SweatyShe Monday (05/10/10): Bike Commuting – Tales from a Newbie
By Susan Farago
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May is national bike month and week one of the “Austin Commuter Challenge” is over. I have logged 226 miles over 9 trips and luckily my rear end is still talking to me (metaphorically, not literally). To provide some perspective, I live in Lakeway so there is really no such thing as a “quick commute”. My legs are tired and I have a whole new appreciation for Velcro straps and what an extra 15lbs of weight on the back of my bike feels like when trying to ride up hills -- by the way, I’m never EVER gaining weight and would love to lose about 50 pounds just so I can haul more stuff around.
But I have to admit, I’ve enjoyed the challenge so far. There is something very appealing about strategizing and planning to get from point A to B without the use of a gas pedal. Here’s what I have learned:
1. Now that I have figured out how to strap everything to my bike, it only takes me about 5-10 minutes to get everything ready to ride. The first time out it took me over an hour and A LOT of curse words!
2. I am learning to enjoy bike riding again for the sake of bike riding and not having to do splits, tempo, intervals, or hill repeats.
3. Not all bike pants are created equal and tri shorts don’t cut it for rides longer than 30 minutes. Ouch!
4. When commuting to a coffee shop, I can put my bike helmet in the chair next to me and use it to drape sweaty clothes over to dry (bra, socks, bandana, etc.).
5. When a coffee shop barista compliments me on how cute my new cycling skirt is, I should just take the compliment and not follow it up by enthusiastically lifting my skirt and saying, “And look…it has built in bike pants underneath!!!”
6. The difference between a fitness cyclist and a commuter cyclist is the amount of spandex worn.
7. My new form of meditation is commuting. There is something peaceful about just riding. I can’t take calls, make calls, write down notes, review my planner, change from radio to CD and back to radio, or drink coffee. All I do is ride and think.
8. Listening to Michael Jackson in my one piece earphone NEVER gets old.
9. It is possible to ride my bike and not be totally sweaty and wet once I reach my destination. I suspect this will change the closer we get to summer.
10. I think it is actually safer to ride during rush hour when traffic is at a complete standstill. Plus there’s the, “Ha-ha – I’m moving and you’re not” factor.
11. Friends are more than willing to bring water to run workouts so I don’t have to haul water with me (thanks Laura, Jim, and John).
12. I am getting much better at time management and actually allow extra time to get to places. I think it’s because deep down I know the ramifications of not allowing time for traffic or having to fix a flat tire is one long, hard speed interval!
13. The resources I’m saving in gas are now being spent in water consumption. I am taking extra showers, doing extra loads of laundry, and I’m drinking a lot more water. So while the “save gas” people are probably happy, the “save our water” people are probably not.
14. Commuters seem to have a special extra “wave and nod”. It’s not just saying, “Hi”, it is as if to say, “Hey, I’m right there with you in doing good for our planet by saving gas and not falling into the capitalist society that has become our nation of gas guzzlers and precious natural resources wasters. DOWN WITH THE MAN!!!” OK, maybe the wave and nod is just to say “Hi.”
I still have three weeks to go. Maybe I am still in the honeymoon phase where commuting is still new and exciting. Maybe it’s just something cool to do to change up my routine or an excuse to buy new bike pants. I’m not sure yet. I’ll check back in at the end of May for a final update!
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I was so inspired by your post, I thought, I have NO EXCUSE, but to give it a try. After all, Susan is my friend and I feel I should support her efforts. Boy oh boy, I gotta tell you friend...you ain't kidding that this bike commute thing takes preparation! As far as my grade for today, I would give myself a D+. I didn't completely FAIL, but I sure came close!
ReplyDeleteI decided to ride my bike to meet Susan at the gym for our weekly ars-kicking core class led by Natasha. Shouldn't be too bad of a ride, 11.5 miles, mostly city terrain with bike lanes, nice weather - done - I'm doing it!
First of all, I packed my backpack, with everything I "needed": Bike lock, gym card, change of clothes for core class, crocs to walk in, rain jacket, nutrition, water bottles. All set and off I go. Totally underestimated the time I would sit in traffic at lights, stop signs, slowing, so as not to get hit! It took me 50 mins. to get there - not bad...I got out the bike lock and locked my bike next to Susan's. Next, I went to change in the locker room only to realize that I brought my HUSBAND's shorts! Hmmm...well, the shorts have a drawstring, so guess I'll put them on...whew, the shirt I brought was actually my own :-). Ok - time for shoes! DOH!!! I brought my CROCS - not my sneakers! Well, I rode all the way there, might as well do the class in my crocs. So I walk into class and Susan sees me and can't quite figure out what is wrong with this picture, but she knows that something just doesn't look right, so i just told her, "Yep, Marc's shorts and the only shoes I have right now are bike shoes or the crocs I got on - Susan chuckles. I then realize, I need something to tie my hair, darn, forgot the rubber band - Never fear, Susan to the rescue, she has learned to carry at least 2 hair ties with her at all times!
Somehow I manage to make it through the class, however, my arms and hands were shaking from all the upper body work! Time to ride home - gather up all my stuff, then gather it up again, and then I went back to grab some things I left outside the locker – shheeees -how did I get all this STUFF here with me in the first place?? When I couldn't find the sunglasses I had on when I arrived, Susan made me feel better by showing me how she labeled the location for her sunglasses on her bike bag - because she was doing the SAME thing last week.
Long story longer...I survived, barely. My arms were so tired, I was having trouble getting my bike lock undone! It took me a little over an hour to get home thanks to a nasty headwind...who knew downhill could take so long? For next time, and yes there will be a next time, I've decided to make a few notes of the things that will make my commute better, especially, when traveling to the gym. For now, just call me Commando Commuter Kim – Arriba!
Things I learned on "Ride your Bike to Work" Day:
ReplyDelete-I really should always be commuting by bike...
-Just when you think you have it all together and have breathed a sigh of relief that you made it, you can STILL fall off your bike trying to unclip your bike shoes!
-I can pack appropriate attire for the office and still have room for cute shoes and a purse.
-I can "for-go" the shower at work, it I'm the only one in my office - this may not have been the case in a cube! Special thanks to Rocket Shower...
-I can do packet pick-up for 4 people AND still have room enough to buy nutrition and put it in my back pack.
-RUSH HOUR officially starts at 2:30pm on a Friday in Austin, TX
-Road tires do work "off-road" as long as you don't have to brake!
Lastly, I really should always be commuting by bike ;-)