The Real Deal: Accountability Here
#76
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Well, I'm home. I only made it 14 of the 18 miles, due to a moment of lost. I had to back track 3.5mi. It had many, many hitches, but I have to do it again in the morning to get to work. I have a bit more confidence, I fixed some issues and know the route a bit better. More details in a bit, just sitting down to some dinner!
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Thanks! At first I was a bit disappointed, but then again this is the furthest/longest I've rode in years. I've been sedentary for about a year or two now. Forgot to tell you guys that I had to stop midway to pee and take a breather, along with about 15 mins early on for adjustments and whatnot. I feel like tomorrow morning won't be nearly as brutal, seeing that it'll be at 530am instead of 445pm.
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Thanks! At first I was a bit disappointed, but then again this is the furthest/longest I've rode in years. I've been sedentary for about a year or two now. Forgot to tell you guys that I had to stop midway to pee and take a breather, along with about 15 mins early on for adjustments and whatnot. I feel like tomorrow morning won't be nearly as brutal, seeing that it'll be at 530am instead of 445pm.
My opinion, be stoked on the ride! You did something you wanted to do for a while. You saved gas. You got a little bit healthier. All good things. It'll all get easier over time.
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Congratulations! The first run is always a bit rough. And it's good that you took breaks when you needed them. That will make tomorrow's ride go better.
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Congrats
W.r.t getting lost - initially, when I didn't have a data plan on my phone, I actually wrote down directions from maps.google.com (both, to and fro) and stuck them in my wallet for easy reference.
W.r.t getting lost - initially, when I didn't have a data plan on my phone, I actually wrote down directions from maps.google.com (both, to and fro) and stuck them in my wallet for easy reference.
#84
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Congratulations! You are an inspiration.
I want to try riding home the 15 miles from the far terminal where we are training (I've never gone that far at once). Still working up the nerve. If the bike rack fit on the car, though... Finances are the selling point to convince my husband to let me try. Those are a really hard point to deny. I get to bike to the closer terminal tomorrow,and I'll take the rack downstairs and see if it will strap on around the spoiler. /crossfingers
I want to try riding home the 15 miles from the far terminal where we are training (I've never gone that far at once). Still working up the nerve. If the bike rack fit on the car, though... Finances are the selling point to convince my husband to let me try. Those are a really hard point to deny. I get to bike to the closer terminal tomorrow,and I'll take the rack downstairs and see if it will strap on around the spoiler. /crossfingers
#85
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Thanks for all the encouragement! It made it a lot easier to get up at 5am this morning to ride in knowing I'd be reporting back here. That said, I road in this morning, the whole way. Seems as if mornings are easier, probably due to the temperature. I had no problems, rode the 18 miles in two hours. I think I need to make some improvements to the bike, however. It doesn't coast, at all. The rear seems heavy, too. I only have semi-slicks on it, I think I should upgrade to full slicks.
I feel good, but my poor arse is definitely hurting!
I feel good, but my poor arse is definitely hurting!
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Congrats on doing it. I think you are right about the temps being the reason for it being easier (or else your ride has more downhills on the way in). My morning rides are always more pleasant due to the cooler weather (well, I guess not in the late fall/ early spring).
No shame in taking a break. 14 miles is a healthy ride.
I agree on the slicks. When I was riding a mountain bike, I rode on Specialized Fatboys & they were alwys great for me. i think they only run about $20 or so each.
Weight can really make a difference on the bike. as you get more into it & figure out what you like/don't, I'd adjust what you carry with you. Eventually, if you get the load down small enough, i'd get rid of the milk crate & just strap my stuff to the rear rack. Milk crates are good at carrying stuff, but they add some weight to the bike.
Congrats on making it through your first two commutes.
No shame in taking a break. 14 miles is a healthy ride.
I agree on the slicks. When I was riding a mountain bike, I rode on Specialized Fatboys & they were alwys great for me. i think they only run about $20 or so each.
Weight can really make a difference on the bike. as you get more into it & figure out what you like/don't, I'd adjust what you carry with you. Eventually, if you get the load down small enough, i'd get rid of the milk crate & just strap my stuff to the rear rack. Milk crates are good at carrying stuff, but they add some weight to the bike.
