Topic: Anybody started bike commuting yet?

[dr_spock]

I'm not bike crazy enough to do a 60 km round trip commute yet.  I don't feel particularly safe on those 80 km/h roads.  We need more bike path like Montreal.  Now that's a good city to bike commute to work when I lived there.

[safristi]

 Have to agree......i biked since 5 to school  and Uni.........in Africa and Edinburgh....our little town in N Rhodesia(Zambia now) had 3 metre widew dirt bike paths away from the ROAD  ah the space woz THERE.... for all the schoolkids and a few adults that used them,,,,,Edinburgh was used to bikes and U had to obey the rules of the Hi_way Code and signal and STOP  when Red or Stop sign.. and U had lights front and back after DUSK...NO problemos.. except a coupla run ins with the LAW (COPS MUSIC here for sidewalk riding and failing to signal...I WOZ a BIKER DUDE!!!! and the LAW WON... )..when coming to Toronto................i was a target on the road...so stuck to Bike trails and parks for my pedalling................then in SW Ont smaller city..back on the bike for many a year..being aware of the safest route(s).............NOW i stay on the side roads and trails again

[huota]

Just finished my second full week of bike commuting. I have learned to pace myself and cut about 8 minutes from the commute, even if I feel like am riding really slow.

I have been doing some window shopping for a new bike, but have so far been able to resist the temptation. It is just that those little things that don't work properly on your bike start to really bother you when riding over an hour per day.

The balance of the week: saw the aftermath of an accident involving a bike rider and a car. Interesting or rare cars seen include a Skyline GT-R, C63 AMG, 911 (some sort of 996 GT or something) and a 308.

[Angry Chicken]

Just finished my second full week of bike commuting. I have learned to pace myself and cut about 8 minutes from the commute, even if I feel like am riding really slow.

< a little bit of snippage>

Just finished my third week and I know what you mean about pacing yourself!  I just about killed myself passing some bikes on the way home on Tuesday in a fit of gotta-get-ahead-of-them itis.  I just can't stand people riding in front of me.  It's a sickness.

You know that KERS (Kinetic Energy Recover System) that they're using in F1 cars this season for the first time?  (link here: http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20600.html )  It's basically a mild hybrid system that stores up kinetic energy generated by the car into a storage module.  The driver can use the KERS system on-demand for an 80 hp (approx.) boost in performance anytime they need it.  The caveat is that it's not an infinite supply of stored up energy.  It also adds 40 kg to the weight of the car.   Well, that's where I am with my riding this week.  The first week of riding I had no stored up energy at all.  If I pressed the KERS button, nothing would have happened.  Now, I feel a lot more energy and I can call up on those reserves from time to time.  I've only put on 300 km (+ recreational riding also) in the last three weeks but I push it hard for 10 km each way (now 15 km) and it's getting easier.  The funny thing is, even when I think I'm taking it easy I'm still way faster than 3 short weeks ago.

Get those carbon fibre forks yet?

[huota]

^I know what you mean with the KERS analogy, I hope to have some stored energy one of these days. I'm certainly eating much more nowadays. Speaking of KERS, in my first week of riding I was almost overtaken in an uphill by a granny on one of those bikes that come with a little electric engine. 

I haven't got those carbon forks yet, as it would practically mean getting a new cyclocross bike, which look very nice, but with starting prices at over a 1,000 euros cost more than I'm willing to spend right now. I've been looking for something in the below 650 euro range lately.