Cycling, an alternate form of transportation.

[megale3]

I just paid 3.34 USD for a gallon of regular gas this morning :shock: I see more and more people on the road cycling. Some not so good at it others good but with the amount of road space sharing the road is becoming more difficult. Just Last week a car collided with a cyclist coming of a bike path crossing a busy street and the outcome was horrible. What is your state of affairs where you are? Have you any good commuting suggestions for those of us that will put down the gas can and pick up the helmet? This is the forum for it. Posers, SNAFLETES, and all welcome.
Meg

[lizardbiker]

I live about 15 miles from work and try to commute on my bike as much as possible. There's a nice route that is all back roads so I can avoid heavy traffic - plus it has a nice climb to get the heart rate up. On Monday I'll put the bike on the bike rack and load the car up with several days worth of work clothes - depending on other activities and weather, I may commute all week or just a couple days. Also pack lunch for all those days and keep it in the fridge at work.

It works out great, as I can commute to/from work and still have the car to drive to the gym at lunch. If the weather takes a bad turn, I can always bail and drive home. If the weather is nasty in the morning, my wife works about 1/2 mile from my work and I catch a ride with her. Some days she'll ride to/from work with me :D On nights I teach indoor cycling I get the added bonus of riding the bike to the gym, doing the indoor class, then riding home afterward.

After I run out of work clothes, I put the bike on the rack, drive home and unload the car into the washing machine.

[megale3]

I live about 15 miles from work and try to commute on my bike as much as possible. There's a nice route that is all back roads so I can avoid heavy traffic - plus it has a nice climb to get the heart rate up. On Monday I'll put the bike on the bike rack and load the car up with several days worth of work clothes - depending on other activities and weather, I may commute all week or just a couple days. Also pack lunch for all those days and keep it in the fridge at work.

It works out great, as I can commute to/from work and still have the car to drive to the gym at lunch. If the weather takes a bad turn, I can always bail and drive home. If the weather is nasty in the morning, my wife works about 1/2 mile from my work and I catch a ride with her. Some days she'll ride to/from work with me :D On nights I teach indoor cycling I get the added bonus of riding the bike to the gym, doing the indoor class, then riding home afterward.

After I run out of work clothes, I put the bike on the rack, drive home and unload the car into the washing machine.

This is exactly what we need to get across. That you can cut down on the amount of fuel that you use and save money but also to inform you that it is a varied undertaking and things will challenge you as you become more industrious as you take a more velo life style. Here is the place and the attitude to make it happen.
M

[kszspin]

Live too far away to bike to work, but I can get on my other two wheels. :) 70 miles to gallon!

[Escandalosa]

While I don't bike to work I do walk to work. Every gym I work at is within a 2 mile radius. So, no subways, buses, taxis, or cars for me. I'm all about the heel toe express. :D

[yvonne]

good article about commuting by bike; and why you should!

http://www.active.com/story.cfm?story_id=14030

[yvonne]

On Monday I'll put the bike on the bike rack and load the car up with several days worth of work clothes - depending on other activities and weather, I may commute all week or just a couple days. Also pack lunch for all those days and keep it in the fridge at work.


i've done that too ... another item to add to the list if you don't have a access to a shower ... i have a big tub of Baby Wipes to uh .. freshen up with ... cant escape the helmet head, but it's a small price to pay for the love of the ride :D

[lizardbiker]

On Monday I'll put the bike on the bike rack and load the car up with several days worth of work clothes - depending on other activities and weather, I may commute all week or just a couple days. Also pack lunch for all those days and keep it in the fridge at work.


i've done that too ... another item to add to the list if you don't have a access to a shower ... i have a big tub of Baby Wipes to uh .. freshen up with ... cant escape the helmet head, but it's a small price to pay for the love of the ride :D
Yeah, I forgot to mention that - we don't have a shower available, so I do use wipe to freshen up - a little Old Spice body spray is good too - not overwhelming like the Axe sprays. Also try to stay at sub sweat intensity on the way in.

