Cycling to Work Day 2
I have been threatening for some time now to start riding my bike to work and had even done a test ride on a weekend as a proof of concept. Today was day two, and I suppose I should have documented Day one, but apparently was more focused on arriving at work in one place and surviving the day as a productive member of the team. There is nothing earth shattering here. I am just trying to lose some weight, save some money on gas and maybe have less of an environmental impact. I plan on tracking what statistics I can and will check in periodically to see what progress I have made and in turn keep myself motivated.
The Details
By my estimate, my ride is about 8.3 miles (I'll get a more accurate assessment soon). I take the Monon Trail (an Indianapolis "Greenway") for the bulk of that distance and primarily back roads beyond that. Today's trip to work took about 40 minutes. The time varies based on traffic and general congestion on the trail (it is much lighter in the morning than in the evening). My heart rate ranged between 130 and 140 and was at 138 BPM for most of the trip.
The Route
Google does not allow you to travel via the Monon Trail, so this is only a rough representation of the route.
The Lessons
I am sure that I am going to learn a lot doing this, but here are my immediate conclusions.
- Weight is bad. Currently, I am hauling my standard work bag that holds my laptop, some books and notepads, and other electronics, odds and ends; a pannier with my work clothes (including shoes); and a pannier with my workout clothes. I also ride a twelve year-old Specialized Rock Hopper that has a steel frame and those lovely mountain bike tires. All told, this is not a light set-up and I feel it as I strain mightily to get up to speed as streamlined road bikers fly by me. I will be lightening my load very rapidly.
- Padding is good. I have a pair of bike shorts, but I got them for the occasional spinning class and they just don't cut it on the road. My seat and handle bars are not much better, so I foresee some upgrades in those two places as well.
- Let cars adjust for you. Drivers suck. They tailgate you and get annoyed. Whatever you d, don't feel guilty and try and compensate to appease them, that will only end in disaster. Claim you space on the road and be assertive.
- You need water. No matter how short the ride, you are going to need some water. I have been parched to the point of severe annoyance on every trip so far. Take water and drink liberally.
So far, so good. I will check in with progress updates. Hopefully, I will get to the point where the impact on my daily habits is minimal and I'll wind up lighter with a heavier wallet. Indianapolis is a very car-dependent city, so it is going to be interesting to see if I can sustain a cycling habit and find other places where I can integrate it into my routine.
