Not only do I get my ride in early in the morning, save gas, unwind on the way home, not deal with traffic, not pay for parking, etc., but I get to see things that most people just drive right by without even having the foggiest idea. For example, this morning, I rode by an elementary school where I witnessed what may be the first and only time an older brother gave his little sister some semblance of love. He had just walked his little sister to school before catching the bus to his school (I’m assuming he is in jr high). When he dropped her off, he walked across the street (I was waiting for the red light to change), turned around and shouted, “Julie - have a GREAT day!!! I love you!!!” His sister was clearly shocked - but just grinned this huge, Cheshire grin, beaming with happiness. It just made my day. I love bike commuting.
you sure it wasn’t thesnail stalking little girls again?
Dan
You never know…but I don’t see why he’d be up on 9th and 9th at 8AM…
8 am? my day is half over by that time, geesh
I wiped out while biking to work today, it was awesome.
Some guy was coming from behind me on his commuter bike real fast, clearly looking to pass me. I wasn’t having any of that on my casual ride, so I started pushing like a madman, digging real deep. You have no idea.
Long story short, I went way too fast downhill and hit the breaks too hard sending my bike with me on it sliding 10 feet into the bushes, barely missing a swamp. It rocked.
He ended up passing me after my wipeout, and like a dick, slowed himself down afterwards while I followed behind him without holding the handlebars. He rubbernecked me every 3 minutes or so.
I’m so jealous. I bike commuted religiously for the last 4 years but alas my job took it’s toll this year and I’ve been putting in 70-80 hours a week. Needless to say the 50-55 minutes each way I sacrificed for sleep. but I’ll get back in the game in December when all the madness is over.
I couldn’t agree more! It feels great at the end of the day to change into my bike gear and leave work behind! Especially when i did my hard workout in the morning and can just cruise home!
I smile on highway overpasses, looking down on the grid-locked masses. Commuting by bike, racing w/o a watch, home w/o TV. Frequently missed liberating experiences.
And, for me, when you take into account walking to and from the parking lot and traffic, my bike commute is faster. Agreed on all of the rest-my favorite part of the day.
Do you sweat a lot when you commute? At my work we don’t have showers. We have your typical bathroom. My place employs less than 25 people too. Any tips on clothing options and cleaning up options?
~trevor
I did a lot of bike commuting the last few years when my choice was to sit in traffic for one hour or sit on my bike for the same amount of time. This year, however, I can carpool with my wife and catch the HOV lane. So bike commuting would not only increase my commute time, but more importantly would force my wife out of the HOV lane. Kind of an asshole move. So not much bike commuting for me now.
On the one hand, it’s nice to get out of the rush hour bike lane insanity. On the other hand, I miss all the little things like you described. Plus it’s a lot harder to get my bike miles in now.
Do you sweat a lot when you commute? At my work we don’t have showers. We have your typical bathroom. My place employs less than 25 people too. Any tips on clothing options and cleaning up options?
~trevor
Baby wipes. They aren’t the be-all and end-all, you’ll still be a little itchy all day, but they get most of the crud and grime and pretty much all of the stink. Plus you can just keep the effort level lower on the ride to work to keep the sweat down a bit (helps that it’s cool out in the morning). Riding home, of course, it doesn’t really matter if you get nasty sweaty, so that’s when I would hammer it.
You know I like 44 yr old men.
Do you sweat a lot when you commute? At my work we don’t have showers. We have your typical bathroom. My place employs less than 25 people too. Any tips on clothing options and cleaning up options?
How long is your commute? What about time of day?
In south Texas, where, until the past couple of days, temperatures had been north of 100*, sweat is not much of an issue for me. My commute is roughly 20-minute, each way, commute, so a quick wipe-down with a washcloth & towel take care of stank, while a change of clothes finishes the job. Because of the apparent ease of commuting, a few of the other teachers at my school have begun riding to work.
Indeed: Commuting rocks. 
Get a bag carrier for your bike. No backpack = less back-sweat.
I don’t use one myself, because I think they are hella ugly and bikes are way more badass without them. And I can shower at work.
Baby wipes and a bottle of water over my head. Is not perfect but works well enough a couple of times week, would not want to do it every day. I leave my clothes at work so I don’t have to carry anything.
It’s 15-16 miles. So an hour or so. And most of it would be leaving around 930pm at night and leaving work around 700am. I would need headlights and reflective gear for sure. I’ve considered it, but working the graveyard shift makes me weary. Drivers have a hard time seeing you at night and drivers in the AM are in a hurry to get to work. Oi.
Thanks for the baby wipes and other ideas. I’d consider a small bookbag to shove clothing in. I’m not a suit or Polo, so that’s nice. I sit in front of video monitors and run TV for a local station. =)
~trevor