looks like i will get my first chance to try the commuter thing this week. did a trial of my route (about 1/4 MUT and 3/4 road) sunday. 25 miles and 90 minutes on my mtb with knobbies. i will be swapping out the rear for a slick and throw a semi-slick on the front. i will drive in to work tomorrow with an extra suit, and ride home. the next day i will bike in and drive home. i plan on storing my bike in the car, eliminating the need for locks.

the biggest problem is lack of showers at my work. i have read to shower before you leave, then once at work should cool down for 10-15 minutes, go wipe down with baby wipes, change, then do up the hair again.

i dont usually eat breakfast until late, but am planning on taking something with me.

does anybody have an tips/tricks for a first timer? not just in the bathing/food department either...

Good advice. I would add... bring at least two spare tubes. Although since you're on mountain bike, it may not be an issue.

It sounds like you're off to a good start. Will you be commuting on high-traffic roads, city streets, or isolated country roads?

- Carry as little as possible. Carry your emergency repair kit and frame or mini pump and whatever else you would carry on any 25-mile ride, but try to avoid carrying clothes, laptop, kitchen sink, etc.
- Assume that drivers are either half-asleep, running late, or thinking about work. Be aware of where they are, and try to predict the bonehead moves they might make. Ride deliberately but always be aware and ready to react.
- Dress for high visibility - hi vis yellow, lights, etc.
- Understand your morning routine, biologically speaking. I need 30-40 minutes in the morning before I'm ready to get on my bike.

If you enjoy it and want to commute regularly, here's what I do as part of my routine:
- Plan ahead, thinking on Sunday which days will be commute days so that I can pack up a duffel bag with clothes & some snacks for the week.
- Watch the weather forecast regularly. Rain is ok if it's relatively warm, Thunderstorm is not.
- With a 25-mi commute, odds are high that sooner or later you'll get caught in the rain. You might want to put fenders on your bike.

Most of all..... ENJOY!!!!

suonata

Good advice. I would add... bring at least two spare tubes. Although since you're on mountain bike, it may not be an issue.
Unfortunately, we live in a cell phone infested society. The company gave me a cell phone so that they can annoy me on my weekends &/or evenings. I have made it a point to make sure that it is handy & not packed in the bottom of the backpack (stop quickly, unshoulder the bag, search for the silly thing, ... ) or simply turn the miserable thing off & plead ignorance ("whoops! sorry about that, I must have forgotten...) That's me riding & stopping to answer the phones.
Drivers on the otherhand, gods of the roads in their own minds, will be too busy talking to notice me on my bike & it has gotten really close on the odd occaision. So be wary out there!

i can actually make it 1/2 trails 1/2 road, but that adds some distance and time. i will see just how close my close calls are before i decide to duck back into the woods.

thanks for all the advice! two tubes, a pump, reflective jacket, and a slick on the rear should help me out. i will have my cell, just in case.

thanks for the question and the advice- i really apprecviate this forum- as i'm a newb commuter too.

Tips from a fellow Chicago commuter

- Leave the shoes at work if you can. They are usually heavy and bulky.
- Messenger bags look cool but your back and shoulder will appreciate a backpack more over the long distance.
- Listen to WBBM first thing in the morning. They have weather every ten minutes. I use their weather report to figure out what I'm going to wear for the day. Lately it's tights and long sleeve jerseys under a jacket in the morning. and then shorts and a long sleeve jersey on the way home.
- Check weather.com the night before to get an idea of the projected weather the next day. That usually gives me an idea of what I am going to wear in the morning.
- Don't be afraid to vary your route even if it means some extra miles. Lincoln Ave. is the shortest route from Lakeview to my workplace in Niles however I take a route that is an additional 2.4 miles to avoid the traffic.
- As it gets darker look out for deer on the MUT's in the forest preserves. I've had several VERY close encounters (along with racoon, opossum, and other critters).
- It probably doesn't apply right now but my best purchase of 2004 has been Performance Neoprene booties. These things keep your feet warm on cold day commutes.
- Keep a few tools at work. I often tweak my bike over my lunch hour if I think it needs adjustment.

Last year I managed 184 days of riding in Chicago. Understanding the elements and how to dress for them is key. I have never regretted choosing to ride my bike instead of driving.

You may not be able to do 25 miles in 90 minutes of commuter traffic. Look for roads with few as parking lots and side streets as the urban world allows.

In central cities 3 rights are sometimes better than 1 left. I know we have the right to make lefts, and we should fight for our rights, but sometimes it's much simpler and safer to go to the next block and come back around.

Make peace with busses. You, the smallest vehicle, will find yourself sharing the right lane with some of the largest and smelliest so it doesn't pay to see them as an enemy. Pass them only on the left and when they look like they will be stopped long enough that they won't catch back up.

Relax and enjoy the ride as much as possible. If your commute leaves you feeling angry or stressful, you may as well be in a car and save your ride for when you can enjoy it.

My commute home last night went well and my commute in this morning was even better. I will post a new thread about "my first commute" later.

Well it an easy dress choice for my commute - in Singapore !! Short jersey & nix everyday of the year & I'm soaked with sweat within 2 mins. No matter if it rains - can actually be nicer. Gets the sweat out of your face.

Although a banker, no suits jackets in this climate just trousers so take trousers in on Monday. Shirt, sox & jox each day. Have found that I can keep a well folded shirt in OK shape by putting it in a laptop bag and then in my backpack. Keep shoes, belt and a few ties in the office full time.

Last job had showers, now I join the gym at the hotel over the road & use their showers (and small locker). Even get my bike valet parked while at the gym (then take to the office).

Peak hour commute down Orchard Road (if anyone has ever been to Singapore) can be on a par with Manhattan. 4-6 lanes of drag strip. Draft a bus here, duck in front of a taxi there... I've even switched to a fixie latelly but the bike messenger thing is lost over here.

Funniest episode was being hit on the head by a mango falling from a street tree in our neighbourhood. Scared the s**t out of me - always wear a helmet !!

I have commuted all over the world almost every way possible xpt car (or helicopter) - bus, train, ferry, walk even done 2 x 3mths worth of HongKong - Singapore commute, but bike beats them all.

Have fun, be safe & make them afraid !!