Wow, I’ve been SLACKING on this blog…. YIKES! I’ve slacked on my cycling as well. My mileage this year is in the SUCK column so far.
Group rides are starting up, so I’m looking forward to getting out and doing some of those. I need to start adding up them miles!
So, keep an eye out. The blogging will restart.
January is over. 2013 is here and I’ve got miles to ride. No goals this year. I mean that. I’m mixing it up this year. I’m using my elliptical machine here at the house more. Lifting weights too. Pushups galore. Situps. You name it.
Cycling wise, I got a new bike yesterday. GT Timberline…(sound familiar?) I now own 2 GT Timberlines.
The new one is more of a hybrid then mountain bike. Gonna try and make that my new commuter bike. Transferring all my stuff over to that bike today. Lights, fenders, water cage, speedometer, etc….
I’m excited to ride again. I’m glad I basically took the month of January off. At least from the bike. I’m at my lightest weight in a while, even w/o the biking.
Can’t wait for the miles to add up.
I did my last ride of the year yesterday. Nothing stellar. No records set. Just another day on the bike. I really toned down my riding the past 2 months. I was tired. REALLY tired.
The break was nice. Did the trick, as far as giving me a break and letting my body recharge.
What does 2013 hold in store for me? Group rides. I want to do more of these. I think the group dynamic will keep things fresh for me.
I have ridden 11,000 miles on the road where I live. It’s getting a bit boring.
This will alleviate my focus on knowing where every pot hole in the road is and how to avoid them.
I also have a pipe dream of doing a century ride a month. That right there will give me 1,200 miles. Can I pull it off? I have 30 days every month to pick ONE and use 7 hours of the 24 that day to get it done. Yeah. I should be able to.
So, I guess my sabbatical from riding is over.
Mulling over my miles, I settled on reaching a goal of 2,222 miles. Has a nice ring to it. I’m about 55 miles shy of that. I could hit that this week, if I wanted to. I’ll have to map out the weather and see what the cards have in store for me.
Got out yesterday for the first time in almost 2 months on my Cannondale. My baby. Damn, does that bike respond to me. Tight. Fast rides. I haven’t lost a step. Wasn’t even really pushing myself and I ended with a 16.1 avg.
December’s weather has been kind to us this year. Yesterday was a “shorts and shirt” ride. Best kind. Breeze was pleasant. Not too strong.
I did my favorite route. Got to cross my railroad tracks. Missed seeing a train by about 10 mis. I heard it though. Nothing like the sound of a freight train. Very Americana in my opinion.
Here’s to 2,222
I’ll get there.
Been riding steadily for 5+years now. Lots of miles. Lots of ides. Lots of good times too.
Time for a break though. I bought a Yamaha scooter to cover the 24 miles (one way) trip into work. I’m having a FRICKIN’ BLAST on that thing! SO MUCH FUN.
I know I’ll get back on the bike. It’s on my blood.
For now though, gonna take a much-deserved break.
October is in the books, as far as cycling goes. 202 miles for me. Not as good as last year’s 328-mile month, but that was last year. I may NEVER see miles like that again.
I’m hoping to repeat my 200-mile effort in November and December. That will put me at about 2,500 miles for the year.
I’ll take that.
I just got back from a 3-day excursion to Williamsburg, Va. I was chaperoning my son’s class trip. We had a great time. So much history. Neat place.
While it was nice to get away, it was really nice to get back on the bike. I got out yesterday for a 13-mile ride on my GT. I’ve been focusing on that bike as my “go to” bike recently. I like that I don’t have to don all my riding attire to go out for a casual ride on it. No special shoes, no gloves, no racing shirt, no spandex riding shorts….
I had on shorts, a t-shirt and sneakers on yesterday. I got on the bike and just started pedaling. (Helmet, of course)
Sure, my Cannondale is a much FASTER bike, but I’m not out to see how fast I can get through a ride. I actually wanted this ride to NOT end. It was a beautiful October afternoon here yesterday. Overcast and breezy, with temps hovering in the upper 60′s, lower 70′s.
The Autumn colors in the trees were evident as I wove my way down the winding roads out this way. Leaves were falling and they crunched as my mountain bike tires rode over them. Just a perfect afternoon.
The route I rode yesterday brought me by some railroad tracks too. While I didn’t see a train, I could hear them off in the distance. Something about trains and the Autumn weather just conjure up a sense of Americana for me that is right up there with Baseball and Apple Pie.
I’m less than 400 miles from 2,500 for the year. I still have all of November and December to ride. I’ve been really trying to get out on the weekends and get at least 10 to 15 miles on both Saturdays and Sundays. It really helps ‘pad’ my mileage for the week.
Today is going to be another CLASSIC Autumn day here. Where should I ride to today?
I think there is a common misunderstanding out there that if you are a bike rider, you have to ride FAST. Like “hauling-ass” fast! Like “can’t catch your breath” fast.
If you subscribe to that theory, I feel sorry for you. You are missing out on the world around you.
Here’s a challenge: The next ride you do, do it slowly…. Like REAL slow. Like “no sweating” slow…. View this ride not as a workout, but as a journey of your 5 senses. The slower you ride, the more your senses can take stuff in.
I didn’t learn this lesson until I became a bike to work commuter. I have always been a “workout” rider. Balls to the wall fast rides were the only kind of rides I knew how to do. Sure, they were fun, to a certain degree. I started hating the rides though. And when you start hating ANYTHING, what happens? You STOP DOING IT. I did not want this to be the case with my cycling.