[lizardbiker]

Here's an article from Active.com about about commuting - hopefully I got the link to work correctly...
http://www.active.com/story.cfm?story_id=14030

[like2bike]

We actually had a shower installed where I work, specifically for those of us who want to bike to work! (I work in a very cool Design lab with wonderful people--I am very lucky). Unfortunately like the K-girl, I live too far away from work to bike here (not to mention there are no bike lanes in Pittsburgh on the main roads and the roads are usually in terrible shape after a winter of slow plows butchering the asphalt). BUT there are some folks here who DO bike to work and it always makes me happy to see that! :P

[JFK]

One excellent piece of advice that I will pass on: you don't have to ride the whole thing. IOW, you can drive part and ride part and reverse it on the way home.

My commute is 30 miles each way (only three more years and ~45k miles 'til I'm done) and I'm still looking for the best spot to make my commute closer to 15 miles each way.

The person who gave me above advice really changed my perspective, so I'm sharing. :)

[like2bike]

One excellent piece of advice that I will pass on: you don't have to ride the whole thing. IOW, you can drive part and ride part and reverse it on the way home.

My commute is 30 miles each way (only three more years and ~45k miles 'til I'm done) and I'm still looking for the best spot to make my commute closer to 15 miles each way.

The person who gave me above advice really changed my perspective, so I'm sharing. :)

See that's why I love you Jen you always come up with some new tid bit that is often overlooked! THANK YOU! This never occurred to me. This is something I might be able to swing! The wheels in my head are turning....(scary, I know...) :shock:

[JFK]

I had never thought of it before someone mentioned it to me, so I'm right there with you. :D

[megale3]

First !Great idea Jen! my commute is roughly 14 miles right now. It feels good to get to work and I can't wait to get out of work so I can ride home.

PORTLAND OREGON ADVERAGE PRICE PER GALLON 05-10-07 + 3.39 USD :shock: and climbing.


Don't forget your water bottles and lunch gang.
M

[BFSpin]

Work for me is just a mile from home - so walking makes as much sense as riding. The problem for me is all the running around I tend to have with the kids. 2 teen-aged daughters and an 11 year old son, all going different directions, has my bus running a lot - and we already live in a small, somewhat self-contained town. Sure would be great to be able to peacefully convince my lovely young women that they will look absolutely beeeeauuuuuutiful with helmet-head.

Beth

[megale3]

Look at MOM they should be like "I wanna be like her!"
Meg 8)

[Moonsavvy]

I've started trucking my two in the bike trailer to preschool, for the very reason of gas prices...it's REDICULOUS.

And it takes me about 30-45 min each way, but as long as I can afford the time, I do it!

[monical1]

Work for me is just a mile from home - so walking makes as much sense as riding. The problem for me is all the running around I tend to have with the kids. 2 teen-aged daughters and an 11 year old son, all going different directions, has my bus running a lot - and we already live in a small, somewhat self-contained town. Sure would be great to be able to peacefully convince my lovely young women that they will look absolutely beeeeauuuuuutiful with helmet-head.
Beth


My only daughter is seventeen... good luck with that! :roll: :lol:

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[monical1]

Look at MOM they should be like "I wanna be like her!"
Meg 8)

Nodding in agreement. :D

M

[BFSpin]

Sure would be great to be able to peacefully convince my lovely young women that they will look absolutely beeeeauuuuuutiful with helmet-head.
Beth


My only daughter is seventeen... good luck with that! :roll: :lol:

<[/quote]

. . . yup, you know what I'm talking about. If I have great success I'll be sure to share :roll:

And thanks for the "MOM" support, guys - cool thing is, my 14-year-old has been coming to my class to spin with me since track season finished. I really love having her there.

Mmmmm, no rain tomorrow til late in the day - YEA!!!!! 40+ miler, 8 am, I'm ready!

Beth

[lizardbiker]

Cal II & I'll be out there too! Going to Camp Hill to check out my route back from the Ride of Silence - better to do it once in daylight. Have a good safe fun weekend everyone!