My first commute :)

laughingontheinside

First commute today. Traded two cars in on Saturday for one new one so now I'm on the bike(wife uses the car). It's seven years since I last rode to work regularly and I had forgotten how enjoyable it can be. Even met a new cycling buddy on the way home who tortured me with the pace he set. Not to worry, I'll be as fit as he is.....................eventually. Roll on tomorrow morning

meanredspider

Cool - well done!

Valy

God... I swear I read "My fast commute"!

Another person on the bike. Good going!

Tonymufc

Welcome to the revolution brother. Well done.

Tusher

Fantastic feeling, isn't it? Congratulations.

jeremyrundle

Can I just say......

Don't rush things.

Philcho

Lets see how long this lasts! :twisted:

Welcome to the commuters 8)

tptvmbircn

excellent! pace pace pace relax and enjoy it

pshore

laughingontheinside wrote:

First commute today. Traded two cars in on Saturday for one new one so now I'm on the bike(wife uses the car). It's seven years since I last rode to work regularly and I had forgotten how enjoyable it can be. Even met a new cycling buddy on the way home who tortured me with the pace he set. Not to worry, I'll be as fit as he is.....................eventually. Roll on tomorrow morning

Good call !

I did the same about two years ago and I'm still enjoying the commutes. The wife sometimes asks me if I want a lift home from work and I say no :-)

She thought it was a great idea being a semi-environmentalist. At first, if I ever told her I need the car she would have a massive panic about all the things she couldn't do.

ste_

Good work.

My first commute on the bike was today. I'm riding home -> train. Then train -> London then running London -> office. Have done the running leg since the New Year but my car park season ticket only expired yesterday so until then I was still driving the home -> train station leg.

I spent an hour last night packing and re-packing my bag. I just about managed to squeeze the things I needed into my 20l rucksack. Should hopefully be slightly easier after this initial run as I'll leave my locks at the station. Bag weighed a tonne though.

Set off about 6:30. It was dark and about 1°c. Car was icey so at least I didn't have to spend 5 minutes scraping it as usual. I got into my stride and concentrated on just getting there for today. I live in a small village in West Sussex. My route is mainly hilly rural un-lit national-speed-limit roads. Had 1 white van beep at me for no reason other than the fact I was on a bike. Other than that it was luckily mainly uneventful. Had a few HGVs catch me up in parts with narrow roads but my lights must be working as they slowed and passed with a wide berth when able.

Got to the Station and every single bike rack was taken. I spoke to a guy there and he said it's always like that and getting worse as more and more people ditch the driving/parking. People were locking bikes everywhere, some on mesh fences that you could cut with sturdy scissors. I decided to just attach mine in mid-air to the actual shelter. Should be OK hopefully. I faffed at the stands for a good 15 mins minimum sorting my locks (x3), removing and stowing lights, swapping shoes, putting trousers over my tights to keep myself U certified for the train etc. I still ended up hobbling to the platform in my cycling shoes and swapping them for my running shoes on the train.

The run to the office was a killer. It's a really weird feeling running when you've cycled first, essentially your legs feel like jelly and it feels like you're doing the silliest running ever. Rucksack with all my cycling stuff was too heavy too. I'm going to have to rationalise what I take. My cycling shoes I think may have to go as they're the heaviest item really. I'll get some pedals with toe straps and see if I can manage to cycle with those and my running shoes - will save 1 part of the faff at the cycle rack and reduce the weight carried and the item that takes up the most volume in my rucksack.

Had a real buzz after I'd got in and had my shower though. Looking forward to the journey back but going to have tomorrow off the exercise completely as the car's going for a service so I'll be driving it in to the garage. Have taken the decision to not run either tomorrow. Will have a day off completely to break myself in slowly/avoid injury.

Extralight

Congrats and well done. I recently got back on the bike commuting after a lay off of more than 10 years, and feel so much better for it.

Keep calm and relaxed though - don't let the few bad drivers get to you and affect your perspective on things, and don't confront or try to reason with idiots, and hopefully you'll continue to enjoy the riding.

Stay safe and puncture-free!

dan1981stu

In preparation for my Lands End to John O Groats ride, I’ve started commuting to work by bike (2 months and counting). This is roughly a 30 mile around trip, which I complete 2/3 times per week. I’m also lucky enough to work for a company that provides good cycle storage facilities, lockers and showers, which are a nice warm relieve on a cold morning! The company also runs a canteen that serves steaming hot porridge for breakfast!