3 years ago, I started commuting to work via bike. Not the whole way in, but a combination of driving and cycling. I ride my GT Timberline Mountain Bike for commuting. Obviously, I’m not going to be pulling the 16-18 mph averages I do on my Cannondale road-bike. That bothered me for the LONGEST time… I was stuck in this “time” zone. TIME was everything. The longer the time it took me to ride, the less of a workout I was getting. This thinking of mine went on for years…
One day though, the proverbial “light bulb” went off and I realized WHY I ride to work… To get from Point A to Point B. They call it “Utility Cycling.” Forget the average. Forget your mph. That’s not why you’re on the bike. Start at Point “A.” Get off the bike at Point “B.” Mission accomplished.
So, for about the last year or so, I’ve become totally entrenched in this theory. My morning commutes into work are the best part of my morning. The afternoon ride back to the car is better than ANY medication available in a pharmacy.
I ride like I’m a kid again. Remember when you first learned how to ride? It’s all you thought about. I’d go to bed as a kid plotting out tomorrow’s biking adventure. I lived on a bike as a kid. It was FUN to ride a bike.
Go out and have FUN on a bike. It’s not a workout. Try it. I guarantee you’ll feel YEARS younger. As I age, I realize I’m not getting any younger and there are things I can’t do as well as I did when I was younger. But riding a bike for fun? Oh, hell yeah! I can still do that. I’ve had some of my best miles ever on a bike this year, because I have FUN when I’m out riding. Getting out for FUN rides makes me feel like I’m 8 years old again. Not a worry in the world on the bike. Just pedaling, seeing the world around me, and using my 5 senses to enjoy the journey.
Not every ride of mine is a slow ride. I do have a Cannondale road bike that I use on the weekends for my “workout” rides. During the week though, I have my “fun” bike for the commuting.
Give it a shot. Ride slow. You’ll see what I’m talking about.
Autumn has arrived here in the Carolinas. Wonderful time of year to be outside, whether it be for a walk, a jog, or a bike ride.
This time last year, I was a man possessed. Miles were all I was looking for on the bike. I found them in my morning commute to work. I was crushing the mileage in October of 2011, to the tune of 255 miles ridden into work and another 73 miles on my Cannondale…. 328 miles for the month of October.
Fast forward to this year, and I’m stalling out. I’ve got 53 commuting miles for the month, and 81 miles total. Comparing this October to last is painful for me. I’m still riding into work, but I’ll be honest…. I’m done riding in the cold weather. I know I’ll have a “resurgence of purpose” soon enough, but for now, I’m not ready to get back into COLD WEATHER riding.
I’m busily researching Electric Bike conversion kits, which ironically would allow me to ride more easily in the coming months. COLD months.
I feel like a kid at Christmas. I think I have it narrowed down.
Now I just have to do it.
Here’s to more miles on the bike for November.
I set out on January 1st of this year with no real mileage goal in mind. I was tossing around the number 2,000 day after day, so I think internally, this became my goal. More than mileage, I was just hoping to ride more times, not necessarily more miles than last year.
This past Friday, I hit my mark. 2,000 miles in the books for this year. I still have 1/2 of October left, and then Nov. and Dec. to ride.
Can I hit 2,500? I think I can. Would be great if I do, but I don’t really care. I just want to ride.
Spent a good part of the day yesterday trying to “sneak” in a ride. Deep down, I knew it was a fruitless attempt. Way too many things to do around the house here. Kids both had activities planned.
It was a valiant effort on my part. It was not to be though.
Today though? Completely different story. Today I WILL RIDE. Nothing big. Nice 16-20 mile ride. Easy.
Weather will be pristine. October is a wonderful month to be on a bike here in the Carolinas.
Today’s ride is going to be fun.
So, October is here, along with the chilly mornings.
Last year, I thrived with this weather. I rode over 250 miles last October.
This year? A different story.
I think that mentally I’m just not ready for the cold mornings.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m still riding into work, but I’m doing my “short” route of only 3.2 miles round trip. I don’t consider that “true commuting.” I’m just riding in that distance to save $$ on parking.
I have been trying (w/o much luck) to get out at lunch time and ride. I have to get better at that.
Today, I will surpass 2,000 miles on the bike. I didn’t really set a goal at the beginning of the year, but I knew deep down I could get between 2,000 and 2,500 miles for the year. I still have a chance to hit 2,500.
Chilly mornings though lie ahead of me.
Mentally, I need to get back in the game.
Not this week.
Well, I guess summer is over. Gone are the 70-degree mornings. Welcome to the 46-degree mornings. A wee-bit chilly when you’re on a bike.
I have been focusing more on some strength training exercises this week for my morning “workout.” I’m still riding into work, but the distance is minimal. More just riding in to save $$ on parking.
Trying to work on some upper body stuff here. I’m quite lacking in that department. I think these chilly mornings are just what the doctor ordered. I have some exercise equipment that I have been wanting to use for some time now. I guess now is the time.
I’m less than 5 miles away from my goal of 2,000 miles on the bike this year. Kinda anti-climatic after last year’s 3,700 total. Still, 2K is nothing to sneeze at.
Woke up to 51 degree weather. Gorgeous.
Autumn at it’s finest.
Bit of a strong breeze though that seemed to make that 51 feel like 45. Big difference.
I woke up early and worked out in my garage on one of my exercise equipment pieces. I need to start mixing things up. I have the legs of a bodybuilder (or a cyclist, I guess?) with all the cycling I’ve been doing. But, I have the upper body strength of a 3rd-grade girl.
I think my Autumn and Winter plan will be to workout more and ride less. Work on my core. I’m sure more upper body strength and toning will only help my cycling.
So, I did 10 minutes of my “Cardio Glide” and right now it feels like a Gorilla ripped my arms off. Reminds me of how weak my legs were 5 years ago when I got back on the bike after an 8-year hiatus. 
