Author Topic: My newbie Mustachian mistakes - Bicycle commuting  (Read 4340 times)

BayAreaRedneck

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My newbie Mustachian mistakes - Bicycle commuting
« on: August 01, 2014, 12:37:26 PM »
So this is my first post on MMM forum....Have been following for a while...just recently paid off last bit of debts, have amassed a few grand in my "stache" and decided to take up biking to work instead of running the rat race. Now, this probably isn't your typical topic in this category, as it is more of a "don't make the dumb mistakes I did" rather than "learn from my awesome ways"...but here it is:

My commute is pretty long to bike - 18 miles one way - so I was a little hesitant to get started, but saw a decent road bike on craigslist for cheap so I picked it up for $60....figured even if I sank a little into a few newer parts to get it working great I'd still be doing pretty good if I can cut my $80-100 a month gas bill for my car....but I didn't run the bike through all the gears before buying it [rookie MM mistake #1], and the chain had been run through the derailer incorrectly (I think that's what it's called...its those 2 little wheels that add tension to the chain), so the chain wasn't tight enough and made it so I could only really use 1 gear. This is an easy fix and I plan on doing some work on it over the weekend, but was frustrating on my first run at commuting by bike.
Anyway, aside from the bike...

Now I haven't done ANY physical activity for years aside from carrying kids around (not since I ran a half marathon with my wife after our first baby was born) and I work a desk job so I'm pretty much a useless lump of flesh at this point. I knew I'd have to ease into it, so I thought...I'll bike in on Friday for the first time so I can rest over the weekend, then I will start with only 1 or 2 times a week. Part of me was thinking that I should work up to it, but I'm pretty stupid when it comes to holding myself back on crazy things (ran the half marathon WAY faster than I had trained for and couldn't walk for a week afterwards, went hunting with a brother and ended up stuck on the edge of a cliff and had to use our clothes to make a rope to repel down...pretty crazy...but shouldn't have been in the situation cuz should've turned back hours before that...but that's beyond the point...just gives some reference into my stupidity/craziness I guess)...So I've always been of the mindset that mental toughness means more than conditioning anyways and that I can usually push through crazy things in spite of being out of shape (albeit regretting it later)...So I figured I could ride the whole 18 miles in one go [mistake #...I dunno...its been a few now]. I started out all gung-ho and riding like a banshee, trying to make good time so I wasn't 2 hr+ on the bike.

After about a mile my legs were burning and I thought, "maybe I should turn around.".....UHHHH.....YUH THINK.....but no...that would be embarrassing if I only made it a mile (looking back it was way less embarrassing than what happened). So I kept pushing on and got feeling a little better.....Oh, wait, backtrack a little...I started the morning with 2 huge bowls of cereal (definitely needed the energy), but only let it sit for a half hour before riding like a maniac. Also, in recent years milk has started not sitting well with me....so there's a couple more mistakes...Also should have thought back to early morning high school wrestling practices when I had to wake up an hour and a half early to eat breakfast so that it'd digest before working out. But hey, I apparently wasn't thinking much. Back to the commute. After a couple more miles I was feeling like I was getting a really intense workout, was panting like a dog, sweating like CRAZY, but still pushing on. after a bit longer though, I realized I wasn't even a third of the way there, and that I probably should ease into it more, ride a little in the evenings and on weekends to build up to the full trip. So I actually used my head and turned around to head home (Note that I was on the brink of vomiting before I turned around).

On the way back I stopped at a light and there was a sewer vent up ahead and the wind was blowing it right into my face. Well, I had already pushed myself to the point of vomiting, and that smell was almost more than I could take....but I managed to hold it in for the longest minute of my life until the light turned green and I was able to continue down the road. a hundred yards later...I lost it...all over the road (had the sense to keep it off myself and the bike though). I pulled over to catch my breath and rest for a minute and realize how stupid I was. Bike wasn't working very well, legs were like jello, just vomited, a little light headed...and more than 10 miles from work and still a long ways from home. All the while getting passed by bikers of all ages (I mean ALL ages, a couple of kids, some 60+ yr old men...I'm 27, 6'0 and 180 lbs so I didn't think I was out of shape...I mean, I knew I wasn't in good shape, but didn't think I was THAT bad), and here I was sitting on the side of the road. Had to call my wife to pick me up and take me home.......

