Since gas prices are through the roof (and not looking to get better anytime soon, thanks Obama) I began this year runnning and riding to work. 8 miles down hill to work and 8 mile uphill to get home. Here are a few things I have noticed.
If you run early, and the sun is not up, people coming out of a side street don’t slow to look for runners if there is no on coming car.
No matter what anyone says, women are the WORST when it comes to cell phones.
Guys are the worst at yelling crap at you.
The elderly hate when you run against traffic.
Just when you think someone sees you running against traffic as they are turning out of a shopping center you discover they have not seen you. (I still marvel at how I didn’t get killed Friday running home when some guy gunned it and I was in front of his car).
People don’t know what to do when you come to a 4 way stop sign and you are riding. Half the time they go about half way and stop ruining any chance you have of slowing to go through it and not kill your momentum.
Running with a backpack full of clothes gives you side stiches much more regularly then if you don’t.
If you don’t get to work early, the women you work with will ride you for wearing anything resembling spandex.
There appears to be no way to “clean the pipes” before running to work. I have only had one day without the “runners trots”.
So far, I have been whislted at by a car with two LARGE women and two cars with guys. Apparently no young hotties looking my way.
Running from work, to the gym to work out, and then home, is actually a lot of fun.
This appears to be the best way to lose weight, I have dropped nearly 15 pounds since September.
This also appears to be a fantastic way to decrease you splits. My running times are way down as are my riding times. (and my climbing legs are the strongest they have been)
I’m on the road in sales so no chance for me to commute this way but, in general #5 and #9 I can really relate to. I’m really careful to make eye contact when running in front of the car as many people will definitely do the quick stop or rolling stop and they are only on alert for big objects like a car. As for #9 I have to get up a little earlier and have a coffee and that ensures my #2!
It also teaches you a bit about nutrition. Eating really light during the day and then trying to ride or run for an hour or more teaches you that you need something to fuel with before heading off and need to be hydrated as well.
While running up to a car at a stop light or sign its always good practice to run behind the car. Yeah you may have the right of way, but it’s better than getting hit. Always assume the car doesnt see you.
I wasn’t the one who did this, but a guy at work decided to ride to work the morning after freezing rain and a dusting of snow last week… Let’s just say things went bad and he ended up with a broken elbow… So…
#14 - If there’s snow/ice on the road… take the bus…
They NEVER see you. Even if you look them in the eye, it’s amazing how many driver’s still don’t ‘see’ you. I usually give a slight wave or a halt sign, if I know they may gun it while I’m getting closer. I know it may get obnoxious, but I really like my limbs and skin where they are.
So I heard a funny I think on this forum once. Unless you sell your car, the only money you save by commuting by bike or running is on gas. So lets put your miles to the test with math. 16 miles total. So you probably save one gallon of gas at $4 (depending on your car and if it is city or not). Can you fill your belly with reasonably healthy calories that you are burning running 16 miles per day on $4? Its tough. You have obviously noticed the extra calories needed as you are losing weight, but soon you must replace them. You have to sell the car to really save money. But as you said, there are many other benefits.
People don’t know what to do when you come to a 4 way stop sign and you are riding. Half the time they go about half way and stop ruining any chance you have of slowing to go through it and not kill your momentum.
So are you running the stop sign? And mad that people who are trying to follow the laws don’t know that you are going to break the law and so they act weird? Why don’t you just stop at the stop sign like required? Besides, it is riders like you that really put a bad face on cyclists. I follow all laws. But I hear the anti cyclist folks say all the time that cyclists feel like the own the streets and violate laws all the time. It is experiences with riders like yourself that give them that bad impression about me. Please try to be a good steward of our community and don’t run stop signs or red lights.
Since gas prices are through the roof (and not looking to get better anytime soon, thanks Obama) I began this year runnning and riding to work. 8 miles down hill to work and 8 mile uphill to get home. Here are a few things I have noticed.
If you run early, and the sun is not up, people coming out of a side street don’t slow to look for runners if there is no on coming car.
No matter what anyone says, women are the WORST when it comes to cell phones.
Guys are the worst at yelling crap at you.
The elderly hate when you run against traffic.
Just when you think someone sees you running against traffic as they are turning out of a shopping center you discover they have not seen you. (I still marvel at how I didn’t get killed Friday running home when some guy gunned it and I was in front of his car).
People don’t know what to do when you come to a 4 way stop sign and you are riding. Half the time they go about half way and stop ruining any chance you have of slowing to go through it and not kill your momentum.
Running with a backpack full of clothes gives you side stiches much more regularly then if you don’t.
If you don’t get to work early, the women you work with will ride you for wearing anything resembling spandex.
There appears to be no way to “clean the pipes” before running to work. I have only had one day without the “runners trots”.
So far, I have been whislted at by a car with two LARGE women and two cars with guys. Apparently no young hotties looking my way.
Running from work, to the gym to work out, and then home, is actually a lot of fun.
This appears to be the best way to lose weight, I have dropped nearly 15 pounds since September.
This also appears to be a fantastic way to decrease you splits. My running times are way down as are my riding times. (and my climbing legs are the strongest they have been)
Feel free to add your own…
5, wear something bright, I have a flouresent yellow jacket that is CONSPICOUS.
#8, the women are jealous you can wear spandex and look good #13, best training secret out there
#14- Bikes run on fat and saves you money, cars run on money and makes you fat
I like to slow almost to a stop but not completely stop so that I don’t have to unclip. I am not tearing through it. I don’t mind completely stopping if I have to, especially if there are a lot of cars at the stop signs. However, when there is one car turning in front of me and I slow significantly they still stop in the middle of the road as if they are expecting me to speed up and go again.
I guess that is a result of too many cyclists tearing through stop signs.
That’s funny, one of the teachers I work with (an attractive one no less) told me she only teases me cause I look better in spandex than she does. Too bad she doesn’t show up in spandex for me to find out.
Always run behind the cars (unless their reverse lights are on).
Assume you are invisible.
Pay special attention to The Prius.
That whole stop sign thing drive me nuts. It’s even worse when cross traffic does not have a stop and you (on bike) do. Some will stop and wave you through. If they would just drive you could roll in behind them. AAAAHHHHHH! If the car has a dark interior I can’t really see the driver. I’ve had people waving frantically trying to tell me to go and then get pissed because I just sit and wait. I can’t see you!
If you are to believe their research, you can use the current IRS mileage rate of $0.51/mile as a rough average. So, say ~$8/day for a 16-mile round-trip commute.
Assume everyone is out to kill you. You will be wrong less often than if you don’t make that assumption.The buzz of riding is a great way to start the dayYou feel OK about wearing lycra in public.You can spend 1/2 the money you save on gas, on drugs and whores, and you can waste the rest.Lights on, ALL the time, will see you through to collecting your retirement savings.You CAN draft off city buses safely, but ya gotta be smart. 1. stay near the outer side of the bus so when they slow down and pull over at a bus stop, you don’t run into the back of them! 2. KNOW where the bus stops are in advance 3. stay back about 10-15 feet. This is the “sweet spot” at 50-70kph and you hardly ever have to pedal! 4. have your hands on the brakes at all times and be ready to use them. 5. sit back on your seat so that when you have to brake, you don’t “endo” into the bus.Run to work?
I haven’t done that in years so can’t say, but IF my current back problems allow me to ever run again, running to work would be a cool idea (only 13km each way afterall)
I left a change of clothes and vehicle at work tonight. Commuting my first time running tomorrow morning. Depending on how I feel (I’ve been fighting a stomach virus), I can cut across a creek and it will be 8 mi, cut it a different route for 10mi, or the full driving way for about 12.5mi.