Early Autumn rides here in the Carolina’s is one of the best things in life. I got out for a 16.5 mile ride this morning to put me over 300 miles for the month. My sole purpose for riding today was to get my miles and just enjoy the ride. Got both goals accomplished. I ended the month here with 306 miles.
On the ride today, I was able to ride past 2 freight trains as they churned along through the country-side here in the Southern portion of North Carolina. I got as close as I could to the tracks and could feel my chest vibrating from the passing rail cars.
I love the country rides I get to experience out this way. Quiet roads on a cloudy Sunday morning, accompanied by temps hovering in the low 60′s. PERFECT riding weather. There was a bit of a breeze this morning, but I paid no attention to it. I locked into a set gear and just rode. It was one of my slower rides, but I never tired, and I just kept riding. Turning down roads I’ve ridden these past 5 years with such familiarity, I could ride them with my eyes closed.
Turn after turn, pedal after pedal, mile after mile.
The worst part about today’s ride was having to get off my bike. Reminds of the Jackson Browne song, “The Load-Out” where he pines, “The only part that seems to short is the time that we get to play…”
Same with riding.
Next up: My favorite month of the year. Here comes October.
I used to crank out 300 miles last year like they were nothing… I had eight 300-mile months last year… Out of those eight, 1 of them was a 550-mile month, and 3 were over 400 miles. Last year was a good year on the bike. This year is a FUN year on the bike.
My miles aren’t adding up like they were last year, but I’m fine with that. I’m still riding. That’s the important thing.
September is winding down here. I’m currently at 287 miles (with my 13 mile ride home this afternoon….). 13 miles to go til I hit 300. The only other month I’ve come close to that was back in July, when I had a 450-mile total. 150 of those miles were in 1 day.
This year, my commuting miles have really ramped up. I’m at 1,161 commuting miles… This time last year, I was at 671 commuting miles. Quite a difference.
For now, I’m happy that I’ll have a 300-mile September.
October, if the weather holds out, will be another FUN month on the bike.
Ciao!
This morning, I had one of the best rides into work this year. It was a crisp 54 degrees outside. The sky was clear, and the air was dry. Breath-taking weather to be on a bike. I only rode in 1.5 miles to work. Saved $5 in parking by doing so…
Speaking of short distances, I have numerous coworkers that live 1 to 3 miles from the office, but none of them bike into work.
I think a common misconception about bike commuting is that you’ll end up sweating. So not the case. Riding a bike does not mean you have to show up at work like you just ran a marathon. Some of my best rides (like this morning’s) happened to be my SLOWEST rides. I wasn’t worried about speed, time, distance, etc… I just hopped on my bike and rode from point A to point B. Oh, and by the way, I wore my work clothes this morning as I cycled into the office. Not a drop of sweat to be found.
I have ridden in much warmer weather and still, no sweating.
All my coworkers know I ride into work. I’ve been trying to convince some of them (any of them) as to the benefits of biking to work. So far, no takers. I’m fine with that. I will continue to ride into work. Especially when I can have another great ride like I did this morning.
This morning’s ride was the 1st ride of the season where I was actually a bit cold. A sign that Autumn is on the way. Last year, I had a KILLER month in October for commuting miles. I can see that happening again this year.
It’s Friday again. Thank goodness. It’s been a busy work week. Lots going on. Looking back at my riding log, I didn’t ride into work much this week. We had 2 days of solid rain to start the week off, but on Wednesday I got in 3 legs of a ride (to work, lunch ride, from work). Yesterday I just wasn’t “feeling it,” so I drove in.
Today though, I did my 8-mile (one way) route. Love that route. It starts off very easy and very flat. About 3 miles into it, I hit some great downhills and by then, I’m ramped up. At the 4-mile spot, I usually pull over at this intersection near some train tracks and laugh at the traffic going by. Car after car after car.
The last 4 miles are mostly uphill, on a small incline. Nothing major. By then, I’m warmed up enough that I just take the hills as they come.
Lunchtime today will be a 10-mile (easy) ride. There’s a Greenway uptown here that I can ride on. No traffic to dodge, and it’s a nice pace. Gonna be a nice day (weather wise) for that. On the ride home, I’ll elongate the trip and get another 9.5 miles or so. Should end with close to 28 miles for the day.
Here’s to more commuting for next week.
It has been a LONG summer here in the Carolinas. I like summer. There are times I love summer. By the 1st week of August though, I usually HATE summer. Cycling in truly hot weather is never fun. It’s something I do to stay in shape though.
With the calendar now reading September, the Carolinas are finally starting to see signs of Autumn. The sun is rising later in the morning, and setting earlier in the evening. Morning temps in the 60′s and occasionally in the 50′s are a breath of fresh air from the mid 70′s to low 80′s morning temps of July and August. My lungs feel the difference in the lack of humidity in the air. My rides are faster these days. My legs feel re-energized. My mood for cycling is now one of excitement, not dread.
Autumn is a wonderful time to be on a bike. I like living in the Carolinas because we have a very long FALL season. It won’t truly get cold here til January. December weather can still have me riding with minimal layers, and sometimes even shorts.
We have a very short (warm) winter here. Then, it’s back to a short Spring, brutal Summer, then a glorious Autumn once again.
Nothing better than morning rides in Autumn.
Back on September 13, 2007, I got “back on the bike” after an 8-year hiatus. 5 years and 3 days later, I surpassed 10,000 miles. Here are some number breakdowns, because what cyclist doesn’t keep track of these kinds of numbers?