Congrats on making it through your first two commutes.
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Good deal! I'm glad the ride worked out well this morning.
As for coasting, hmm... look into the wheel bearings. Even with knobbies, a bike should coast some. Fatboys (the slicks) were an experiment I tried for commuting, but they picked up so many glass flakes that any speed advantage was outweighed by the increased number of flats. That may have been unique to my commute, whose route always had lots of broken glass. Tires with some tread (I used Specialized Nimbus) seemed to eject the glass that the Fatboys held onto.
As for coasting, hmm... look into the wheel bearings. Even with knobbies, a bike should coast some. Fatboys (the slicks) were an experiment I tried for commuting, but they picked up so many glass flakes that any speed advantage was outweighed by the increased number of flats. That may have been unique to my commute, whose route always had lots of broken glass. Tires with some tread (I used Specialized Nimbus) seemed to eject the glass that the Fatboys held onto.
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The Real Deal: Accountability Here
18 miles is a great commute. Heck, that's almost 10 more than my round trip when I use the bus rack.
#89
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Congrats on doing it. I think you are right about the temps being the reason for it being easier (or else your ride has more downhills on the way in). My morning rides are always more pleasant due to the cooler weather (well, I guess not in the late fall/ early spring).
No shame in taking a break. 14 miles is a healthy ride.
I agree on the slicks. When I was riding a mountain bike, I rode on Specialized Fatboys & they were alwys great for me. i think they only run about $20 or so each.
Weight can really make a difference on the bike. as you get more into it & figure out what you like/don't, I'd adjust what you carry with you. Eventually, if you get the load down small enough, i'd get rid of the milk crate & just strap my stuff to the rear rack. Milk crates are good at carrying stuff, but they add some weight to the bike.
Congrats on making it through your first two commutes.
No shame in taking a break. 14 miles is a healthy ride.
I agree on the slicks. When I was riding a mountain bike, I rode on Specialized Fatboys & they were alwys great for me. i think they only run about $20 or so each.
Weight can really make a difference on the bike. as you get more into it & figure out what you like/don't, I'd adjust what you carry with you. Eventually, if you get the load down small enough, i'd get rid of the milk crate & just strap my stuff to the rear rack. Milk crates are good at carrying stuff, but they add some weight to the bike.
Congrats on making it through your first two commutes.
I forgot to mention: yesterday around mile 7 I scrapped the milk crate and just used my backpack. WAY BETTER. When I used the milk crate I felt like I couldn't get going, ever. With the load strapped to my back, it is much more manageable. But my wheels are complete garbage, I think I want to look into a lighter wheel in the back instead on this POC off a Pacific I am using.
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Outstanding! Those first two are the hardest, barring the unforeseen.
Going forward, two things are most important especially with a long commute like that. Don't overdo and burn out on it. Use the car as needed to recover, increase the frequency of the commuting only when you're ready. Second, extending the first really, is don't give up. Give yourself at least a month even if, at times, you may feel discouraged.
Going forward, two things are most important especially with a long commute like that. Don't overdo and burn out on it. Use the car as needed to recover, increase the frequency of the commuting only when you're ready. Second, extending the first really, is don't give up. Give yourself at least a month even if, at times, you may feel discouraged.
#91
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Outstanding! Those first two are the hardest, barring the unforeseen.
Going forward, two things are most important especially with a long commute like that. Don't overdo and burn out on it. Use the car as needed to recover, increase the frequency of the commuting only when you're ready. Second, extending the first really, is don't give up. Give yourself at least a month even if, at times, you may feel discouraged.
Going forward, two things are most important especially with a long commute like that. Don't overdo and burn out on it. Use the car as needed to recover, increase the frequency of the commuting only when you're ready. Second, extending the first really, is don't give up. Give yourself at least a month even if, at times, you may feel discouraged.
Next week I am going to try one more day, but I'll see how I feel. I think the hardest part is over.
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One more thing I have found super-helpful is to keep trac of what you wear on certain days, the temp & how you felt. It makes it easir to figure out how to dress in the future for similar conditions. this has been particularly helpful for me when the temps dip a bit.