Commuting to work by bike

Started working this week and hit the gym 3 times out of 6, but I ended up oversleeping at my girl's place last night, so that’s 2 days wasted. My commute is like 14 miles each way.

I’m sitting at about a 5.9 in one direction, though I tend to rack up a lot more mileage when I'm out running errands. Honestly, I find it way easier to just hop on my bike rather than dealing with the headache of other ways to get around.

Man, I’m looking at about 2 miles and change myself. Honestly? No way am I cranking up the engine for that one.
I can breeze there in like 12.5 minutes without even breaking a sweat.
If I actually push it and get all sweaty, I can clock an 8:40—yeah, I totally overslept, but hey, setting some new personal records along the way! :-))
Plus, for pretty much the whole 1.9 miles stretch, it's just a straight shot on a bike path...

Every single day that isn't pouring rain—all year long, even during those brutal mid-summer heatwaves—I’m out there working. Love it.
11 milesIt's about a 30-minute trek one way, though the commute back usually drags on for nearly 50 minutes—classic.

Every single day, regardless of whether it’s scorching sun, pouring rain, or a snowstorm, I commute on my bike. I always carry a spare set of clothes because even in the dead of winter, if I don't rush, I still end up sweating; just how my body is built, I guess 🙂
. I wear cycling gear for the ride and switch into regular clothes once I get to the office.
Right now, during the gap between my bike being stolen and getting a new one—which should be in just a few days—I’ve been walking. 2.8 miles It’s about a 45-minute walk. Honestly, I’m actually enjoying the stroll because it gives me time to listen to audio lectures that I usually can't find the time or motivation to sit down for.
At this point, the idea of going back to commuting by bus feels pretty grim 😁

Thanks so much for pointing out those audio lectures!
Honestly, whenever I'm running low on time and just walking to work...

wearyotter36 said:every single day when it isn't pouring rain all year long—even in the middle of a heatwave—I just love them.
11 milesit's about a 30 minute drive one way, but coming back takes like 50 minutes lol

You living on top of a mountain or something? 🙂

Just my usual route.
It’s mostly just a gentle incline—though on my way to work, I get a nice easy downhill stretch toward the suburbs.
I’d love to tell you everything is perfectly flat, but that’s strictly science fiction.
My cardio is holding up just fine, though. :-)

Haha, same thing happening over here 😁
It takes me about 35 minutes if I'm cruising, but maybe closer to 45 or 50 if I have to pull over and walk a bit to beat the congestion.

Haven't run into an uphill climb where I actually have to push yet—honestly, that sounds way more exhausting than just riding the bike.

wearyotter36 said:I haven't run into any steep paved hills where I actually have to get off and push yet—honestly, that sounds way harder than just riding the bike!

Personally, I actually enjoy switching things up a bit to work different muscle groups. But man, ever since I picked up this new hardtail trekking bike, I’ve been powering straight to the top without even thinking about walking once. On my old mountain bike (which was basically a full-suspension setup), it felt like such a slog, so I'm finally realizing what a high-quality ride actually makes for you.
By the way, I clocked in at 42 minutes today. My previous record was 45, and I've only had this bike for three days!

wearyotter36 said:I haven't run into any paved hills where I actually have to push yet—honestly, that sounds way harder than just riding a bike!??

Just find a street in Mudifaj🙂

Kenneth Reed7 said:Just find your way down to Mudifaj🙂

Oh yeah, I’m with you there... the car starts sputtering like crazy once you get out that way...

Kenneth Reed7 said:Find a street in Mudifaj🙂

The Mudifaj areas aren't exactly anything special—neither the neighborhoods near the old industrial district nor the ones by the suburbs—so you're better off looking toward the outskirts or maybe somewhere out near the foothills of the Appalachians.😁

darkraven16 said:The Mudifaj crew isn't all that—not the guys from the Brooklyn side or the ones over in Queens—you’re better off looking for the Kuntić or Šušković types out near the foothills of the Appalachians. 😁

I live right near Mount Rainier—honestly, I don't see what the big deal is.
Sure, I’m light as a feather—and my Merida weighs about 26 pounds. 😍

wearyotter36 said:I know the hills near Blue Ridge—I live right in the vicinity—so I honestly don't see what the big deal is.
And just to be clear: I'm pretty light, and my bike is only about 26 pounds—a Trek 😍

No, I’m talking about that specific stretch near the old mill area—that massive incline, maybe 600 to 900 feet of pure climbing—where that dilapidated house sits on the right.😉

That section absolutely kills me; probably because I have to grind through those initial rollers on the outskirts of town first.😁

darkraven16 said:I'm talking about that specific stretch near the summit that hits you with that massive ridge—maybe 600 to 900 feet high—where you pass those old, run-down houses on the right side. 😉

That particular section absolutely kills me, probably because I have to put in some serious effort just to navigate the incline once I get past the trailhead over by the suburbs. 😁

I know exactly which ridge you mean, and yeah, it’s a legitimate climb. 😬

jadetiger962 said:I know exactly which hill they’re talking about—and honestly, it’s a decent one. 😬

Yeah, I even managed to dig up a photo. 😁

darkraven16 said:The local guys around here aren't exactly much to write home about, whether you're looking near the suburbs or out by the old industrial district. If you actually want someone decent, maybe try looking toward the folks out in the foothills near the Appalachian range. 😁

Both spots are just a few hundred yards from my house. Those hills are actually great for training; you can climb to the summit, head down the other side toward a neighborhood like Naperville, and loop back. Do that twice and I guess you're done with your workout for the day. 😁I guess I managed to set a personal best on the downhill stretch along Broadway, hitting about 82 mph.

Yeah, that’s the part we're talking about—exactly.