Bike Breakdown:
GT Timberline Mountain Bike: 4,678 miles
Cannondale Road Bike: 5,013 miles
GT Passage Hybrid: 311
Best Year:
2011: 3,727 miles
Best Month:
May, 2011: 550 Miles
Best Day:
July 29, 2011: 222 Miles
Monthly Averages:
2007: 244 Miles/Month
2008: 145 Miles/Month
2009: 74 Miles/Month
2010: 71 Miles/Month
2011: 311 Miles/Month
2012: 151 Miles/Month
Commuting Miles (to work):
3,033 Miles (Since 2009)
It’s been a fantastic 5 years. I have learned so much about myself and my limits. If you haven’t been on a bike in a while, I’m living proof that anyone can do this. Get back on your bike. Your body will thank you.
- You RIDE more miles in a month than you DRIVE
- You own more bikes than cars
- You clean your garage so you can store your bikes in it, but you park your car in the driveway
- Your T-shirt collection is made up mostly of shirts you’ve gotten from various charity rides
- Your not sure which is more fun: Riding or recording the ride and analyzing all your miles in your Excel Spreadsheet
- When stuck in traffic, you know EVERY side street short-cut to get around it because of all the riding you’ve done in that area
- You wait months to fix the slow flat on your car, but RUSH to the bike store to replace a slow-leak tube on your bike
- All the Security Guards where you work know you by name and ask each morning, “How far did you ride in today?”
- Your neighbors look at you funny if they see you in non-cycling attire
- Your garage looks more like a bike shop repair area than a place to park your cars
- Your neighbors bring over their kids’ bikes (for repair) when you’re in the garage working on your own
- You can step outside in the morning and gauge the morning temp within 1 or 2 degrees w/o looking at a thermometer
- You set out all your riding gear (shoes, shirt, gloves, speedometer, lights) the night before, but run around the house in the morning trying to get all your work clothes ready for your panniers
- You keep a blog and write an entry about “Signs You Might Be A Serious Cyclist”
133 is the number of days I have ridden into work this year. Last year was a RECORD year for me, regarding the number of days I rode into work. What was my number last year?? 133.
I’m at 133 already, and it’s only September 12th. I have a chance to hit 200 days this year. I will come close, that’s for sure.
Out of the available “commuting days” this year, I have ridden all but about 10 of them. (Vacations, sick days, Holidays make up the remaining numbers….)
It’s been a good year on the bike, and with Autumn right around the corner, my bike commuting is about to pick up BIG TIME!
I’m tired. Been doing a lot of commuting this week. 81 miles to and from work. I may take a break from commuting next week and just take the bus in. I really want to try and focus on using my elliptical that I have in my garage. I also have a cardio glide that I need to start using.
I want to mix it up a bit. I’ve got the cycling part down. My legs for some reason are REALLY tired though. I think using my elliptical machine will help with my riding, in the long run. The Cardio Glide machine will help with my upper body strength.
Any exercise is good exercise, right?
It’s been quite a LOCKED-DOWN week here in Charlotte, NC. The DNC is in town and the Police Officers are out in force. Cops on foot, Cops on horseback, Cops on motorcycles, and Cops on bikes… Lots and lots of them.
Road closures too numerous to count.
All in all though, it’s been an easy week. Of course, I haven’t driven in at all. My bike and I zigged and zagged around the aforementioned road closures and had a grand old time getting into the office.
I have tried to get outside each day to experience the city during all the festivities. Gotta admit: It’s been very tame. Not too much foot traffic. I’ve seen 5 Cops to every 1 “tourist” or city worker. I think people are staying away from the Queen City here in DROVES.
The only uptick that I have seen is more bikes on the streets. I think some folks took a page out of my trick book: Drive part way, and then ride in.
The only 2 ways to really get around uptown here is by foot or bike.
I’ll take the bike anyday.
I’m looking forward to next week. There’s a break in the weather, and the DNC will be NOWHERE near Charlotte.
I’ve been commuting to work (by bike) for about 4 years now. I’ve learned alot about what to do and more importantly, what NOT to do.
Along those lines, I’ve tweaked my commuter bike to suit my needs.
2 of the best things I’ve added to my bike are my panniers (saddle-bags) and front and back fenders.
As I rode in today, the streets were wet. Rain has PUMMELED the Charlotte area this week. Torrential downpours are now par for the course at anytime here.
In the past the wet roads kept me off my bike. The splatter from the tires would ruin my work clothes, or just make it an unenjoyable ride in.
Not any more. I rode in today just fine. Roads were wet, but I was dry as sand. Best $20 I ever spent was on those front and back fenders.
I rode through puddles today with complete confidence that I wouldn’t have the “skunk mark” up my back or get a dousing from my front tire. Love those fenders.
And the Panniers? I’ve had them now for about a year. What a God-send those are. I no longer carry the weight (and sweat) of my stuff in a backpack. The bike now carries the load.
Surprisingly, the panniers can hold quite a bit. The bike gets heavy to lift, but when I’m riding it, I really don’t feel the extra weight on the bike. That’s a good thing.
Having the panniers makes me think twice about the stuff I put in them. “Do I really need this?” is a common utterance of mine each morning. I try to bring “just the essentials.”
As I mentioned, I’ve come a long way since my early days of bike commuting. I like to say I’m riding smarter now, not harder.
So, today was the first day back to work. The DNC is in town, and I thought traffic and parking and security were all going to be a nightmare…
TRAFFIC: I rode in 19 miles (almost from home) and traffic was almost non-existent. I think the majority of folks are either taking vacation days for this, or they are working from home. I had a great ride into work.
PARKING: Usually, I park my bike right out front on one of the MANY public bike racks. In talking with one of the Security Guards last week, he made it sound like I wouldn’t be allowed w/in a 1/2 mile of the building on my bike. I had contingency plans to park far off and use 3 to 4 locks on the bike to secure it. As I rode into the office today, I got closer and closer to my office. At each intersection, I was waiting for one of the many police officers to stop me and tell me I couldn’t proceed. Not the case. I pulled up right to my normal parking locale and locked the bike up. I did use 2 locks instead of the normal 1. I’m going to have more security guarding my bike than ever before. I know it will be super safe.
