First proper commute

d21dga

Today was the day I MTFU'd and did my first proper commute in. Admittedly it's only 3 miles but hey I still did it!
Weather couldn't have been nicer and the roads round here were so quiet I only saw about 5 cars let alone any cyclists.
Now I've just got to get into the habit of doing it so I keep going even when the weather isn't so good.

Clever Pun

just keep at it, you'll start racing yourself before you know it...

PinkPedal

Good for you! I hadn't commuted for a while and it was lovely to get back into it this morning. Feel so much more awake at work.

soy_sauce

now you just need to commuting in a heavy raining day then you will get into the habit.
some of my workmate started by commuting in nice weather only but after they did it in a heavy rain and realised it is not as bad as they expected, now they commuting everyday regardless the weather.

my commute is similar distance as yours too.

keep up the good work.

rbrwr

I've been a fair-weather commuter (3.5 miles, shortish climbs in both directions) for a couple of months now and I'm starting to get so addicted to the exercise that I'm tempted to brave the rain this week.... but I still haven't got mudguards, and my trainers have a leak in one sole. Hmmm.

Aidanw

It is never as bad as it looks!

Get out in the rain

soy_sauce

Aidanw wrote:

It is never as bad as it looks!

Get out in the rain

+1

in fact, it is actually better (personal opinion). the rain cool you down when you need it.

d21dga

I'm actually looking forward to the end of the working day even more than usual today!
This is partly because I get to cycle down the nice twisty track through the woods that I cycled up on the way in and you can pick up some decent speed through there, the loose surface, tree trunks right next to the path and twisty bits all make it more interesting

FeynmanC

Good on you! I'm getting myself ready for my first one tomorrow. 25 miles each way, including the Avonmouth Bridge for those fun "high wind" moments

Here's hoping my body can take it, or i'll be calling the Lady to come get me in the evening :twisted:

The Chingford Skinhead

Hey, well done. You say "only" 3 miles but lots of people think you need a car for that sort of journey. So, don't put yourself down, big yourself up. 3 miles is good - esp for your health (both mental and physical.

Not being on the bike was the worse thing when I was off injured. I got fatter but worse still I missed the cathartic nature of being able to cycle home after a rough day at work.

Enjoy. Oh, the rain, its fab, it's just the wind we all hate.

simon_e

Aidanw wrote:

It is never as bad as it looks!

He's right, you know.

Well done, and nice to only see 5 cars. And you riding means there is one less car on the road :-)

It's not quite as much fun on a rainy morning, but all you need is a small towel and a change of clothing. Going home I couldn't care less. The more layers you wear the soggier you feel, and shorts are better in the wet as long as it's not too cold. Glasses keep the rain etc out of my eyes and mitts stop my hands slipping off the hoods (not an issue with flat bars). Mudguards prevent a wet a*se and mean less bike maintenance.

Like others here, I initially thought I'd only bother riding in good weather, but it didn't take long before I started to chastise myself for taking the car on the odd wet day. And I always feel happier after riding the bike.

cjcp

Good man. Just keep at it. Get yourself some good autumn/winter/wet gear so you're ready for it.

FeynmanC

I did my first commute today for the 25 miles to work, on my Giant Defy 2.5.

I set the alarm an hour earlier and when I awoke there was a monsoon outside, so i hit snooze to consider wimping out, but decided that if I did it today and it was awful weather i'd do it when it was dry without a second thought.

So, i lycra'd up and then put on real clothes to walk the dogs...got soaking wet and came home to strip back to lycra and got on the bike.

I (foolishly, it seemed) took a slight shortcut down the Strawberry Line bike path and and got a slow puncture from the gravel about 10 miles from home. I was carrying a spare tube but I'd not changed one since I was a kid, but got it done in about 10 mins without getting grease everywhere, which added another reason for me to think I could definitely handle the commute in good weather!

Unfortunately the road for the route I'd chosen and practised on was closed between the next 2 towns, so I had to take the main road and then took another rough bike path to get to the Avonmouth Bridge. This caused a second puncture, this time without a spare tube :-(

Luckily a colleague was able to come and pick me up for the last 4 miles, after i'd walked the bike the mile or so over the Avonmouth Bridge, in my SPD shoes with the carbon soles (slightly awkward), which wasn't the plan at all! Another colleague was able to give me a lift all the way home after work too (I'd checked that yesterday, just in case).

