bike to work...

Well I have done the bike to work thing in the past. My suggestions are as follows. First allow extra time in the morning commute to keep your heart rate down. This will limit thecleanup time. Plus the morning rides tend to be cooler anyway. Once there I have two suggestions. First bring a thermos of warm or hot water to mix with some cold water for a spong bath. Second is the ever famous baby wipes. You will use quite a few but they work as a good alternative.Last but not least don't forget the deoderant and "stink prety" stuffs that can help. 8)

Joe

How about using some of those pre-moistened baby wipe towels for a quick "water-less" clean-up? You could heat them in the microwave.

Your great feeling will get greater as you get into this mode of commuting!!! It is a wonderful way to get to work -- and others at work will think you are pretty special!!!! They may chuckle a bit, but they truly are envioous. I coordinate the annual Bike T0 Work Day at my work, and at least 2 people now use their bike once in a while (not often enough, but an improvement).

Good luck -- and have fun!

To you who have rode to work before: What was the average miles of the commute?  I need a car for work many times as I have go go and see peoeple, has any one else faced this?  What happens if bad weather strikes?

Thanks

JR

I've only ridden my bike to work once, a long time ago when I worked in a hospital and had to go in on New Year's Day.  I figured the roads would be empty and it wouldn't be too treacherous.  That was about 17 miles each way.  No weather problems, and there were showers to use when I got there. 

Once a week I ride my bike to swim team practice, 14 miles each way (depending on route).  When bad weather strikes, I still gotta do what I gotta do.  In the summer it is almost a guaranteed thunderstorm most afternoons.  Sometimes they come in a little early and have taken me by surprise.  That's how you learn good reflexes.  Rainstorms are scary enough but once I was in a horrible thunderstorm only 5 miles from home.  Good thing I didn't have a HR monitor on or would've blown up!

Sharon

JR -- I will answer with my definte --- it all depends!

If I commute from home it is roughly 12 miles -- the bad hills come on the way home!! But I do not often start from home because I go to the gym or pool before work. So I drive my bike to there, workout and drive my bike to a safe parking spot and ride from there -- that makes it roughly 7 miles each way.

I have all the warm and rain gear one could ever need (call me gearhead) and seldom use the rainpants -- often wear the rain jacket. I have been caught in rain (once again -- Seattle, you know) but no big deal. Most of myself does not get wet -- just my outerwear. That dries fine during the work day.

If weather turns REALLY bad, I have couple of options. A few people at work have offered to drive me and my bike home whenever I need (weather, illness) or I can take the bus, all of which are equipped with a bike rack. I think there is also some policy at work of a guaranteed ride home for those who get to work via an alternatve commute (bike, van/car pool). I don't have to worry about that one since I have good friends who offer thier help. I have not had to use any of those options.

I try to bike commute on an average of 2 days a week year round. Sometimes I do it 4 days, some not at all (lack of motivation, work schedule does not allow, need to drive somewhere, etc). I have been VERY "bad" this year however. January held around 3 bike commute days, and February none!!! I won't bore you with my excuses.

That is probably, once again, more than you wanted to know..................

I going to give a tri, with my job though I going to have to plan it in advance.

Thanks for the great info.

Thanks for the site -- betterworld looks quite interesting. I will have to return to it with more time to peruse. I find all these neat sites, and plan to come back to them when I have more time ------ and then I get wrapped up in staying on this board!!

That's not truly a complaint -- just an observation...........................