SECURITY: Security is tight and security is in force. Hundreds of officers from multiple jurisdictions. Everyone was cordial. I truly believe that if you treat them with respect, they’ll return the favor. I chatted it up with 3 officers today and they were all really really cool.
So, day 1 is in the books. 2 more to go.
This afternoon, my biggest challenge will be the weather. I’ll have to plan my escape here accordingly.
As you know, the Democratic National Convention (DNC) is in town here in Charlotte. I (lucky me) get to work the week IN MY OFFICE, which happens to be smack dab in the middle of all the fun uptown. (Please note, my sarcasm…. it will get thicker as I continue to write here…)
Parking (if you can find it) will be $30/day instead of the $5/day it normally is. Bus routes have been changed to accommodate the amazing DUMBOCRATS invading our city to re-elect BOZO the Clown. Schedules are off, and delays are abounding because of this wonderful party Charlotte is throwing. A party that is trying to show Charlotte as a “BIG-TIME” city. Newsflash…. Charlotte is NOT a “big time” city. I’m glad it’s not. That’s one thing I like about it. Atlanta, New York, Baltimore, DC, Chicago….. those are BIG TIME cities. Charlotte? Nah…
So with parking nonexistent and pricey, and with unreliable bus service, I’m doing what any smart commuter would do: Ditch the buses and ride your bike to work…
Yup… that’s the plan. I’ve got an 18-mile (one way) commute planned. Will take me about 1.25 hours to ride. No parking to worry about. Security will be tight, but as a cyclist (who is heading to work) I should not run into any issues. In theory, I’ll be BLOWING by all the idiot commuters stuck in their cars. Fresh wind in my face, and a plethora of roads at my disposal will make my 36 mile round trip trek to work a true joy tomorrow.
Wed. and Thurs. I plan on doing the same. I will EASILY have over 100 miles on the commuter bike this week. Sweet!
Stay tuned for my tales of the DNC as I try to get my working ass into the office.
No, I’m not talking about the DNC that is happening right here in Charlotte, NC… I’m talking about actual snakes… the reptilian kind.
I got out yesterday for a nice 17-mile ride on my Cannondale. I haven’t ridden that bike much since the 24-Hours of Booty charity ride I did back in July of this year. It felt good to be on my “fast” bike. Pedaling is effortless and the responsiveness I get from each pedal push is just a pure stroke of mechanical magic. I do love that bike.
2 things stuck in my brain after doing yesterday’s ride:
1. DAMN, was it humid yesterday! At least early on. VERY muggy. My riding shirt was drenched, my helmet was dripping sweat with each mile I rode. And this was at 8am! The day went on to be even hotter. Chances of thunderstorms abounded yesterday. They all seemed to steer clear of my house though. Still, as if I’m not a sucker for punishment enough, I decided to mow the yard (front and back) after my bike ride. Made the ride feel like I was riding with air-conditioning strapped to my handlebars.
2. DEAD SNAKES! They were everywhere! I lost count after 20 or so of them. They littered the sides of the roads I was riding on yesterday. Big snakes, little snakes, black snakes, green snakes, you name it. I remember riding last year (around this same time) and having to out maneuver live snakes on the side of the road. I’m not really a fan of snakes, but they don’t freak me out like they do for most folks. Still, it was strange to see SO MANY OF THEM dead on the side of the road.
So, today is Labor Day. Trying to figure out if I’m going to head out for a early morning ride. With the DNC in town, I know my commuting miles this week will definitely reach over 100 miles, so I don’t “need” the miles. Maybe I’ll stick my head out the door here and see what the humidity is. Hopefully I won’t see any dead snakes on my driveway.
Most of my coworkers know I commute into the office each day by bike. I’m sure most of them think I’m crazy… Somedays even I think I am.
Anyway, alot of times, during a conversation with them, they ask me why I do it? Here are a few of the reasons why I commute by bike:
BIKE COMMUTING IS VASTLY CHEAPER THAN DRIVING
Studies have shown that the average yearly cost of owning a vehicle is well over $8,000. This includes gas, maintenance, insurance, car payments, etc… Factor all that in, and you’re looking at a good chunk of change. Even if your vehicle is paid for, you still have to factor in the other costs. In contrast, the studies have shown that the yearly cost of maintaining a bike is about $200. Quite the difference.
My personal experience? I consider my bike right now to be “free” because I’ve had it over 15 years now. Still runs as good as it did the day I bought it. Can you say that about a 15-year old car? So, my main expense on my bike is a yearly tune up that runs me about $75-100. Other than that, tires and tubes are my only other “real” expense. I’ve been on a good streak of luck lately and haven’t had to replace a tube in a while. Tires last me a few years, so even those costs are minimal.
My personal experience with my van? $60/month for insurance, $220/month in gas, wear and tear adds another $300 to the total. So, if I ditched my car altogether, I’d be saving well over $500 a month. A MONTH! My commuting cost to get to work for that month? $64 in bus fare. Can’t argue with those numbers.
BIKE COMMUTING IS A FREE GYM MEMBERSHIP
Ever join a gym? I have. The “registration fee” is the most ridiculous fee on this planet. Before you even lift a weight, you’re cutting a check for the exbortitant “reg” fee that can rival the cost of a new bike. Then of course, there is the monthly membership fee. If you’re lucky you can get away for about $60-$75 a month. Oh, and don’t forget the whole “You have to GO TO THE GYM” to actually workout. Factor in gas, and wear and tear on the car and you are quickly digging yourself quite the financial HOLE for trying to stay healthy. Last, but not least, how often do you go to the gym? I remember when I first joined a gym years ago, I was very faithful my first month or so, but then the fad wore off. The newness was gone, and “working out” was just another chore or item on my ever-expanding to do list. I began to resent the gym and the wasted money passing right by me.
