My First Commuting Anniversary!

seajays

Well it's official - today is the first anniversary of commuting to work by bike (and if you were around a year ago, you'll know that that's after twenty years of not riding at all!)

And I've managed to cycle every working day - sun, wind, rain or snow! No more bus for me! 8)

So what have I learned:

• I really enjoy cycling - I was a bit worried at the beginning - wondering whether things like knees/joints etc would hold up. There was some adjustment at first, but now it's all good!
• It's so much faster than the bus ever was - it takes me just 20-25 minutes for my little commute one way - if I had to get the bus it would be twice that at least!
• The miles and time mount up - according to Strava I've cycled over 3,200 miles and spend over 244 hours on the bike! (I know that's not a lot to some of you - but it really made me think, especially as I've halved my commute time as well).

I've also learned:

• I now want another bike "for best" - still haven't managed to find quite the right convincing argument for SWMBO yet though - despite all your help
• The weather really isn't a problem if you're wearing the right clothing (which I have to admit in my case does involve a lot of lycra).
• Aberdeen isn't a bad place to cycle, and city driving isn't as scary as I thought it would be if you ride assertively.
• Half of you lot on here are crazy cycling freaks who can knock out 100 miles with your eyes shut and no hands! Something which I still yet aspire to...
• You can take your bike on trains - I had a meeting in Glasgow last week, so I took my bike on the train and cycled to the meeting as well!
• Don't ever ask about the merits of helmets. Or Hi-Viz.

So year two starts here!

Lefthook

Where's the Like button?

dhope

Lefthook wrote:

Where's the Like button?

Congrats 8)
Now, about bike 2.

If you can't buy it all at once then you need to start buying it in pieces.
Look at that wheelset - your wheels will eventually fail, and this is too good a deal to pass up.
Pretty soon you have enough spare parts to build a new bike and it'd be silly not to do that.

If you need any pointers, talk to DanielB

veronese68

Excellent.

The Rookie

Well done!

surrey_commuter

very well done

outside of the freaks on this forum you would find very few people cycling more than 3,200 miles per year

homers_double

Unfortunatly my job and location of office mean it's nigh on impossible to commute by bike. 3.5 miles from home and needing a car for work is such a pain.

Well done though and +props for the commitment.

pollys_bott

All the above seconded - good for you, and keep it up!

seajays

Cheers guys! I would encourage anyone on here who's just thinking of starting to commute by bike to just do it.

What prompted me was a move to a new office location - and I have to admit I have a very nice easy cycle - almost all of my 5.6 miles is off road cycle path, past lovely trees and fields.

But even so, my bus commute home when I was in the city centre used to take an hour. When I now have to go into the city centre during the week, my commute home takes me just over 35 minutes. I now wish I'd been doing this years ago!

imatfaal

Congratulations

2012 was my starting point - first time on a bike since University in the 1980s! Similarly am completely converted and love it. Saving north of 2 grand on London travel is a real bonus too

davis

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19633865#p19633865]homers double[/url] wrote:

Unfortunatly my job and location of office mean it's nigh on impossible to commute by bike. 3.5 miles from home and needing a car for work is such a pain.

Leave the car at work?


Well done Seajays.

gingaman

Good on you Seajays. I find it really helps to have someone friendly on strava to 'compete' with :P 8)

arthur_scrimshaw

Nice post Seajays - re the N+1 - it's been quoted several times on here but 'it's easier to seek forgiveness than permission' is a good approach.

seajays

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19634218#p19634218]Arthur Scrimshaw[/url] wrote:

Nice post Seajays - re the N+1 - it's been quoted several times on here but 'it's easier to seek forgiveness than permission' is a good approach.

You've clearly never met my wife…

Seriously though my cycle to work payments finish this month... which then means I can then get another bike through that tax free again apparently! So that might well be happening...

pblakeney

Re N+1.
Your current bike has already paid for itself by saving on PT & gym membership.
Bike 2 will pay for itself in the coming year/years.
Buy for the "good" bike and trickle down to the commuter.