Finally Biking to Work!

[lisahi]

I still haven't given up my Dish Satellite TV (that's a tough thing for me), but I am now biking to work as much as possible. I bought a Trek 7.1 FX from a local bike shop, on sale for $399 because it was from a bulk purchase that fell through. That was still a lot of money for me, but as I haven't ridden a bike since my teenage years, I wanted one that was new and unlikely to crap out on me since I don't know much (yet) about fixing bikes.

Turns out the lining inside the wheel rims was defective. Both tires went completely flat after a few rides because of this. The bike shop recognized that it was a defect and didn't charge me to replace the tire and lining, thankfully. It was just a bit inconvenient. Since then I've had no issues (although the roads are so poor here I'm still worried about flats--but that would be the case with any bike).

The ride to work is only 3.5 miles. It is on a very busy 40 mph road, though, so it's taken some courage to get going, but I'm almost used to it now. Still adjusting to showering at work (a necessity--it's hot here), getting up earlier, and transporting all my stuff via bike (I sprung for a rear rack and bag). The only issues I've had are the aforementioned flats and a very, very windy day yesterday, in which I could barely walk without falling over, much less ride. In both cases, a co-worker had to drive me home. Texas weather can be...unexpected.

I can't yet quantify the money I'm saving, but I am enjoying getting more exercise. Now I don't feel nearly so bad eating the chocolate chip cookies my boss's wife brings in on Mondays.

[FunkyStickman]

Congrats!

[LibrarIan]

Welcome to the club! I recently started doing this as well, although my situation is a bit different. I bike to a park and ride for the public bus and take the bus to my work building. But anyhow, it takes the car out of the equation.

For your dish situation, maybe try disabling it temporarily to see how things go. I found that I didn't miss television at all after only a couple weeks and it was really easy to do away with cable/dish/etc. The library and Netflix cover all the bases here for me.

[carozy]

I just started this morning!  Feel more energetic than I have in a long time.  It was only 2 miles.  I'm moving this weekend to the East Bay.  Once I'm settled there I plan to take Bart (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to the city and then bike from there.  Previously I was thinking I would take a bus once I'm in the city but since my work is only going to subsidize $76 of my transportation costs, I might as well save $66 from the bus pass and get a work out to book.

[Shooter_D]

Good for you! I'm hoping to make the switch from a regular car commute (of 6 km/3.5 miles each way) to a bike commute, at least for the spring/summer/fall. I think I'll start on the sidewalks here. I know this can be less-safe than biking on the road, but I don't think I'll be biking very quickly when I start out (need to get into shape and such) and I just don't have the guts yet to hold my own among the drivers who annoy me when I'm in a car, let alone on my bike.

lisahi, how do you find biking on the road? 

[lisahi]

Thanks all!

LibrarIan - I was just thinking of my Dish yesterday. I may still be under contract, but I'm close to the end. If it ends during the summer, I may cut it off and see how it goes.

carozy - Congrats! I feel like I can concentrate better at work when I bike in. For example, today I couldn't bike in because I've got errands to run all over town and not a lot of time to do them, and I feel a little laggy. Tomorrow I'll be biking in, though.

Shooter_D - Biking on the road is still scary for me. I know it's supposed to be safer, but there are sharp corners that I get freaked out about and the cars here don't understand bikers. I'll eventually get used to it, although I do bike on the sidewalk in certain areas (there's one blind turn that I simply don't trust at all).