Now, in regards to bike commuting? I ride EVERYDAY. I enjoy riding EVERYDAY. I have been riding EVERYDAY to work now for over 3 years. My interest level is actually higher now than it has ever been. I truly enjoy the commute. Oh, and I’m getting some great excercise in the process. Gym? Please. Not for me. I’ll take my bike anyday. I’m averaging 33 minutes a day “working out” by commuting by bike. When was the last time you pulled in those numbers at the gym? Oh, and I’ve lost over 15 lbs and I’ve kept them off for over 5 years now. I’m in the best shape of my life and all I have to do is ride my bike.
BIKE COMMUTING = FREE PARKING
Where I work, I can find relatively cheap parking. About $5/day. On “Special Event” days, that $5/day can turn into $20/day. Highway robbery. By commuting by bike, I’m EASILY saving over $1,200 a year. And I get to have fun riding a bike. To me, that’s a no brainer. With the $$ I’m saving, I could basically by a pretty bad-ass bike EVERY year.
BIKE COMMUTING IS GREAT STRESS RELIEF
Ever had a bad day at work? Of course you have. Do you go home and take it out on your family? Hopefully not. For me, when I have a bad day in the office, I head home on the bike and usually kick it into HIGH GEAR to blow off some much needed steam. It’s the best stress relief on the planet. The morning ride into the office is almost as good as coffee. It gets my blood flowing! I can’t think of any other better way to start and end my work day.
I’ve been a cyclist for 39 of my 44 years I’ve lived on this planet. As a kid, I lived on my bike. It was my only source of transportation. I rode that thing EVERYWHERE. The freedom it gave me was amazing.
As I got older, I lost the purpose and joy as to why I rode. I started to view cycling purely as “exercise.” Now, I have always been an active person. I played sports my entire childhood, as well as a teen. I enjoyed being outdoors, and the various sports I played allowed me to do that. So, exercise is nothing new to me. I have the blood pressure of a teenager, my doctor always tells me the few times I see him over the course of years gone by.
But for someone who loathes exercise, getting back on the bike may seem as exhilerating as passing a kidney stone. I can’t personally relate to loathing exercise, but I have passed a few kidney stones in my life, so I can see where they are coming from.
What’s my point? Don’t view cycling as “exercise.” View cycling like you did when you were 6 years old. “FUN!” Biking was fun! You rode, often times seeing how fast you could ride. You rode w/o a care in the world. You rode to get from Point A to Point B. Biking served a purpose. You did it because you wanted to.
As an adult, try to channel the inner child inside of you and get back out on your bike. If it’s been “a few years” since you’ve ridden, yeah, you’re going to realize, “Wow, I’m outta shape.” Don’t worry about it. Try to purposefully ride slowly. Utilize and recognize all 5 senses as you head out. Don’t go out with the mindset of “I have to ride 5 miles….” Go out and just ride your darn bike. Go from point A to B.
I remember to this day when the proverbial light bulb went off in my head and I changed my mindset on my morning commutes into work. I gave up worrying about my average, worrying about my mileage, worrying about my heart rate. In essence I turned back into the 5 year old kid I used to be who just discovered how FUN it was to ride a bike. My morning and afternoon rides in and out of work are the 2 best parts of my work day. I LOVE RIDING TO WORK. My average sucks, my heart rate barely registers a blip, but you know what? I have the time of my life on my bike. I ride slow and notice my surroundings.
It’s hard to put into words how different my commuting rides are, compared to my weekend “workout” rides. On those rides, it’s “balls to the wall” fast! Average is everything. Total miles serve as bragging rights to anyone who is within ear-shot. The sweatier I am after those rides, the better.
I ride my bike almost everyday. If you have been thinking about getting back on the bike, do it with the right mindset: Ride for fun. Riding for exercise has it’s place, but for the most part, it sucks.
It’s been a crazy week here at the house with work and the kids going back to school. Schedules to adhere to and morning routines to get figure out. It happens every August.
The weather has also been unstable. Chance of rain each day, which always has me second-guessing my route to take into work. Should I ride in 10 miles? 7 miles? 1.5 miles? Always a guessing game.
I haven’t accumulated many miles this week. I did ride into work all 5 days, so that’s a plus. $25 saved that would’ve gone to parking.
I did have my best month (mileage-wise) for commuting. 220 miles into work. My previous best month was July, where I rode in 141 miles. Big difference. I know as September arrives, I’ll be riding even more into work. Should come close to 250 miles. My best month EVER was October of 2011. I had 255 miles that month.
September will be here tomorrow. Hard to believe. The year is moving quickly. I’m happy the mornings are cooling off. I really enjoy my morning commute with temps in the 60′s. Even when they are in the 50′s, it’s enjoyable. 40′s? Eh…. not so much. I will ride year round though.
HOLY SHIT is the price of gas going through the roof. The media is blaming “Hurricane Isaac” for the rise…. I’m calling BULLSHIT on that. I call it price gouging. I drove into work yesterday and a station near my house had has for $3.59/gallon.
As I got closer to the city, I saw $3.80/gall for the average.
Yesterday afternoon, that SAME station that had gas for $3.80/gallon was now at $3.89 a gallon!! What the @#$@#$!!!!?
The station that had it for $3.59 is now at $3.79…. All in a DAY’S TIME!
Time to REALLY start thinking more about riding in from the house. This is getting ridiculous. I’m ready to show the “man” the middle finger here and curb my dependency on oil.
