My Bike to Work Route (round-trip)It is done.
After much planning, I left my F-150 in the driveway and pedaled my way to work and back. It was quite an experience on so many levels.
With a backpack full of work clothes, a bike lock and more, I was rolling out the driveway at approximately 5:50am. Rolling out the driveway with knobby wheels.
Yes, I took the mountain bike. No, I won't take it again.
This was one of the many decisions I'd labored a little over since I got the idea to bike to work. I finally reasoned that I'd take the mountain bike since it would afford me more control on an unfamiliar route and it fulfilled that role nicely.
Unfortunately, the knobby tires also fulfilled their role at gripping, unrelentlessly, the pavement. Relatively easy climbs for the road bike became slow, "high rpm/little forward movement" experiences. Oh, and the saddle on my mountain bike...ouch.
Overall though, it was an exhilarating experience. Here are a few key observations:
- Leaving at 5:50am was a good idea. While it involved some riding in the dark, the traffic was few and far between. When I arrived at the big intersection near my employer, it was a piece of cake.
- It feels great to have spent the entire day burning calories instead of carbon.
- Based on mileage data from my Garmin Edge 705 and the average MPG of my F-150, I saved two gallons of gasoline, or about $8, and burned 1500 calories or so instead.
- Most of the drivers today were courteous with the exception of one woman on a cell phone pulling out of a subdivision. We both made eye contact but she pulled out in front of me anyway in that "head fog" created by having a cell phone attached to her ear. It wasn't a close call, but it was annoying!
- Did I already mention I'm not taking my mountain bike next time?
4 comments:
Reposting from my response on WildTexas.com:
Very, very proud of you, Justin. I do worry about other people (inattentive drivers, aggressive drivers, etc.) but it's not that different from your flying. I'm thrilled the route was manageable and that maybe you've found another way to incorporate your long-standing focus on bicycling frequently for health benefits into being a viable transportation method occasionally to work, as well.
Well done Justin ... too bad more of us didn't have that ambition or passion to ride a bike. Let me guess ... you have a shower available at work?
:-)
Good job. I would suggest some slick tires for your MTB. They are not so grippy and you can pump them a little more than the knobby's.
I have thought about biking to work but the 42 mile one way distance in Houston is not looking possible. The bike trails and routes seem to run north/south when I need them to run east/west.
Slick tires on the MTB is an option if the road bike option doesn't work out.
RichC - yes, I was able to take a shower at the fitness center where I work and boy did I need that shower!
It felt great to prove to myself that using a bicycle to get to work is totally an option!
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