Beginning the bicycle commute Monday

[pegkerr]

Oh boy, oh boy, I'm nervous about it. But I'm really going to do it.

My commute is five miles one way. My beloved old bike (which had been sitting in the basement untouched for twenty some years) has been checked--the friendly people over at the Hub said that it is in really good shape, although I might want to think about someday replacing those steel wheels with aluminum ones. It has been tuned up/overhauled and is sitting in the garage waiting for the big day, which at this point I plan to be Monday. I have new brakes, lights, back rack, fenders, panniers, helmet, bungee cords, lock, pump, spare innertube, tire spanner and other tools and map of bike routes in the twin cities.

The thing I'm most nervous about is dealing with a flat. They showed me how to swap the innertube out at the Hub bike shop. I'm just going to hold my breath and hope I don't get one for awhile. I'll have to figure out what to wear for wet weather gear (the fenders will help. I hope). There is a shower at the office building if I arrive really mucked up. I figure I can wrap my bags in plastic garbage bags to keep them dry while the snow is still melting. And heck, if it's pouring outside, I can bail and take my bike on the light rail.

I've found the Paul Dorn website about bicycle commuting, and it has been very helpful (although he lives in San Francisco and so doesn't have nearly as many weather issues). Edited to add: I've just set up a syndicated feed for his blog, bikecommutetips.

Tell me this is going to work. Aaagh. Any advice/encouragement for the brand new baby bicycle commuter? Yes, friends list, I am actually asking for advice. *twitches*

Comments

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

THANK you so much for speaking up and giving me the benefit of your experience! I am really grateful, and what you have had to tell me is very reassuring. I particularly appreciate the equipment recommendations. I have friended you back and will look forward to getting to know you, too.

I see you are getting into TKD. My two daughters have been studying karate for years and will probably test for their black belts within a year. I studied for a year myself and I loved it, but had to quit because we couldn't make it work budget-wise. My husband has been laid off, but I hope that if/when he finds a new job, he'll be at a much better salary and so I will be able to resume studying it myself.