Stay tuned.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the Democratic National Convention is coming to town, here in Charlotte, next week.
I couldn’t be LESS thrilled. Nightmarish crowds…. HELLISH traffic…. INSANE security…. NON-EXISTENT parking….
Fortunately, I ride a bike to work. If I’m going to convert ANY of my coworkers into “bike commuters,” next week is the week to do it.
Charlotte will be on COMPLETE LOCKDOWN. In no uncertain terms, next week is going to SUCK on epic levels.
The fact that I can ride my bike into work is the only thing that’s keeping next week from being a total loss.
It never fails. Every summer, as brutal as they can be down here in the South, the morning temps stop rising and they begin their descent into the Autumnal range. It’s a time of year that I truly, truly love.
All summer long, I would step outside to load my bike into my van, and I would feel the morning heat and humidity. It is a disgusting feeling. The humidity smacks you square in the face and you can “feel” the dampness of the morning on your body. It makes you want to stay in the comfort of your air-conditioned house.
Now, the morning temps are dipping into the 60′s, which is just HEAVEN. The morning rides are so much better and so much more refreshing.
Less sweating and easier breathing. It’s a win, win.
Each evening as well, you can feel the temps dropping as the sun sets. It’s a sign that Autumn is coming. My favorite time of the year. I really like the rides I get in September and October.
My commuting miles in the Autumn really pick up. Like I said, it’s a great time of year to be out on a bike.
Yesterday, at lunch, I got out for a 10-mile ride that was fantastic. The temp was perfect. Didn’t work up any kind of sweat and I enjoyed an easily paced ride. I wasn’t out for a workout. I was out to grab some miles and enjoy the scenery. I was able to accomplish both.
I’m going to go out today at lunch time for another ride. There’s a great paved trail right uptown here that I can easily jump on and grab some miles.
I’m sure that soon enough I’ll be complaining about the cold weather, but for now, I’m glad it’s starting to show up.
This morning, I used 3 modes of transportation to get into work. I drove part way, jumped on my bike and rode to the bus stop, where I am able to place my bike on racks installed on all the CATS buses here in Charlotte. It is a very handy way to get into work and it’s pretty cheap to do.
While I’d love to ride all the way into work (it’s only 24 miles), the roads for the 1st seven miles are not ideal. So, I drive in about 7 miles. From there I ride the remaining 5 miles to the bus stop. Once I’m on the bus, I take it into town, but not all the way in. I usually jump off the bus about 3 miles from Uptown. I really do love riding through the Elizabeth section of Charlotte here. So many old houses with KILLER front porches along tree-lined streets. I can’t pass up those rides, especially now that the weather is starting to finally cool down.
In the afternoon, I typically skip the bus altogether and ride the 18 miles back to my car. I could take the bus, but I can ride the same distance in the same amount of time it takes for the bus to make the trip. I’m saving money, I’m getting a GREAT workout, and I’m ONE LESS CAR on the road. I’m not turning into an environmentalist (or a “greenie”), but the more I cycle, the more I think about stuff like that. If I factor in the wear and tear I’m saving on the car, it’s a no-brainer that it’s a great idea to take the bike/bus into work.
I’m nearing 1,000 miles for commuting this year, and it’s only August. Last year, I rode 1,220 miles into work. I’m gonna shatter that record this year. I should hit the 1,000 mile mark by next Friday, if I keep up this multi-modal approach to my trek into work.
As I sit here recovering from some oral surgery, I took a trip down memory lane yesterday and read some of my old blog posts from last year. I started with my August 2011 archive. That’s when I really ramped up my commuting miles. It’s kinda funny to see that I was calling the morning temps of 61-66 ‘chilly’ back then.
I’d KILL to have morning temps like that right now. Right now, morning temps are still in the low 70′s. It’s also been VERY humid here the past 3 weeks. Not ideal weather, but I still rode in.
As I moved on to my October and November archives, it did indeed start to get cold in the mornings. Afternoons were gorgeous, but LAYERS play an important part of October and November morning rides.
I know now that as long as the morning temps are 50 degrees or higher, I can still get away with wearing sandals for footwear. Shorts too. I don’t switch to long pants until it’s 46 degrees or lower.
As far as shirts and jackets are concerned, I play it by ear and make sure I have more layers than I probably need handy in my rear panniers. My rule of thumb is that the 1st 10 mins of my ride in should be chilly. Not freezing, but chilly. My body will warm up as I get closer to my office.
So, right now, I’m hoping for cooler weather. Once that hits, I’m sure I’ll be clamoring for the days when I can just throw on some shorts and a shirt and ride in. I’m just happy that I am indeed a YEAR ROUND commuter. No weather (other than hurricanes) is going to keep me off my bike.
I’ve learned a ton of tips and tricks since becoming a “tried and true” commuter. I do a ton of reading online about commuting that has helped me out immensely. I have also learned a ton from trial and error. Not too much error, thankfully.
It’s a rainy Sunday morning here. I’m resting up and trying to ignore the pain my mouth and jaw is experiencing right now. Morning coffee is in hand and I’m surfing all my ‘bike commuting’ blogs I’ve found over the year. There are some really great writers that like to share their wisdom. I can’t read enough of these blogs. They give me the inspiration to continue not only riding into work, but to keep writing my own blog.
No riding today, even if the weather was cooperating. I will be working on my commuter bike though. My front derailleur gear shifter broke. I’m going to swap out the gear shifter from my other GT Hybrid bike to my commuter GT bike. I’ve been meaning to get my commuter ride into the shop for a tune up. Not this week though. The work I do today will suffice for the time being.
