After moving out here to CA, I immediately started my job and slept in a hotel for 2 weeks while looking for an apartment. My friend Mike, also staying in the hotel, drove me to work for those weeks. After we had found a location, I settled upon the bike as means of getting to work. I didn’t have a car out here and public transport was far too inconvenient for my location. Biking was always a big activity of mine as a child, so why would it be different now?
My first few weeks were interesting. I rode to work the first few days in street clothes and regular shoes, but that was a terrible idea. My commute is around 10 miles total a day, 5 miles there and up a hill, 5 miles back and down a hill! It was workout and I did get very sweaty. I quickly bought some workout clothes and a windbreaker to help out. The hill was the toughest part, about 8-12 blocks of 45 degree incline. I just rode slowly and kept working at it, improving day after day. The first day that it was windy almost made me cry. Biking against the wind, exerting all your energy, and moving no where is one of the most frustrating things ever! Especially, when the cars around you are going 25-35 mph like the wind doesn’t even exist.
Speaking of the cars, riding my bike on the streets was another interesting challenge. I ride a major 2-3 lane road for a few miles, I ride through a 101 overpass, and face several bridges. I read the rules about riding with traffic, to just act like a car, but let me tell you, it takes balls to actually do it in tough traffic situations like those. The 101 highway is a major corridor in CA and just being anywhere near that means people are always driving fast and recklessly, even though traffic is probably at a standstill. Most but not all, drivers hate your guts and barely miss running you down while going twice as fast as you in their BMW. You need to know the traffic patterns and stoplights, so that you can plan ahead and merge properly. It’s something that has taken time to be less afraid of, but it’s still crazy sometimes.
After about 2 months of biking to work, I really enjoy it. I’m already in great shape from the exercise and eating properly and I usually have time to listen to podcasts during my commute. Also, I’m not paying $4.50/gallon for gas! Total win.