Biked to work for the first time! 8 miles each way!

[engineerjourney]

I felt like a badass the entire time.  I did a 16 mile trip with some friends on Sunday but otherwise I haven't ridden a bike in about a year!  The commute to work is 8 miles each way, with one bad hill each way and some smaller hills as well.  The ride we took on Sunday gave me the confidence to jump right in.  Due to some scheduling issues I will probably only bike to work on Tues, Weds, and Fridays but it was pretty enjoyable and I think I will look forward to those days. 

I am highly surprised at my ability to jump into that distance.  My calves and hands are a little sore/tight and my lady bits hurt like a mofoo but otherwise my legs feel great!  I guess I retained some athletic ability even in my laziness over the past couple years. 

I think this year I will actually be prepared for the MS150 (150 mile bike ride over two days) my friends I do to help support research/treatment of multiple sclerosis.

[avonlea]

Woohoo, engineerjourney!

[rocksinmyhead]

Very impressive!!

[rescuedog]

Good for you!  Way to go!

During my first college summer home 1995, I had a job at Hardees for $4.10 and I had to bike there 8 miles each way in the Indiana humid summers.  I needed a good half hour in the bathrooms to desweat post-ride.

[zinnie]

Awesome! Good for you. I did the same thing on a weekend the first time I tried riding to work :)

[Thegoblinchief]

Nice!

Muscle condition and saddle soreness typically get better fastest when you avoid more than a day off in a row.

If the saddle soreness doesn't get better in a month or so and it's not chafing, you may need a different size/shape saddle.

Good luck!

[engineerjourney]

Thanks all!!

I rewarded myself last night with a delicious avocado and cream cheese sandwich for dinner (believe me, it really is good). 

[little_owl]

That is fantastic!

Share more details: was it harder than expected?  Did your company have a place to change?  And of course....were your co-workers supportive or utterly confused?

Congratulations, you should feel like a bad ass, that is awesome!!!

[engineerjourney]

That is fantastic!

Share more details: was it harder than expected?  Did your company have a place to change?  And of course....were your co-workers supportive or utterly confused?

Congratulations, you should feel like a bad ass, that is awesome!!!

It was actually easier than I expected!  Though the action was challanging I felt great as I locked up my bike! And I wasn't nearly as tired as I thought I would be.  My company has a gym with showers but its $12/month so for now I am just wiping down and changing in a bathroom.  It worked pretty well.  One of my coworkers is an Ironman and has biked to work before, I got to bust his chops that I was more badass than an Ironman (he hasn't biked in yet this year).  Overall my coworkers are really supportive and think its cool, which is awesome. 

Also, just two 16 mile bike rides and I have dropped 2.5 lbs! Wohooo!

[HairyUpperLip]

Hey - really good job on diving right in. I'm happy to see that you are planning to go right in. Should make the transition easier.

[chops]

Congrats engineer journey!  If I recall correctly, you are a fellow CTer like me - hopefully you don't have tons of annoying hills on your commute.  Those seem to be all over southern NE and they tie up a lot of time for me. 

I've lost ~20 lbs in the past year after I started biking to all my close trips several times a week (grocery store, bank, seeing friends, even going to the laudromat!) and I'm in the best shape of my life. 

Keep up the great work!

[engineerjourney]

Thanks HairyUpperLip!

Chops, yep, fellow CTer!  Thankfully I found a route with only one bad hill into work and two bad hills coming back!  I feel lucky!  Congrats on the great weight loss and fitness!  :-)