I lost track of how many stupid mistakes were in there...but thought i'd share my experience so that any of you who are in my position and ambitious as heck, but just getting started...Don't try something stupid that might deter you from biking in the future. Note I will be working up to it, cuz now I'm embarrassed and mad that I am so out of shape...gotta correct this situation...but I will be taking it one step at a time rather than trying to bite off my whole commute at once. So if this helps anyone avoid making the mistakes I did and having a better experience it will be a success.

Oh, and I'm sure you are looking at my 18 mi commute and saying, "need to move closer or change jobs.''...we live at my wife's work so that isn't an option...we manage an apartment complex we live in in exchange for rent (which is pretty steep out here in the SF Bay Area) so that my wife can be home with the kids while still working part time...so one commute is completely eliminated, and I also just started this job and am committed to a couple of years at least. I know it isn't ideal, but 18 miles should be doable on a bike since 90% of it is on bike trails or through neighborhoods with no traffic..should be able to cruise pretty quickly once I'm in shape.


bluecollarmusician

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Re: My newbie Mustachian mistakes - Bicycle commuting
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2014, 07:17:53 PM »
Sorry you had the tough experience, but don't be discouraged!  It is amazing how biking works- once you train a bit you will do it with ease.  It will amaze you when you look back and remember your first try.  But you do have to work up to it... would be a great idea to go half and half- drive in with the bike on the back, biked home....bike in and drive home to build up some stamina ...

you can do it!

wild wendella

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Re: My newbie Mustachian mistakes - Bicycle commuting
« Reply #2 on: August 01, 2014, 07:35:23 PM »
ouch!  Sorry!  get yourself some Eden Soy!  ;)  You seem like you have great commitment.   Keep at it!

mxt0133

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Re: My newbie Mustachian mistakes - Bicycle commuting
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2014, 12:39:50 AM »
That was hilarious, gutsy, but hilarious.  I give you credit for trying 18 miles without easing into it that is ballzy! 

Even if you did make it there did you think that you could make it back?

One way to work up to the full commute is to drive part of the way there and ride the rest of the way.  As you get stronger you would shorten your drive and lengthen the bike commute.  Just get a car bike rack and find a store parking lot to let your car sit for the day that is on the way to work.


JCfire

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Re: My newbie Mustachian mistakes - Bicycle commuting
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2014, 11:12:50 AM »
Let me encourage you -- I am your height and weight almost exactly, and a few years older than you.  I got my first adult bike about a month ago.  My first ride was five miles, I had to walk my bike up two shamefully puny hills, and everything hurt.  Yesterday I rode 26.2 miles on a paved trail in barely over 2 hours and felt like I could have kept on going.

You will get there.  You need more functional equipment and your body needs some practice to make its effort a bit more efficiently, but it won't take long before you are making that commute with relative ease.

Thegoblinchief

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Re: My newbie Mustachian mistakes - Bicycle commuting
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2014, 04:30:27 PM »
Start with 5 miles. Increase by ~20% each week. More than that risks fun things like what happened to you on that first ride.

Melody

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Re: My newbie Mustachian mistakes - Bicycle commuting
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2014, 05:21:28 PM »
You are bad ass for trying this. Is there a way to combine hiking with public transit to save money? Here our tockets are based on zones (similar to London's system). You can sonetimes half the price of your fare by getting of a few blocks early just before the zone boundary.  I know a mmm'er in my city who rides halfway allowing her to half the cost of her train fare.

Melody

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Re: My newbie Mustachian mistakes - Bicycle commuting
« Reply #7 on: August 04, 2014, 05:22:00 PM »
Biking, not hiking.  Lol

Conjou

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Re: My newbie Mustachian mistakes - Bicycle commuting
« Reply #8 on: August 08, 2014, 06:43:29 PM »
Mark Twain has an funny essay about trying to learn how to bike (free online, and short), but he ends with this thought, "Get a bicycle. You won't regret it, if you live." Good for you for trying and keep at it! It took me two years of trying to be a bike commuter before I actually started to enjoy it!