New to Bike Commuting
 

Hey from Atlanta. I've been living 3 miles from work for about 3 years and just started biking. Not sure what took me so long. I ride a 2006 Gary Fisher Nirvanna S. I've been biking for about 1 month and just dorked out my bike with a rear rack an panniers. Next is the orange safty flag and handle tassels.

Atlanta has a clean air campaign where they give you $3 per day for your first 90 days commuting up to $180. Plus they have monthly drawings for $25. So that's not bad at all. From the money I save in gas & the $180 my bike will be paid for in no time. Plus instead of it me taking 30 minutes to get home after work (traffic) it takes me 15 minutes. And I get to cut through Piedmont park. Much nicer commute.

I'm now the token commuter here. HR wants me to park my bike out front so everyone can see it. They even want to take a picture of me and put it in the newsletter.

I get a kick out of the people asking me on the cold morning (like this morning) "Did you REALLY bike today?" I tell them yes and that's why god invented jackets.

One of my vendors calls me Andy (from the movie 40 year old virgin). But most are jealous that I can bike to work.

Well done. What bike parking facilities do they give you - nice rack, or a storage cabinet by your desk? Are showers provided at work? I expect you will soon be finding alternative routes so you can add more miles or hills to your commute.

I was keeping it in the back storage area but they renovated it and moved the call center there. They have an empty cube I park it in. It's nice because it's near the back door and there's people always close by to look after it.

The bad part is there's no showers. But a change of clothes, a quick wipe down, and some deoderant and I'm fine.

Not sure about adding miles going to work but I'm adding miles coming home (a quick loop around the park). There's some big hills on the commute. I'm either going up a hill or down. Really the only flat spots are through the park. It's great in the morning to look across the lake and see downtown atlanta all lit up.

WOW, what an incentive to commute!!! Take advantage of it. I just did my first commute to work today, and it was a total blast. Yet they were a few downers. I commute about 7 miles to work onto a military base to a military hospital. You would think that hospital/military/whatever would be pro fitness. Most cases they are. I found out that you can not bring a bike into a hospital and store it in one of the clinics so you have to use the bike racks right beside the designated smoking area. The irony is that the designated smoking area has a roof over it and is protected from the elements. Yet, while im trying to do the fitness thing; my bike will rust and smell like smoke. However, I will keep pedaling on.

Welcome from another Atlanta commuter. :beer:

:eek:

If you ride by our office (see map-red star), stop in and say hello. We are inside the Virginia-Highland Church (743 Virginia Ave NE).

Be sure to post a link to the article and picture(s) if they do.

Bad storage for commuter bike -- Will a folder get it in the building?
 

If you had a folding bike would you be able to bring it indoors with you?

I commute with both a 20" folder and a 26" comfort bike rigged for commuting.

A thought.

Cold? Atlanta? Cold? BWWAHAHAAHHAHHAHAHHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAH!!!! :D

It was 33F yesterday and 36F today --- Mr Hawaii with lots of sunshine and warm temps. ;)

"Cold" would be less than 15 F. It's 35F where I work. Well within my comfort zone. :)

Hi Laika
 

I'm a newbie too, just (probably incorrectly) posted my introduction and hello in the Northeast forum!

In any case, I'm a commuter as well and had to laugh at the reactions you're getting from people at work. Me too! People who don't bike tend to assume that you're just as cold as if you walk outside after sitting still, not understanding that within just a few mins you're generally pretty darn warm! :-)

That is AWESOME the incentive that Atlanta offers to bike! How did you find out about that? I wonder what other states or cities offer something similar? I'd hate to be missing out on it if it's offered!