Ilene

BTY,
I rode to work on my bike once, on a Saturday when traffic was at the minimum. It was a very enjoyable ride. However, I can't do it regularly. Reasons:
list

1. I normally carpool with one of my kids to take her to school on the way to work.
2. Same way I often pick up one kid or another on the way home from work.
3. I have to ride through a busy industrial area where I sometimes feel unsafe even in my van with all the semi-trucks pulling in and out of the industrial parks. I would feel like a sitting duck on a bike.
4. We have no shower facility in our office.

[/list]

Maybe one day I will have less obstacles to ride my bike to work, and at that time I certainly will.
j

Aw geez.
All right, BetterThanBiscuits.

I will ride to work more often. It is only ~ 8 miles there. Same ~8 miles back.

My problem is that I tend to bundle my errands. I stop at the post office, pharmacy, and credit union on the way to work. I stop at the grocery store on the way home.

Oh. I guess I should mention that my work is Gumbi work. Very flexible. On Mondays, mamaruns sends me an e-mail with how much work I have. I do some quick calculations and figure how many hours this work will take, usually 8-15 hours per week.

I can put those hours anywhere I want. I am a lucky girl.
No stress, no meetings, no hassles... I don't even have to answer a phone!
(Only downsides: A) I am not using my college education or medical brain. B) I get paid a third of what I would be paid if I were using my college education and medical brain.)

I think I digressed...

Brian,
There is no shower at work. So. When I rode to work that one time so far, I:

Packed a backpack with clean clothes, mascara and blush, and Mambo by Liz Claiborne.

Rode my bike to work, feared for my life on that wee bit of Jamestown Road that has a thin white line on which to ride, go too far to the left of it and WHACK by a car or truck, go too far to the right of it and SPLAT land in a deep ditch.

Whew.
Got to work safely, parked my bike behind my desk, changed my clothes, soaked my head in the sink, sprayed on Mambo, applied mascara and blush, and went to my desk.

During work: My hair looks like Cosmo Kramer's. My clothes are a bit itchy.

Ride home: Made a big mistake. Never eat a black bean burrito for lunch on a bike-commute day.

I can't wait to try that again!

Another bike comuter here - in my case it is the most efficient timewise. Econo - I usually carry my clothes, but try to keep some clothes at work - extra hosery, shoes, toiletries and whatever else. I don't have the most coiffed look going, but they kind of have gotten used to my style.

Another sometime bike commuter here. I'd like to do it more often, but also have the kids/scheduling issue to contend with. Ah, heck, I admit it -- I'm also a fair weather bike commuter. I love the cold rain while running; not so much while cycling.

I can get to work downtown faster on my bike -- about 35 minutes door to door (9.5 miles; lotsa stops). Its more like 45 minutes plus parking time if I drive. It's actually a fairly pleasant ride on mosty bike lanes and the Burke Gilman bike trail. Mostly downhill there; more uphill on the way home.

I used to have the luxury of an office shower when I arrived and still could shower at the health club downstairs if I got on the road earlier. Instead, it's a quick towel wipe when I arrive.

I keep telling myself to get some panniers. It's primarily the backpack on my back with my work attire, lunch, and sometimes running gear and work files, too, that gets me sweaty, not the actual workout.

I love the a.m. ride in the morning fresh air and arriving at work in a good mood as opposed to a crabby one because of traffic. I heard a "you go girl" from some garbage truck driver as I tackled a hill recently and it made my day. You can't hear that stuck in a car.

I also arrive home happy, having had time to forget the work day while cycling. I'm sure my kids appreciate that. Blowing by cars stuck in traffic is pretty satisfying, too. Oooh yeah.




http://This message has been edited by Soundrunner1012 (edited Jun-24-2007).

no, it's the lurker.. I'm a 10 mile round trip commuter having given up my T pass for the summer. It's about the same time as the T or a little faster - if I don't include changing time. I use a pannier for my work clothes and bike in slowly. Short hair means that helmet hair is not a real problem. However, when I have late afternoon meetings in a different building, I bike with my pants rolled up looking very silly!
marj

I would love to be able to bike to work, even one day a week. But I have a 35 mile commute, and I live 3,600 feet higher in elevation. So the ride to work might be do-able (looong downhills) but the ride home would take me all night!