But, after all of that I still made it into work only 20 minutes late and there is no way it can get much worse than that i reckon lol.

Next time i'll carry 2 tubes and avoid the rough tracks though, oh and keep a spare set of bike clothes at work to wear home as they were still soaking wet at the end of the day, so I was glad not to have to change into them.

Any advice for drying shoes at work? I've got no radiators and wouldn't want to put them on one anyway if I did.

alfablue

Well done Feynman

What tyres are you using, and are they sufficiently inflated? You have had more punctures today than I have had in 5 years!

b0y1nterupted

FeynmanC wrote:

Any advice for drying shoes at work? I've got no radiators and wouldn't want to put them on one anyway if I did.

newspaper stuffed inside them....

FeynmanC

alfablue wrote:

What tyres are you using, and are they sufficiently inflated? You have had more punctures today than I have had in 5 years!

The shop inflated them only a couple of days ago, as my pump was rubbish and I was down to 55psi, instead of 120. They are standard Kenda Kriterium L3R Pro's that came with the bike.

I've done 300miles with them since the bike was new and had no punctures, then 2 in 10 miles today.

I'll see if I can get the cheap Aldi track pump working on them when I get the bike home tomorrow and have the new tubes, though if I keep bursting on the road should I be looking at upgrading tyres? Are the Kenda's quite prone to going pop does anyone know?

FeynmanC

b0y1nterupted wrote:

FeynmanC wrote:

Any advice for drying shoes at work? I've got no radiators and wouldn't want to put them on one anyway if I did.

newspaper stuffed inside them....

I'll give it a go - thanks :-)

GMG

Just done my first commute this morning (9.5 miles) now I'm sitting in my office thinking about getting home
It wasn't all that bad really apart from some of the path ways being in a bad state.
It took me 35 mins all in so not sure if that's good or not.
I think I also need to get kitted out abit aswell, jeans and a jumper not ideal!

skyd0g

GMG wrote:

Just done my first commute this morning (9.5 miles) now I'm sitting in my office thinking about getting home
It wasn't all that bad really apart from some of the path ways being in a bad state.
It took me 35 mins all in so not sure if that's good or not.
I think I also need to get kitted out abit aswell, jeans and a jumper not ideal!

35 mins for 9.5 miles is pretty good! So-far at least it stands as your personal best!

gb2gw

GMG that's a really good time - my commute's 9.5 miles too and it usually takes me about 45 minutes in the morning (some of its off-road on bridleway though so perhaps not as speedy as if I took the road route). I'm off on holiday next week but am hoping to get back into it on my return and cycle in at least three times a week...even through the dark, cold, soggy depths of winter!!! But as the saying goes – there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes, so saving up now for some additional cosy clobber to keep me toasty and dry.

d21dga

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

Enjoy. Oh, the rain, its fab, it's just the wind we all hate.

I experienced my first strongish headwind this morning and now I see why!

downwardslide

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

Hey, well done. You say "only" 3 miles but lots of people think you need a car for that sort of journey.

Very true. My father in Law drives the 1/4 (yes 1 quarter) of a mile to the local takeaway so it doesn't get too cold on the way home.

GMG

I have to say that the route is all on road and path and also quite flat!
I was quite pleased with it and it's the first time I've been that early for work in a long time
Now just need to beat my PB!
Not going to happen on the way home mind

Cafewanda

skyd0g wrote:

GMG wrote:

Just done my first commute this morning (9.5 miles) now I'm sitting in my office thinking about getting home
It wasn't all that bad really apart from some of the path ways being in a bad state.
It took me 35 mins all in so not sure if that's good or not.
I think I also need to get kitted out abit aswell, jeans and a jumper not ideal!

35 mins for 9.5 miles is pretty good! So-far at least it stands as your personal best!

This will cheer you up: My journey to work is only 5.5 miles and it takes me an average of 32 mins so your time is fantastic. As you improve your time will drop too .