Does anyone ride their bike to work?

You'll be fine I've been biking for years I just eat too much hence being on here 6.6 miles is pretty much nothing on a bike. I did 6 miles each way when I first started commuting (from 0 exercise) and I managed fine. Just give yourself lots of time until you see how hard you can go. Good luck.

soccerkon26 wrote: »

I actually don't have a bike, so any suggestions would be GREAT

I bought a bike last year and went for comfort. It has 7 speeds but it's built like the bike I grew up riding, big seat, normal handle bars etc. I love it! I'm considering riding to work this summer but I'm a little apprehensive because I have to ride along a busy highway with no bike lane and the drivers in my city are not known for their courtesy or sense!

Yes I love to ride my bike to work great exercise and I enjoy the outside

Not too bad but I prefer cooler weather and I change at work to refresh and wash hair

Dry shampoo is great alternative to rewashing

I bike to work on average 2-3 days a week from April through November (Bixi bikeshare season here in Montreal). It's about 6 km (3.7 miles) each way, and takes me about 30 minutes door to door including red lights, traffic, etc. I love love LOVE cycling -- it's a great refreshing way to get to the office feeling happy and enjoying nature, rather than dealing with the crowds on public transit. And it's a great way to add exercise, too.

I'd suggest having a backup transit plan for those days when it's really not all that nice out. Sure, there's no bad weather, merely bad clothing. But if you're new to commuting by bike, you don't really need to force yourself to cycle in blinding rainstorms, either.

I'd also suggest getting a bike with some panniers so you can transport your purse, briefcase, laptop, lunch and whatnot. Oh, and a really great lock, if you're riding your own bike and if you have to lock it up outside your office.

You may need to experiment a bit to find the best route. Shortest distance is less important; uphills and downhills become much more important when you're on a bike. If your city has bike paths, you can try taking those, though I find sometimes they get very crowded at rush hour and oftentimes it's faster to cycle on the road and just take my lane. That takes some practice in downtown traffic, though, and if you don't have nerves of steel, you may prefer to stick to side streets until you get more comfortable. Always be visible, learn the hand signals, don't ride too close to parked cars so you don't risk getting doored, and make sure your moves are predictable so you don't catch drivers off guard. Learn the blind spots of large vehicles like buses and trucks and give them wide berth. Technically you have the right of way, but you're much more vulnerable out there on two wheels than they are in four (or eighteen) so no sense tempting fate.

Finally, see if you can get some all-purpose bike-to-office clothing. I don't know what your dress code is at work, but if you can work in jeans, get a pair of commuter cycling jeans and wear them with a blazer or jacket. Worst-case you can throw a shell in your purse and change your shirt when you get to the office to freshen up a bit. In summer, I have a couple of cycling skorts (bike shorts with a skirt cover) that I can wear to the office and then change my skirt when I get there, too.

christinev297 wrote: »

A little off topic... But I always wonder about office workers et al who cycle to work. Aren't you all sweaty, gross and disheveled by the time you get to work?

My office building actually has a gym on the ground floor, so there are changing rooms with lockers and showers available. I use them sometimes in the hottest part of summer. But honestly, in spring or fall, especially early in the mornings, it's cooler out and I don't sweat much since I'm riding pretty slowly in city traffic. I just do a quick fix-up in the mirror when I get to the office and it's fine. In hotter weather, I'll take a shower and change of clothes, but if you don't have showers at the office, a splash in the sink or some wet wipes will usually do nicely, too.

christinev297 wrote: »

A little off topic... But I always wonder about office workers et al who cycle to work. Aren't you all sweaty, gross and disheveled by the time you get to work?

Depends on how hard you ride - or how warm it is outside. I ride leisurely (Zone 1 HR pace) wearing a suit and carrying a messenger bag slung over my shoulder with my work stuff this time of year as it is not too hot temperature wise (50's - 60's) to worry about sweating. Another month or two and the sleeves will be short and the suitcoat in the messenger bag.

The distance the OP mentioned and type of commute sounds like a very easy one to do with a comfortable bike.

haibu wrote: »

if you bike at a nice, enjoyable, normal person pace. /quote]

Define that pace

I'm pretty fast but don't tend to get any warmer than a fast walk anyway.

I'd love to ride my bike to work, but here in Tallahassee that would require a shower at the office!

Riding my bike work is a great way to commute

soccerkon26 wrote: »

I would be riding on a road that mainly semi trucks drive on.../: kinda scared

The good thing about a highway full of truck drivers is that it probably has a wide shoulder, and the bad thing is that truck drivers don't realize how bad their windtunnel effect is. Twenty pounds loaded onto the back rack of a mountain bike will do wonders.