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It's bike commuting time!

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  • #1

    It's bike commuting time!

    Since we're no longer covered in snow, that is. (Also, there's an impending bus strike, so I thought it would be best to make alternate arrangements).

    So, I rode my bike to work! I'm pretty proud of myself because I moved last year (after I bought the bike) and now I'm 12 km (7 miles) from work instead of the 4 km I was before. There's some big ass hills in that 12 km too! But this morning I found a route that went around the worst of the hills and only added about 3 km (1.5 miles-ish) to the ride. I'm clocking it at an hour 15 right now - which is only a few minutes longer than the bus ride normally takes.

    So - I'm getting my exercise, being environmentally friendly, impressing the hell out of my co-workers (or convincing them I'm insane, but I'm OK with that), and after a few weeks of this I will probably have the best ass in Calgary

    I'll probably have some sucky driver rants, especially if the buses do strike and traffic volume suddenly goes up 500%. My route is mostly on bike paths, but there are 2 stretches where I have to ride in traffic and I'm scared!!

    Anyone else using pedal power to get to work?
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  • #2
    I do, and I always have but I only live about 3km from work. Good stuff for riding 12 hilly kms.
    I ride home in the dark. Ironically, if I try to make myself visible by using lights and wearing a safety vest, I get honked at and yelled at by drunken idiots in their cars, which just makes me angry. If I don't use any safety equipment, my commute goes by without a hitch. Go figure.
    If for any reason you're not satisfied with our service, I hate you.

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    • #3
      Hmmm, hiding from the drivers seems like a valid strategy... being visible seems to make some of them mad, and the rest ignore us anyway... heh.

      I wish the City would get a move on clearing the leftover winter gravel off the roads. I didn't enjoy riding on a inch deep layer of pea gravel on a steep hill... I really am lucky to have the paths for most of the route (part of it goes along the river and is really pretty first thing in the morning).

      I am not actually riding the hilly part - I'm going around :P One hill I've decided to call the Cliffs of Insanity and I plan to tackle that one round about the end of June, not before! (For the record, the "hills" setting on the stationary bikes at the gym? Not even close, and no preparation for real hills! Also, I want to know what happened to the "flat" part of being a prairie city...)

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      • #4
        I'm another rider. About 15 kilometres... but I only have one major hill, which is easily avoidable due to a side road that is pretty much parrellel.Sure is a great way to get exercise every week.

        My plan is to save up for a decent Mp3 player to make the ride a bit more bearable, like I used to do with my old Ipod before it packed it in.
        3 Basic rules for ordering food.
        - Order from the menu.
        - If you order something that will take some time to cook, then be prepared to wait.
        - Don't talk about Fight Club.

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        • #5
          I would, but there are two rather large obstacles preventing me from doing that.

          Namely, if I were to ride a bike to work, I'd be dead or injured before I get there due to the taxies driving on the road, the sidewalk, the gravel etc etc.

          And, secondly (and probably the most important one)...I er...well, that is to say...um....
          I...

          ...



          ...

          I can't ride a bike....
          The report button - not just for decoration

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          • #6
            When I was riding it was about 9 miles (no idea what that is in koloms, sorry). I could do it in half hour when there was no traffic once I'd got the hang of cycling again, but the first day nearly killed me I was that out of shape.

            Dragonlover
            You have no idea how many ponchos can fit in a box- Me, after may first day at the warehouse

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            • #7
              Quoth Dragonlover View Post
              When I was riding it was about 9 miles (no idea what that is in koloms, sorry). I could do it in half hour when there was no traffic once I'd got the hang of cycling again, but the first day nearly killed me I was that out of shape.

              Dragonlover
              9miles = 14.5 Kms. that's not too bad!
              The report button - not just for decoration

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              • #8
                My hubby has been riding a bike for the last couple of years- he's really into it. When he started he was riding about 32 miles a day round trip to and from work. He was looking like Lance Armstrong- super skinny and muscular. He even has one of those silly looking biking outfits like they wear. He's quite fast- slow for him is 20+ MPH. He top ends around 35 MPH.

                He's a member on this board:
                Bike Forums
                "I don't want any part of your crazy cult! I'm already a member of the public library and that's good enough for me, thanks!"

                ~TechSmith 314
                HellGate: London

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                • #9
                  I had some trouble with my gearing on the way home on Friday so my bike is in the shop today getting checked out (probably just needs the chain or derailleur cable tightened, but I didn't want to risk it). I'm jonesing here! It's all sunny and I wanna ride!!!

                  My neighbour had a monster truck parked out front when I got home the other day, and I felt so very self-righteous as I zipped by that it's a wonder karma didn't zap me on the spot, heh.

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                  • #10
                    Quoth NightAngel View Post
                    He even has one of those silly looking biking outfits like they wear. He's quite fast- slow for him is 20+ MPH. He top ends around 35 MPH.

                    He's a member on this board:
                    Bike Forums
                    I haven't gone as far as the one-piece cycling outfit, but they will pry my padded bike shorts from my cold dead hands!!! (I rode last year in cotton khakis, and ow.) 20 mph is a dream for the glorious future - I think I'm topping out at about 8 mph right now

                    Still no word on the bus strike, but now I almost don't care!

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