View Full Version : Started Commuting..... cool.....


rory1
06-09-2004, 09:19 AM
OK,

I live in south Denver area (Highlands Ranch) and I take the RTD 'light rail' to work downtown. It's about an hour from my house to work, I drive to a parking lot to catch the train, and it's about a 35 - 40 minute train ride to downtown.

At the parking lot (Mineral Park N Ride for those who know) - there is also the Platte River trail (MUT) that heads north to downtown also.

I opted to try to do some commuting, and get in miles that I normally wouldn't do. In addition, I have a membership at a gym two blocks from my work, so showers are certainly available.

I have now commuted 4 days or so - about 2x a week - and will be moving to 3x a week.

I drive to the Mineral ParkNRide) since from my house it would add about a half hour of time to my commute, and lots of traffic.... From the parknride, I simply head north on the platte river trail - I usually am in the saddle by 6 am (I'm an early morning person) and pedal away..... I go about 16.5 miles one way to the gym, I have my clothes and such in a camelback H.A.W.G. (everything fits decently) and hop the showers.

there is a bike rack outside the gym, that works fine for holding the bike while I'm showering and getting ready, I then take my bike to the building I work at where they have a parking garage. There are 3 or 4 bike racks there - with lots of bikes, I simply lock my bike up in there - and the bike racks are about 20 feet away from people who man the exit gates for people having to pay for their parking - hence someone to call the police if there is any 'messing' with bikes.

I cover only about 5 blocks on streets in downtown, and going from the MUT to the gym is a pretty decent one way shot (a block over is another one way shot for going back to the mut) with a bike lane painted in it. There are lots of bike messenger folk downtown, so bikes on the streets are pretty common - and with lots of commuters.

When I take the train in - I usually leave my house about 6:20-ish or so and am in my office around 7:30 - 7:40.

When I bike in - I get up 30 minutes early - my stuff is already laid you so I just put it in the pack and I go - I ride from about 6:00am - 7:00 am, am in the gym and showering then, and take my bike 2 blocks to the underground parking, lock up and get in my office around 7:30ish.....

This is starting to work out pretty nice!

cbass94
06-09-2004, 02:44 PM
It's good to hear that more and more people are starting to realize that it really doesn't take that much longer to commute by bike, and many times it's faster! Glad to hear it's working out for you, keep it up!

j-dawg
06-10-2004, 11:28 AM
Good to hear of other newbies. Colorado weather certainly lends itself to commuting. Although Monday was nasty ... it was 99 in Ft. Collins! My wife and I have just started this week. We live in Ft. Collins and work in Loveland. For the longest time we didn't commute because we were scared of the sudden afternoon thunderstorms CO is known for. With a kid in day care and a dog at home we couldn't afford to get stranded. Thanks to this forum we got a great idea. On day 1 we drive to work with the bikes on the car. We ride home that night and leave the car in the lot. The next morning we ride in to work and take the car home. So for every two days we save one round trip. And we always have a way home if the weather gets nasty. We only live about a mile from our day care so we can either take the other car to get her or the bike trailer.

We're pretty lucky in that our workplace has locker rooms and a pretty secure parking lot. I hope we can keep it up!


It's good to hear that more and more people are starting to realize that it really doesn't take that much longer to commute by bike, and many times it's faster! Glad to hear it's working out for you, keep it up!

arctic hawk
06-10-2004, 01:04 PM
I hope we can keep it up!
Once you get going a few times, you will be wondering why you didn't start this a long time ago. I think it's a mental thing that you have to over come, at least it was that way with me..
Cold weather is not bad either as I am on the bike when the temps are in the 20's (-5c). as long as it is not dumping snow or freezing rain. Still, I sweat underneath my layers :)