Author Topic: I Rode My Bike To Work For The First Time Today!  (Read 3710 times)

cnash1303

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I Rode My Bike To Work For The First Time Today!
« on: April 14, 2016, 07:54:40 AM »
Well.. "Rode My Bike" is a bit of an overstatement. Really "I went to work today with only a bike, and it was always against my body in some way." describes what I did a little better. (I walked a whole lotta hills) Only problem is...now I am stuck here at work with only a bike, which means I have to ride it back haha.

Also I was 30 minutes late...luckily I am self employed.

What was your first time like? (riding a bike...ya know..)

CodAlmighty

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Re: I Rode My Bike To Work For The First Time Today!
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2016, 07:57:30 AM »
I've only recently started riding a bike in the evenings and at weekends. It was difficult at first, I was absolutely exhausted after a few miles, but I managed to build up pretty quick. I don't rememebr it being so difficult when I was a kid... I was on my bike all of the time back then.

Well done, by the way

Miss Piggy

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Re: I Rode My Bike To Work For The First Time Today!
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2016, 08:22:50 AM »
I don't remember it being so difficult when I was a kid... I was on my bike all of the time back then.

Because I'm guessing you weighed about 100 pounds less than you do today? (That is not meant to be a slam on whatever your weight is...I'm just making a blanket statement that we were all a lot lighter as kids.)

Jakejake

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Re: I Rode My Bike To Work For The First Time Today!
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2016, 08:29:35 AM »
Congrats!  At least now you have a better estimate of how long it will take you - and it will only get faster as you get better at the hills of misery.

When I first started bike commuting, I was working the same place as my husband. I would drive in with my bike in the truck bed - then bike home - and he biked both ways. The next day, I would drive in with him, then we could drive home separately to recover the bike.

Now I'm biking both ways, and don't need a rest day inbetween. :)

AlwaysLearningToSave

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Re: I Rode My Bike To Work For The First Time Today!
« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2016, 08:50:16 AM »
Great work!  If you stick to it, it will get easier and faster pretty quickly.  Be patient and don't be too hard on yourself. 

I started riding to work frequently a year ago.  I also remember being exhausted the first few times.  I don't have huge hills on my route but they were big to someone who was biking for the first time in years!  Early on my goal was just to get to work.  Then I changed my goal to be able to pedal the entire way to work instead of reaching the top of hills and then coasting as long as I could to recover.  Now I can power through the hills and I try to beat personal speed records. 

Do some reading and/or YouTube research on good pedaling technique.  Pedaling correctly will improve your efficiency, helping you go faster with less effort and making your ride more enjoyable.  I'd wager the sooner you start focusing on good technique, the better.   

Hotstreak

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Re: I Rode My Bike To Work For The First Time Today!
« Reply #5 on: April 14, 2016, 09:12:55 AM »
Awesome!  I biked to work last week for the first time since, too.  I was surprised by all the smells I experienced along the way.  There's a lot of sage and rosemary along the way, which really perked me up.  Unfortunately the next thing I encountered was an unsanctioned latrine.. that smell lingered until the smell of coffee and fresh baked biscuits wafted up from a diner next to the overpass.

I am a "fair weather" biker so far, and since I drive for work many days I am a little limited on which ones I can bike in (since I'm not ready to leave my car at work yet).  Overall, great experience that I will be repeating!

tacosandbeer

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Re: I Rode My Bike To Work For The First Time Today!
« Reply #6 on: April 14, 2016, 07:03:33 PM »
Congrats and welcome to the club!

I am also self-employed and I switched to commuting to my office by bike this past December. Other than during recovery from a running injury, I've biked to work every day.

One important thing for me was making sure I was comfortable and safe. A good bike (I bought a low-end Trek), set of pannier bags so I didn't have to use a backpack, and rain gear (it doesn't rain here much but if it does I ride in the rain without a care).

Riding to work puts a pep in my step when I arrive at the office and the same when I get back home. Totally worth it! :)

Exenos

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Re: I Rode My Bike To Work For The First Time Today!
« Reply #7 on: April 15, 2016, 05:09:19 AM »
I started about 3 months ago.

My 1st day I had to stop for breath a few times, and came in red faced.

Now it's barely an effort :)

ender

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Re: I Rode My Bike To Work For The First Time Today!
« Reply #8 on: April 15, 2016, 06:07:10 AM »
I'm glad to read this, I've biked a few times but am getting into a time period where I can do it 100% now.

Slowly working up as my first day (well first day again, I biked a bit before but not consistently) earlier this week was pretty rough :)

Hotstreak

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Re: I Rode My Bike To Work For The First Time Today!
« Reply #9 on: April 15, 2016, 10:09:43 AM »
...

Riding to work puts a pep in my step when I arrive at the office and the same when I get back home. Totally worth it! :)

So true!  Our bodies are meant to move; everything works better when you're active including your mind.