Joining the Commuters!

[Rod Smith]

@acl 50694 wrote:

…I’m already pushing it…

…so it just makes me look as if I’ve been hard at work…

If they check your Strava, they know you have been.

[ebubar]

My commutes also around 15 miles each way. I find a quick wash up in the sink has been sufficient for me thus far, but I don’t really push it hard on my commute. But the again, my wife often complains that I don’t seem to sweat…

[Amalitza]

@Rod Smith 50702 wrote:

If they check your Strava, they know you have been.

hah. why ya think I use a pseudonym? that might not be the kind of hard work they think they’re paying me for.

(though my boss did say he was going to have to find some kind of award to put me in for during the coldest week of freezing saddles)

[Dickie]

@brendan 50567 wrote:

And if I end up having earlier core hours, I might take you up on the posse idea.
Brendan

GuyContinental forgot the Brit train which leaves Rosslyn heading west between 7:00 and 7:30 most mornings….. if daylight doesn’t burn your retinas let me know and we could ride in for a while together.

[hozn]

I do a similar commute, from Westover to Reston, near South Lakes and Reston Pkwy — 16 miles for me (though I can make it 15 if I go slightly more directly, but less pleasantly). I ride it daily, though I leave my car at work so Monday and Friday are only one-way for me.

I ride frequently with GuyContinental, as I like the excuse to leave a little early. We do cx out in LFP weather/trail condx permitting. It is fantastic. I have been doing this commute regularly for a few or 4 years now, but I would say it’s a pretty easy distance once you settle in — and (in my case, anyway) get bike fit nuances worked out. Now I look for ways to add more miles to/from work or just ways to change it up. It is a very pleasant ride against the traffic and no sun in the eyes. The money savings is palpable with tolls and an hour commute tends to compare reasonably with the car commute in evening rush hour.

You should hit us up for some singletrack cx am madness. There is no better way to start a workday. Also, you could take a detour to go up Hunter Station, which is a beautiful stretch of road (and a nice climb).

I do have a shower at work, which I really appreciate, but I know I could (and would) get by without a shower if needed. The giant wet wipes sound great. A casual dress code at work helps

[culimerc]

@hozn 50858 wrote:

I do a similar commute, from Westover to Reston, near South Lakes and Reston Pkwy — 16 miles for me (though I can make it 15 if I go slightly more directly, but less pleasantly). I ride it daily, though I leave my car at work so Monday and Friday are only one-way for me.

I ride frequently with GuyContinental, as I like the excuse to leave a little early. We do cx out in LFP weather/trail condx permitting. It is fantastic. I have been doing this commute regularly for a few or 4 years now, but I would say it’s a pretty easy distance once you settle in — and (in my case, anyway) get bike fit nuances worked out. Now I look for ways to add more miles to/from work or just ways to change it up. It is a very pleasant ride against the traffic and no sun in the eyes. The money savings is palpable with tolls and an hour commute tends to compare reasonably with the car commute in evening rush hour.

You should hit us up for some singletrack cx am madness. There is no better way to start a workday. Also, you could take a detour to go up Hunter Station, which is a beautiful stretch of road (and a nice climb).

I do have a shower at work, which I really appreciate, but I know I could (and would) get by without a shower if needed. The giant wet wipes sound great. A casual dress code at work helps

Honz- what time do you guys roll through VA Ave/over 66 in the morning??

[GuyContinental]

@culimerc 50885 wrote:

Honz- what time do you guys roll through VA Ave/over 66 in the morning??

We are really predictable- I meet Hans at 6:15 at EFC Park (base of Brandywine Castle near the b-ball courts) for a normal commute and at 5:45 for CX (or sometimes Leesburg Mtn). That puts us at the base of VA ln at 6:30 or 6:00 respectively. He’s out there dang near every day, whereas, being a mere mortal, I aim for 2-3. I cut out at Rt 28 and he often joins me and then rides back to Reston. I assume that he also has a desk equipped with pedals to power his workstation and eats nails for lunch.

http://app.strava.com/activities/50773564

[hozn]

Yeah, what GuyC said. When we commute together it is very precise. When I head in alone (I do have a much shorter commute) it varies a bit more, but I like trying to get out the door by 6:30, so prob 6:45 near 66.

[brendan]

So, I took the advice I give to all prospective bike commuters, which was to do a dry run of your bike commute over the weekend. Took about 1h10m door to door from Wilson & Danville in Clarendon to the work address (1801 Robert Fulton Drive, Reston, VA) on the big dummy. Didn’t time the ride back, less concerned about that time.

Going a bit slower than I used to, but that’ll improve over time as I get back in shape and the collarbone heals.

That said, besides being super sweaty, my lower extremities, shorts and shoes were pretty grimy by the time I got there and even more so by the time I got home. I have a front fender too, though it might need to be adjusted to be a bit closer to the wheel. Plus, there were all the gnats matted into my arm and leg hairs…

So, a shower will be a must. Just need to find one nearby. Googling, the only gym I can find reasonably close by is about 1.5 miles further west, which seems non-optimal.

The office is a project-partner location (my employer pays the project partner for our cubicle space), so I don’t really think I have any pull in terms of making facilities appear in-house.

Brendan

[hozn]

Nice! I would volunteer my building’s shower, but it is 3 miles west, so no better situation. I guess this weather (esp humidity levels) is representative of summer mornings.

Is the big dummy the bike you plan to use for this commute?

[brendan]

@hozn 51769 wrote:

Nice! I would volunteer my building’s shower, but it is 3 miles west, so no better situation. I guess this weather (esp humidity levels) is representative of summer mornings.

Is the big dummy the bike you plan to use for this commute?

Thanks.

Yeah. It’s my most comfortable ride. I can go a bit faster on the road bike, but the dummy is more flexible in terms of carrying things I might need to make the day work. The components tend to be more heavy duty as well. And I like the brakes better.

Brendan

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