getting ready for regular commuting

[lordofthemark]

Since bike to work day I’ve been working (too slowly) on the persnickety things to make my bike commute a regular thing. Mostly the fitness center membership (so I have a place to shower) and the bike parking “decal’ (actually its just a laminated square little piece of paper)

I hope to commute this Friday (maybe earlier if the weather for Friday looks bad)

The decal – I’ve checked out how some other folks have it on – some dont bother, one person has it tied with a twistie to his rear rack (my MTB doesn’t have a rear rack) one person has a little plastic thingies going around a strut (both these require holepunching the “decal”) At least one person just taped it to a strut. I am leaning toward taping it, as the easy way out – no hunting down plastic thingies, and no hole punching.

Fitness Center preps –

I am going to want at least a towel and change of underwear and socks, I guess. And I guess to preposition work clothes (one reason to do Fridays is so I can just leave casual clothes and not have to keep a suit at work). Actually mostly its just long pants, since I wil probably bike an ordinary casual shirt, not a biking shirt/jersey. I will probably want to use the fitness center for other things than showering on the days I bike, so I probably need to hunt down a gym bag. But biking doesn’t have to wait for that – I can haul my other stuff in using a garbage bag on the metro.

Topic

[consularrider]

Who’s on first? :confused:

[OneEighth]

@consularrider 60361 wrote:

Or wallet is a ziplock.

Weight savings!

[lordofthemark]

Well its definitely nice riding when you have BTWD hoopla to look forward to at the end. Still, not a bad ride at all.

1. On BTWD I was in better shape. Seems I haven’t ridden at all in about 3 weeks. Made the hill between Pentagon bus station and Boundary Channel, and the climb on to 14th St bridge, a bit less pleasant and slower.

2. No rain. A bit humid.

3. I’m becoming a somewhat more confident rider – did relied less on sidewalks and took the lane more riding around Pentagon

4. I remembered where to cross on the way from Jefferson Memorial to Water Street.

5. I street. Two seperate blocks of the bike lane taken for what appeared to be curb repair or something. That plus the block where it becomes a sharrows (busy with cars) before S Capital. I hope this gets better.

6. Made it in 50 minutes including all stops, water breaks. Not counting waiting for the light to cross M Street. Or riding through the parking garage.

7. Never did really attach my parking decal. Carried it in my wallet, and stuck it between the spokes. Surely no one will steal what they can get for free.

8. Fitness center shower worked out fine. Except it appears that somehow my long pants didnt make it into my Walmart bag – just a shirt, sock, underwear and towel. So I am wearing shorts (NOT bike shorts). Fortunately there aren’t too many people here today.

[KLizotte]

@lordofthemark 60416 wrote:

8. Fitness center shower worked out fine. Except it appears that somehow my long pants didnt make it into my Walmart bag – just a shirt, sock, underwear and towel. So I am wearing shorts (NOT bike shorts). Fortunately there aren’t too many people here today.

Opps! There are some mistakes you only make once. If you will be bike commuting regularly, you may wish to keep an old pair of pants at work just in case.

It was very humid this morning and that will slow you down and make everything seem harder. Keep up commuting 2-3 times a week thru the end of the summer and you’ll be flying come the cool weather in the fall.

Just think, you burned approx 300 extra calories this morning!

[lordofthemark]

I’m glad I braved the storms. The ride back was uneventful.

[ejwillis62]

@lordofthemark 60492 wrote:

I’m glad I braved the storms. The ride back was uneventful.

commuting gets better each time you do and and then one day you will find yourself laughing at what you once thought were hills. Forgetting pieces of clothing is par for the course at one time or another I have been missing a variety of clothes. The best part of commuting is when there is bad traffic and you get to fly by. Also after a while you will get faster and faster. Had to get a bell recently because I got tired of saying “on your left”. I cannot believe I am able to pass people sometimes. It is fun.

[lordofthemark]

I’ve taken in a pair of long pants to keep at work. And have discussed switching my telework day so that I would bike to work every Friday and telework on a different day.

[Author]

Replies