I want to start riding my bike to work.... - Gas Savers

mochabuzz · 11-21-2009, 03:20 PM

I've been wanting to do this for a few months now... but i think it would be a good idea for me to ride my bike to work (school) one day a week. I only live 6 miles from work & i think that it would be a gr8 idea... but i haven't gotten off my lazy butt & done it yet. I am a high school teacher & live on the coast of San Diego (north county).... so i can actually ride a bike during the wintertime b/c of the moderate climate. Does anyone on this forum ride their bike to work? How's it working for you? How often do you do it? Just wondering... I really love this forum.... A lot of bright minds here.
-MB

bowtieguy · 11-21-2009, 04:45 PM

if it works for you, great! my concern(not fear) for ridding a bike or walking more was validated yet again...orlando was again ranked THE #1 most dangerous city in America in regard to pedestrian injuries/deaths from motor vehicles.

in addition, i've had countless friends/co-workers injured on bikes, both motor and not.

**Jay2TheRescue** · 11-21-2009, 06:48 PM

Probably has something to do with lots of out of towners driving around, not paying attention, only thinking of when they can visit the giant rat.

JoeBob · 11-21-2009, 09:55 PM

If I could, I'd ride my bike to work...problem is, work is about 50 miles away. Kind of a long bike ride. I DID ride my bike to work back in the late '70s/early '80s sometimes...commute was only about 10-15 miles. And I lived in the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California, much more temperate climate than the High Desert. Also, I was 30 years younger. I do have at least one co-worker that rides his bike in nice weather.

bowtieguy · 11-22-2009, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

Probably has something to do with lots of out of towners driving around, not paying attention, only thinking of when they can visit the giant rat.

yup! not to mention those used to driving on the "wrong" side of the road.

when i go for walks w/ my kids in (low traffic areas), i always face the traffic side, against the flow. even doing this, some idiots still speed and stay close, so we move to the grass if needed.

there aren't many side walks in our area, not that they make things entirely safe.

SentraSE-R · 11-22-2009, 08:50 AM

MB,

I bicycled to work both in Alaska (in the warmer months) and the Bay Area (actually to a vanpool location) year-round, on a daily basis, for a total of about 9-10 years. My commute distance in both cases was about 6.5 miles each way. It put me in great physical shape, and saved me a lot of money and parking expenses.

I figure that daily exercise got me past the mid-40s to early 50s heart attack statistics. In any case, it was a great way to stay in shape and clear the cobwebs from my mind.

There are days you'll bike into work when it's dry, and face a miserable ride home in the rain. On hot days, you'll wish for a shower at work. If you're fortunate enough to have one, that's great. If not, you'll be surprised how little your sweat smells. My vanpool colleagues didn't complain about me (bless them).

Safety is a consideration. I used a rechargeable headlight clamped to my handlebars, but if I had to do it over (no need, I'm retired), I'd have a strobe light visible from the rear, and a headlight. In Alaska, I had a bike path to ride on. It paralleled a major thoroughfare, and was safe. There was a stoplight on a hill that stacked up traffic. I could pick a distinctive car at the back of the pack, pass it on the hill, and be halfway home before the car would pass me back.

In the Bay Area, I rode lightly-traveled side streets paralleling a freeway most of my commute. My bike was an old garage sale beater, a $35 Schwinn Continental that weighed about 45 lbs. That way, I didn't worry much that anyone would steal it.

You'll find it much easier mentally to get in a mindset to ride your bike to work if you do it on a daily basis. The hills won't take as much effort, and once you're in the mindset to bike to work, it's easier to do it than to convince yourself not to do it.

mochabuzz · 11-22-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SentraSE-R

MB,

I bicycled to work both in Alaska (in the warmer months) and the Bay Area (actually to a vanpool location) year-round, on a daily basis, for a total of about 9-10 years. My commute distance in both cases was about 6.5 miles each way. It put me in great physical shape, and saved me a lot of money and parking expenses.

I figure that daily exercise got me past the mid-40s to early 50s heart attack statistics. In any case, it was a great way to stay in shape and clear the cobwebs from my mind.

There are days you'll bike into work when it's dry, and face a miserable ride home in the rain. On hot days, you'll wish for a shower at work. If you're fortunate enough to have one, that's great. If not, you'll be surprised how little your sweat smells. My vanpool colleagues didn't complain about me (bless them).

Safety is a consideration. I used a rechargeable headlight clamped to my handlebars, but if I had to do it over (no need, I'm retired), I'd have a strobe light visible from the rear, and a headlight. In Alaska, I had a bike path to ride on. It paralleled a major thoroughfare, and was safe. There was a stoplight on a hill that stacked up traffic. I could pick a distinctive car at the back of the pack, pass it on the hill, and be halfway home before the car would pass me back.

In the Bay Area, I rode lightly-traveled side streets paralleling a freeway most of my commute. My bike was an old garage sale beater, a $35 Schwinn Continental that weighed about 45 lbs. That way, I didn't worry much that anyone would steal it.

You'll find it much easier mentally to get in a mindset to ride your bike to work if you do it on a daily basis. The hills won't take as much effort, and once you're in the mindset to bike to work, it's easier to do it than to convince yourself not to do it.

Thanks for the advice... i can see why you say that riding everyday would be better than riding only once a week.

mochabuzz · 12-01-2009, 12:12 AM

I've been riding in the gym since last week & i'm workin' my way up to riding to work one day a week (at first) and then adding more days as the weeks go by.

SentraSE-R · 12-01-2009, 04:46 PM

That first day biking to work in Alaska was a humbling experience. Some fat guy passed me on his bike, and I decided to try to pass him back. I never got close to him. He just increased the distance between us. It took about a week and a half before I had biking leg muscles. That's why one day a week isn't enough.

mochabuzz · 12-01-2009, 10:59 PM

Hmm... I will rise to your challenge then... Starting next Mon i will ride to skool (mon-Fri)

SentraSE-R · 12-02-2009, 01:06 AM

Cool! Now you only have to ride about 1200 commute miles to catch up to me

.

Mike T · 12-04-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mochabuzz

Does anyone on this forum ride their bike to work? How's it working for you?

Yes, I did 1600 miles of cycle commuting this year and over 1800 miles last year. Unfortunately up here it gets away from cycling season by November and it opens up again in March or April. I don't ride in the rain if I can avoid it....not good for the bike, or for the rider IMO.

It's a good strategy for keeping in shape.

mochabuzz · 12-17-2009, 08:22 PM

Well... I finally got all my cycling gear so i wont freeze my butt off in the morning when i leave for work (@515am). I have the next two weeks off but i am going to be doing some test runs next week to see how far 6miles really is on a bicycle.

**theholycow** · 12-18-2009, 04:22 AM

It is currently 4?F outside my house. Today might not be the day I decide to start bicycling 38 miles to work.

SentraSE-R · 12-18-2009, 08:54 AM

Six miles is around half an hour. You'll be surprised how warm you'll get pedaling. I never wore a sweater or jacket commute biking in northern CA. The exertion of biking kept me warm on the coldest winter days.

mochabuzz · 12-18-2009, 09:54 AM

Well....I finally got all my riding gear (jackets & toe-warmers) & i'm ready to start practicing (I've got the next two weeks off).

mochabuzz · 01-08-2010, 11:48 AM

Haven't ridden my bike yet this week. Because i'm sick. I am gonna start next week. THanks Sentra SE-R