by 430 am. I dont think my coworkers would appreciate the cycling aroma that I would bring, since I dont have a place to shower
#11
always rides with luggage
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,109
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From: KIGX
Bikes: 2007 Trek SU100, 2009 Fantom CX, 2012 Fantom Cross Uno, Bakfiets
My first commute of the year was 2 January. 
The only days I have skipped so far were the ones the office was shut down for snow-- and there's only been one of those. I love the South.

The only days I have skipped so far were the ones the office was shut down for snow-- and there's only been one of those. I love the South.
__________________
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: So Cal
Bikes: Cimarrons 1835, 0836, 1767, 3517, 0768, 3408, a LHT, and a couple others
I wish I could commute, I have a 23 mile ride one way. Unfortunatly I have to be at work at 7 am (still dark). I figure I would need to leave my house by 430 am. I dont think my coworkers would appreciate the cycling aroma that I would bring, since I dont have a place to shower
I don't have to leave until 530am; thankfully the ride to work is for the most part, down hill. Going home is the fun part. So, get out there and try it!
#13
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2008
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From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
haha Jim yes you would, wondering how many hate you, only kidding
Parking: inside about 100 feet from my desk, directly through a door from the outside
Cleanup: shower facilities; place to hang clothes, and a table fan available to dry; for most of the time I wear surgical scrubs
Amenities: coffee shop and cafeteria on site; almost all my personal service needs like barbershop, dentist, dry-cleaner/tailor, supermarket and drugstore, and good take-out restaurants are all within walking distance of work, or a short hop on the bike; bike shop two blocks away
Parking: inside about 100 feet from my desk, directly through a door from the outside
Cleanup: shower facilities; place to hang clothes, and a table fan available to dry; for most of the time I wear surgical scrubs
Amenities: coffee shop and cafeteria on site; almost all my personal service needs like barbershop, dentist, dry-cleaner/tailor, supermarket and drugstore, and good take-out restaurants are all within walking distance of work, or a short hop on the bike; bike shop two blocks away
#14
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,472
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From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
#15
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I'm gearing up to try my first ever commute! I've scoped out a route and it looks great, but there's one small pass I have to make a small pass through some trees that worries me. I'm going to go with some friends and clear the wood debris so I can pass through easier. I ran into a curb in the dark a couple weeks ago, so I just got my bike out the shop today!! I've added a stronger headlight to my gear and asked the shop to upgrade my grips to Ergon gp2. Loving the feel of them!
#16
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2008
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From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
#19
Full Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 430
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From: Indiana
Bikes: Giant ATX Lite & Schwinn Mesa
trucks in shop
I commuted to work for the first time from my new house. The commute from the old house was kind of dangerous because of a stretch on the highway. Rode my MTB through snow and ice. Only had to walk 20 feet because the path on the bridge wasn't safe. I'm hooked and hope to ride in all but the wettest weather.
#20
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Joined: Mar 2015
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i haven't done an official commute yet because the roads are still icy and cruddy at the edges and my tires aren't good enough for that kind of surface. plus i have to make good use of the bus pass i bought for March so i don't feel i wasted the money. i did run some errands yesterday in the neighbourhood though! first time on the bike this year and man did it feel great. was a solid 4 months of no biking at all and i felt like a bird freed from a cage!
last year i was able to start daily commuting on April 7th. had to stop November 7th due to weather/snow. i hope i can make at least 7 months again this year
last year i was able to start daily commuting on April 7th. had to stop November 7th due to weather/snow. i hope i can make at least 7 months again this year
#21
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Joined: Aug 2009
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From: North of Boston
Bikes: Kona Dawg, Surly 1x1, Karate Monkey, Rockhopper, Crosscheck , Burley Runabout,
I wish I could commute, I have a 23 mile ride one way. Unfortunatly I have to be at work at 7 am (still dark). I figure I would need to leave my house by 430 am. I dont think my coworkers would appreciate the cycling aroma that I would bring, since I dont have a place to shower
#22
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 11
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so yesterday morning i said 'to heck with getting my money's worth out of my bus pass, i want to ride my bike!'
to and from work yesterday, and so far to work today. ahhhhhhh! dang that feels good. the wind whipping in my face might not be so fun on the way home today, but hey, it makes one feel alive to fight mr weathermaker and win.
it's only 60 blocks each way, and other than one long climb of a hill, nice and easy ride. my record to work is 14 minutes, and that was last season in the peak of fitness. yesterday i did it in 17, and today in 18 minutes. not bad for start of season i think.
to and from work yesterday, and so far to work today. ahhhhhhh! dang that feels good. the wind whipping in my face might not be so fun on the way home today, but hey, it makes one feel alive to fight mr weathermaker and win.
it's only 60 blocks each way, and other than one long climb of a hill, nice and easy ride. my record to work is 14 minutes, and that was last season in the peak of fitness. yesterday i did it in 17, and today in 18 minutes. not bad for start of season i think.
#23
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From: Durham, NC 27705 USA
Bikes: '18 S-Works Tarmac (white letters), '18 S-Works Tarmac (black letters), '22 Allez Elite, '16 Emonda SL, '12 SS Evo HiMod team, '12 SS Evo HiMod 2, '03 fuel100, '14 adventure3, '19 BMC TeamMachine SLR01
I've been riding since February
#24
meh

Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Hopkins, MN
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
something so great about the prospect of commuting by bike, the fear, the courage, the anticipation, the preparation, the questions, the bikes, the reactions from colleagues, the feeling of accomplishment when to get there, and when you get home the 1st time. I used to have it pretty cushy with a shower a semi private place to hang stuff to dry. I'm sure there's someone else out there with GORGEOUS facilities that is just dying to give it a try. who are you?

I started bike-commuting to college in the late 80s. Took a number of years off when our daughter was born. Got back to it slowly around 2005 with only the sunny days a couple times a summer. By 2009, I bought a new commuter-bike and was biking most days in the summer. Then around 2011 I made the plunge into winter-biking. Now I bike to work nearly every day, only exceptions are for logistics (need a car to haul stuff or get somewhere far away) and for ice - Ice is no problem for me and my bike, but the cars I share the road with, they have a hard time keeping in control on the ice.
My office has no showers, I use a store room as a locker room, and air-out my bike gear on a hook behind my office door. My co-workers still like to tell me I'm nuts, but generally accept that I'm gonna bike to work.
There are many 'reasons' to bike (save money, healthier, save environment, etc), but the top reason is FUN!
Last edited by Hypno Toad; 03-17-15 at 11:08 AM.
#25
Another MN Bike Commuter
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 110
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From: Perham, Minnesota
Bikes: 2015 Trek Crockett / 2013 Trek Domane / 2014 Framed MN1.0



