Woohoo - First Commute

rinko
rinko Posts: 45
edited June 2009 in Commuting chat
Just completed my first commute into work on my shiny new Trek 1.7 (C2W scheme bike)!

I'm lucky/unlucky depending on how you look at it - that I only work about 3 and a bit miles away from home - but I got here a good 5 minutes quicker than if I had come in the car.

I've been away from cycling for some time and have only ever had mountain bikes in the past - so it's a fairly steep learning curve to go to a road bike with spd's. Not fallen off yet - but nearly did practicing clipping and unclipping in the kitchen :D

Rode 19k Saturday evening and 20k on Sunday and really enjoyed myself (which is hopefully a good sign as I am doing a triathalon in September), but I am determined to not be a fair weather cyclist as I need to shift quite a few pounds!

Cheers,

Rinko.

Comments

  • Greg T
    Greg T Posts: 3,266
    Well done and welcome Rinko.

    You will have a "moment" unclipping - you may was well fall off on your front lawn and get it over with somewhere nice and soft.
    Fixed gear for wet weather / hairy roadie for posing in the sun.

    What would Thora Hurd do?
  • Gussio
    Gussio Posts: 2,452
    Congratulations - you've chosen lovely weather to get back in the saddle. I admire your bravery for bringing a bike into the kitchen - a big no-no in our household! :lol:
  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    Quality. Enjoy it. It only gets better and faster :D
  • Deadeye Duck
    Deadeye Duck Posts: 419
    Today was meant to be my first full commute into work, but I gave it a test run on saturday and severely underestimated the hills on the way there. One of them I'd be better off bringing a rope and climbing up with the bike on my back. It's like riding into a brick wall! :shock:

    Congratulations mate. You did better than I did.
    Schwinn Fastback Comp : FCN 5
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    My Life, My Bike & My Xbox
  • soy_sauce
    soy_sauce Posts: 987
    well done and welcome. :)
    "It is not impossible, its just improbable"

    Specialized Rockhopper Pro Disc 08
  • rinko
    rinko Posts: 45
    Cheers for the support everyone ... I think i've got the bug as I am sitting her pondering a route I could ride at lunch ... although I don't have my shower stuff so I don't think people would appreciate it!

    @Gussio - I didn't even have to ask, my other half just assumed that was where it was going to live (for this week at least). Although she did complain that I was giving it more attention than her.

    @Deadeye Duck - My 19k Saturday run was part test ride into work. Thankfully most of my route is flat/downhill on the way into work and I don't mind putting a bit more effort in on the way home. (BTW - was Deadeye Duck in Bucky-O'hare?) Best of luck with the hills ... don't forget your oxygen supply!
  • Deadeye Duck
    Deadeye Duck Posts: 419
    Rinko wrote:
    @Deadeye Duck - My 19k Saturday run was part test ride into work. Thankfully most of my route is flat/downhill on the way into work and I don't mind putting a bit more effort in on the way home. (BTW - was Deadeye Duck in Bucky-O'hare?) Best of luck with the hills ... don't forget your oxygen supply!
    He was indeed (the kid in me will never leave). My cycle has me going from one hill down into the valley and back up the other side, so either way I end up knackered by the time i finish :lol:

    I think a lot of it has to do with me being unfit, but I'll get there in the end. There's only one person in my work who commutes by bike, he asked If I wanted him to tow me up the first few times untill I get used to it. He might as well have slapped me with a fine leather glove. There's no way I was accepting that offer!
    Schwinn Fastback Comp : FCN 5
    The Flying Scot : FCN 515q6cuv.png
    My Life, My Bike & My Xbox
  • rinko
    rinko Posts: 45
    Deadeye Duck wrote:
    He was indeed (the kid in me will never leave). My cycle has me going from one hill down into the valley and back up the other side, so either way I end up knackered by the time i finish :lol:

    I think a lot of it has to do with me being unfit, but I'll get there in the end. There's only one person in my work who commutes by bike, he asked If I wanted him to tow me up the first few times untill I get used to it. He might as well have slapped me with a fine leather glove. There's no way I was accepting that offer!

    We've had an influx of new bike owners in the company since I managed to convince the CEO that the C2W scheme was a good idea so he could get a new bike. I think there are 4/5 of "us" now.

    Just bide your time and wait for the day when you can pummel him on the climb without showing a sign of tiredness or exhertion! SCR+ :)

    Still waiting for my first scalp ... I was gaining on a woman on one of those electric bikes, but she turned off before I caught up. Did get a bit of a sweat on this morning on the way home as I realised that a woman on a shopper had caught me up as a I waited for a red light and I didn't want to get caught napping.
  • LDN-Flyer
    LDN-Flyer Posts: 97
    I had to get the tube this morning. it SUCKED
  • londonbairn
    londonbairn Posts: 316
    Nice one matey, you'll feel so much more energetic now in the mornings!

    My first few commutes were hell (as I was unfit and doing 14 odd miles on a MTB!)
  • AndyManc
    AndyManc Posts: 1,393
    Rinko wrote:

    I'm lucky/unlucky depending on how you look at it - that I only work about 3 and a bit miles away from home - but I got here a good 5 minutes quicker than if I had come in the car.


    Rinko.

    In 6 months time you will think yourself very lucky.

    Having said that, some of last years snow commuting was .. erm quite entertaining :roll:


    .
    Specialized Hardrock Pro/Trek FX 7.3 Hybrid/Specialized Enduro/Specialized Tri-Cross Sport
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