Ok guys, I'm so ashamed I didn't reply sooner. 'Tomorrow' was a long time ago. Well, I was too ashamed to admit that my commute, combined with my job, has been totally kicking my a$$! It doesn't even matter, I ride my bike almost every day, but something about it being an actual 'commute' instead of just a 'ride' makes it more difficult. Have to get to work on time! So then I push myself so hard, I feel like I am never going fast enough...The rides home were alot better, but they were also alot more tired. With my job, I'm not used to working that hard, and riding my bike without some sleep in between the two, LOL.

Also, it was COLD! I stopped on campus here (luckily almost right halfway, depending on my route) to warm up my toesies. Double layer socks, ziploc bags and my leather work boots didn't cut it, but then my right big toe decides to go numb usually anyway.

One morning on my way home, the sun was just coming up, it was foggy, and I saw a pack (or herd? I'm such a city girl!) of deer cross the path right in front of me. I don't care how cold or tired I was, that made it worth it 110%.

Well, I come out of this with 278% respect for regular, dedicated bicycle commuters. I was solely a commuter to school for the last year or so, but that was only 3-5 miles, and not during winter. I respect you guys more than you'll ever know! I have to say, if this were to be a regular thing with me, I'd either be moving closer, or getting a different job that's closer to me. Buses here don't run late enough for me to get to work.


Thank all of you trememdously for the words of encouragement.

Jessica

Good job!!

You may find that if you give it another week or so, you will not feel the effects nearly as much. The body just tends to adjust to the extra load.

Yeah, give it time. It took me about a month to get used to my 15 mile commute. I would get pretty tired after work back then, but after a month it got to be no big deal. The nice thing is that after about 6 months of being a daily commuter you get to a point where you feel extremely comfortable on the bike no matter what distance you're going (as long as it's under 100 miles). Lately, I've been trying to carry as much weight as I can fit in my bag, for "training" :p

Kick arse!! Keep it going, your body will adjust before you know it and all those aches and pains will be history, then you'll start looking like that chick from Alias. And when gas hits $3/gallon this summer you can give everyone the finger.

And keep an eye out for those special sights you see along the way, that's one of the best things about riding a bike!

Too true! Keep it up SBL. The only drawback is with the bike commute and the physical demands of your job, you'll spend more money on food!

i have several commute to work horror stories that made me feel like an endurance adventure movie anti hero. i have also tried to own the evil car, but none of them have lasted more than a month in my hands. my latest terror experience happened when i moved to this small city to get away from it all. i was spellbound by the clean air and the country rent. i rented a whole house near the city limits where there is no public transit for the price of a closet in a basement down in the city. work was 25km away. i cycled until dec. before buying a car. i was working 10 to 12 hour shifts, cycling a total of 3 to 3.5 hours a day. i was stuck on my experimental mountain bike, since my gardin had been stolen. the mountain bike is stuck on a single gear. 52/13. there was no time to sleep or recuperate. temperatures were dropping below -25 degrees Celsius. i was so fortunate to get a car together before the brutal temperatures of -40 degrees Celsius and colder hit. On new years eve, at the height of deepest winter in this godforsaken canadian wilderness, i totaled the engine on my 89 corsica. that was it. i was cooked. fortunately for me, i was fired on unrelated and legally questionable grounds on Jan 3. 2005 i won't go into that, but i'm seeking an action for wrongful dismissal. i waited the rest of the winter out, sleeping and will be commuting to vocational retraining 25km each way by bicycle again in april. i hope to be working and driving again by next winter. don't tell me to move. i'm not going to.

True that...I sit all day and still I'm hungrier than ever when commuting by bike. One pannier for clothes, the other full of food.

oh... my... god. woah. you are definitely in my commuting hall of fame. much respect for hammering a 52x13 through that unbelievable weather. and good luck getting your employment sorted -

keep it up, jess - it will just get easier, and warmer. you'll get stronger, you'll figure out what to wear, what to eat, whatnot. it will making riding for pleasure all the more pleasureable. woohoo!

Indeed. To echo the sentiments of others here, your body will adjust to it and you'll end up lovin' it. I've been commuting 12miles each way for about a year now through snow and rain and whatever and I have grown to despise taking the train when circumstances dictate that I have to....

I've adopted the "Get out of my way, I have no sense" approach. Mainly because I do have a front brake so the much maligned money quote just doesn't seem to work for me.

Speed (either kind), confidence and keeping your head on a swivel is my approach to the sketchier DC 'hoods I ride through each day.