I think most cycling commuters will agree that it can sometimes be a challenge getting on your bike in the winter months, especially when its -2 degrees outside and raining! So what is it that motivates us to crack on with it whilst others head for the train, bus or a nice warm car? Personally I like the freedom of the bike, and get great pleasures passing through traffic whilst others crawl slowly into the city centre stuck in traffic jams. It’s also a good way to fit exercise into your daily routine, as it often takes me the same amount of time to commute by car.

I’m a great belier in the saying ‘you buy cheep, you buy twice’. I think this is definitely the case when it comes to winter cycling in the UK, so I’ve invested in some top spec gear for the season. I’d welcome any comments form other winter cyclists and am keen to see if there are any other worthwhile winter cycling products that would be useful until spring arrives!

mudcow007

Hey guys im also new to fold, well i use to ride street trials years ago (about 1998) then learnt to drive and my bike went into the loft....

13 years later i get out of breath riding around the block, so decided to start commuting. Liverpool is a scary place on a bike, if its not scally wags chasing you for your bike, or buses trying to squish you, then again i woudlnt have it any other way!

as ac/dc once sung......Ride On!!

Tusher

Welcome and congratulations!

davis

dan1981stu wrote:

I’m a great belier in the saying ‘you buy cheep, you buy twice’. I think this is definitely the case when it comes to winter cycling in the UK,

I've come to the opposite conclusion, at least for bike parts. Chains, cassettes, and wheel rims get destroyed by the winter muck, and I don't really expect much more than a couple of winters out of bits like this (haven't really been tracking it though).
Therefore, I now buy the cheap bits. Sure, they're heavier, but they last just as long, if not longer (more metal, you see).

I would have started completely if I'd known then what I know now.

Chris McG

pshore wrote:

The wife sometimes asks me if I want a lift home from work and I say no :-)

I get that from my parents
Even if its pissing down with rain the answer is still no!

Welcome to the club @laughingontheinside

Headhuunter

ste_ wrote:

Good work.

My first commute on the bike was today. I'm riding home -> train. Then train -> London then running London -> office. Have done the running leg since the New Year but my car park season ticket only expired yesterday so until then I was still driving the home -> train station leg.

I spent an hour last night packing and re-packing my bag. I just about managed to squeeze the things I needed into my 20l rucksack. Should hopefully be slightly easier after this initial run as I'll leave my locks at the station. Bag weighed a tonne though.

Set off about 6:30. It was dark and about 1°c. Car was icey so at least I didn't have to spend 5 minutes scraping it as usual. I got into my stride and concentrated on just getting there for today. I live in a small village in West Sussex. My route is mainly hilly rural un-lit national-speed-limit roads. Had 1 white van beep at me for no reason other than the fact I was on a bike. Other than that it was luckily mainly uneventful. Had a few HGVs catch me up in parts with narrow roads but my lights must be working as they slowed and passed with a wide berth when able.

Got to the Station and every single bike rack was taken. I spoke to a guy there and he said it's always like that and getting worse as more and more people ditch the driving/parking. People were locking bikes everywhere, some on mesh fences that you could cut with sturdy scissors. I decided to just attach mine in mid-air to the actual shelter. Should be OK hopefully. I faffed at the stands for a good 15 mins minimum sorting my locks (x3), removing and stowing lights, swapping shoes, putting trousers over my tights to keep myself U certified for the train etc. I still ended up hobbling to the platform in my cycling shoes and swapping them for my running shoes on the train.

The run to the office was a killer. It's a really weird feeling running when you've cycled first, essentially your legs feel like jelly and it feels like you're doing the silliest running ever. Rucksack with all my cycling stuff was too heavy too. I'm going to have to rationalise what I take. My cycling shoes I think may have to go as they're the heaviest item really. I'll get some pedals with toe straps and see if I can manage to cycle with those and my running shoes - will save 1 part of the faff at the cycle rack and reduce the weight carried and the item that takes up the most volume in my rucksack.

Had a real buzz after I'd got in and had my shower though. Looking forward to the journey back but going to have tomorrow off the exercise completely as the car's going for a service so I'll be driving it in to the garage. Have taken the decision to not run either tomorrow. Will have a day off completely to break myself in slowly/avoid injury.

Watch the running with a heavy rucksack. I used to run to work and ended up with stress fractures. Doc said that running with a heavy rucksack on concrete pavements doesn't really help this! Puts the bones through a lot of stress.