That’s how far away I live from the bus station I could use to get into work. I’m VERY fortunate to live in an area where I can just throw my bike on the bus (front loading bike racks on the bus that accommodate 2 bikes) and take the bus into the city. I usually end up jumping off the bus 2 or 3 miles out and finish up the commute by riding right up to my building, where I can SAFELY lock my bike up to public bike racks. (Another PERK to living where I do)
For weeks now, I have been planning on riding FROM home TO the bus. That trip has yet to materialize itself, and I’m not sure why.
There have been evenings where I’m totally stoked to do the commute in. Then, the next morning, something happens, usually time-related, that squashes my plans.
Mileage-wise I could do the ride in my sleep. It’s only 12 miles. I rode 222 miles in 1 day last year for the Annual 24 Hours of Booty event, here in Charlotte, NC. This year, I rode 150 miles in the same event. I’m not worried about the miles.
Safety-wise, I’m not even worried about that. I’m a very ALERT rider. I like to think I have that “sixth sense” when riding. That, and my bike has enough lights and reflectors to be visible from Space.
I think it’s the time issue. 12 miles (on my converted mountain/hybrid bike) would take me a little less than 1 hour. I have ridden 24 hours before, so I’m not worried about “can I ride for an hour?” It’s the fact that I’m usually IN my office by 6:30am. To get up early enough to ride 1 hour to bus stop, for a 30 minute bus ride would mean I’d have to leave the house by 4:45am. I like to get up early enough to slowly get ready for the day. That would mean I’d have to get up at 4am to do this.
See my previous post about “With Age Comes Wisdom.” It’s getting harder and harder for me to get up early, let alone early enough to get up and out the door for a 1-hour ride.
I try to get about 7 hours of sleep a night. Getting up at 4am isn’t the problem. It’s getting to bed at 9pm that is. Family stuff usually keeps me up til 9:30 – 10pm or so.
I do want to do this though, so here’s hoping that Monday will be the start of my 12-mile ride.
One source of motivation for me here is the rising cost of gas…. We are at $3.69/gallon here.
If I drove all the way in, and had to pay for parking (a reasonable $5/day), my daily commuting cost would be $12.52 a day.
Now, if I RODE to the bus, and utilized that form of transportation, my daily commuting cost would be $3.20 a day. I would be saving $9.22 a day. That’s $46 a week, $184 a month, and over $2,000 a year. It adds up.
Now, if gas goes higher, you can re-adjust those numbers accordingly. The bus? That will still be $3.20/day.
And the exercise I’d be getting would be priceless. I’m in really great shape right now. If I up my miles, I’ll be in even better shape. I don’t even belong to a gym. I joke with my wife that “I don’t even exercise…. I just commute.”
Here’s to a hopeful Monday commute.
My daily “commuter bike” is my old, trusty GT Timberline.
I’ve had this bike for about 15 years. Out of all the bikes I’ve owned, this one is by far my favorite. It fits me like a glove. It’s perfect for me.
Over the years, I’ve tweaked the components just a bit. I put on the handlebar extensions years ago, when I primarily used this bike for mountain biking excursions.
Last August, when I really ramped up my bike commuting into work, I added the back pannier rack. Panniers, by the way, are the best invention EVER! Hands down the best part of my bike. I no longer sweat to death with a backpack. I let the bike carry the weight. 
About 2 months ago, I added the fenders. They are a fantastic addition that will help keep my frame and drive train drier, and CLEANER. Knowing that I can ride through puddles w/o getting my work clothes dirty is a wonderful thing.
The reflectors on the back of the saddle bags are a recent edition. I do a TON of riding in the early parts of the morning when it’s VERY dark. My fear of getting hit has me lit up like a Christmas Tree. The reflectors and reflective tape on the frame give me reassurance that I will be seen when out riding. Helmet lights, and back and front lights also help out here.
Over the years of commuting into work, I have ridden over 2,800 miles. All on my trusty GT. I wouldn’t trade this bike for any other.
You know the saying… “With Age Comes Wisdom.” While that indeed does ring true, with age comes a whole slew of other things….
With age, comes:
I could go on and on, I’m sure, but you get the point.
I find the older I get, the harder it is to get motivated to do a long ride into work. Once I actually start the ride, I’m fine. It’s getting to the starting line that takes more energy, more motivation and more mental coaxing on my part.
Throw in weather factors (temp, precipitation) and there are some days I’m amazed I got on the bike at all. As I look at my commuting miles this year, compared to last year, I must be doing something right though. Here’s a comparison of my “work” miles this year (up to this point) to last year:
2011: 406 Miles
2012: 855 Miles
In 2011, I really picked up the pace in August with my commuting miles. From August – Dec of last year, I had 931 miles. If I can keep that pace up this year, I’m going to end the year with close to 2,500 total miles. I’ll take that.
With age comes the satisfaction of accomplishments. I’m 44 years old, and I’m still cranking out THOUSANDS of miles every year…
Do you normally look to expand your morning commute? If you are a car driver, typically the answer to that would be, “hell no!”
If you ride a bike, you’d have a totally different outlook on your commute. For me, the commute into work tends to be the best part of my morning.
Fresh air… No traffic worries. I can dart in and out (and around) any potential traffic issues.
This morning, as I was riding into work, I was enjoying the ride so much, I looked to see how I could extend the ride. I didn’t want to get off my bike. Was having way too much fun on it. I took extra side streets and just rode my bike to ride…. Can you say that about your car? Most wouldn’t.
Even on days when I’m not in the mood to ride in, I do. It never fails. About 1/2 way through the ride, I snap out of my funk and just enjoy the shit out of my ride in.
Who needs coffee in the morning when the rush of a ride into work awaits you?
Give it a try guys. I’m telling you, I wouldn’t do it any other way.
117 days this year of riding into the office. Less than 10 days of “slugging it” all the way in to park.
Life is good.
