Thoughts on my first commutes

[noob_in_mid_age]

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I am a new rider in Toronto and this week was the first time I commuted to work (25 kms one way). I have been playing it safe and riding evenings after work and weekend mornings, never straying too far from home, simply to gain experience before I would ride to work.

This past Monday and Friday were the first times I commuted to work. All I can say is why in hell did I not buy a bike before. It was exciting and a bit scary, especially Monday after work returning home in the rain and the dark in the middle of rush hour.

I really loved every aspect of being on the road, now i'll have 2 activities to do all year, snowboarding in the winter and riding the rest of the year (when I'm not doing things with my kids).

This is not interesting to most, I simply wanted to put down some of my thoughts on riding. The thrill and excitement one gets when they embark on something new is so personal and all I can say i have enjoyed my time on the bike immensely.

Safe riding to everyone. I hope to be waving to some of you as we pass each other on these TO roads.

 

[tricky]

Glad you're enjoying the bike.

I find it so much easier to get around on the bike, whenever I have to drive a car it feels like the damn space shuttle to me. I am definitely most comfortable on 2 wheels

 

[KhickenKoop]

Glad you're enjoying the bike.

I find it so much easier to get around on the bike, whenever I have to drive a car it feels like the damn space shuttle to me. I am definitely most comfortable on 2 wheels

-So I'm not the only crazy one feeling this way! interesting. But Much more Comfortable Leaving the car parked then the bike...
Anyways,Just stay save in that crazy rush hour traffic.

 

[noob_in_mid_age]

Unfortunately I am still not there. With more experience I'll get use to pulling out of my lane and onto the less busy ones. For now, I just stop behind cars if they are stopped (waiting to turn for example). I haven't been able to, thus far, enjoy the ease of getting around on two wheels. With more time in traffic I am sure i'll get there.

 

[noob_in_mid_age]

-So I'm not the only crazy one feeling this way! interesting. But Much more Comfortable Leaving the car parked then the bike...
Anyways,Just stay save in that crazy rush hour traffic.

Yeah,I find I keep whipping my head around non-stop looking for cars pulling up on me or coming out of intersections.
I guess you have to put your time in as a noob before you can really become comfortable.

 

[KarGo]

Glad you're enjoying the bike.

I find it so much easier to get around on the bike, whenever I have to drive a car it feels like the damn space shuttle to me. I am definitely most comfortable on 2 wheels

+2 I'm so use to the acceleration, braking, and speed on the bike, I tend to speed in the car to get the same satisfaction.

 

[Johnny_M]

Yeah it was 2 years before I really found the advantages of riding a bike in downtown traffic. I feel perfectly comfortable now going to the far right and passing the long lines of cars waiting for someone to turn left. Moving up to the front at an intersection is also great. (Of course only when it's all legal).
My first 2 years in city traffic I was wondering what's the point? If I'm just as constricted as a car (stuck in my lane like everyone else) but exposed to more danger and the elements, why am I doing this? But eventually I became way more comfortable on the bike, and once that happened I felt ok looking for ways to use the bike to my advantage. Seat time is the only way to gain more confidence. Just take it easy or you might bite off more than you can chew.

Ride safe.

 

[Jayell]

All I can say is why in hell did I not buy a bike before.

Amen, brother.

 

[noob_in_mid_age]

Yeah it was 2 years before I really found the advantages of riding.... and once that happened I felt ok looking for ways to use the bike to my advantage. Seat time is the only way to gain more confidence. Just take it easy or you might bite off more than you can chew.

Ride safe.

Hey Johnny M, at my age I have learned to be patient, that's why I bought a Ninja 250 and not anything bigger. I guess in a year or two I'll consider a larger bike, I figure in that time I will have put on many hours on the bike and I'll be comfortable enough to go up in class.

 

[ItIsWhatItIs]

Unfortunately I am still not there. With more experience I'll get use to pulling out of my lane and onto the less busy ones. For now, I just stop behind cars if they are stopped (waiting to turn for example). I haven't been able to, thus far, enjoy the ease of getting around on two wheels. With more time in traffic I am sure i'll get there.

Stay doing this! In Toronto traffic you will live till retirement. This is not the time of year to push your boundries.

 

[TOYJ]

Unfortunately I am still not there. With more experience I'll get use to pulling out of my lane and onto the less busy ones. For now, I just stop behind cars if they are stopped (waiting to turn for example). I haven't been able to, thus far, enjoy the ease of getting around on two wheels. With more time in traffic I am sure i'll get there.

I'm the same way. I got my bike in September and just put it in winter storage last week. I took advantage of the HOV lane on Don Mills which made my commute to work a lot more enjoyable. The first few times out riding were really stressful and I was nervous but everyone told me I'd get over it pretty quickly and become more comfortable and it was true. After about six weeks I felt a lot more confident on my bike and riding was becoming more enjoyable. It's only been a week since I put it in storage and I already miss it! I went the same route as you, I went with a Ninja 250 as my first bike as well. Ride safe and enjoy!

 

[noob_in_mid_age]

I'm the same way. I got my bike in September and just put it in winter storage last week. I took advantage of the HOV lane on Don Mills which made my commute to work a lot more enjoyable. The first few times out riding were really stressful and I was nervous but everyone told me I'd get over it pretty quickly and become more comfortable and it was true. After about six weeks I felt a lot more confident on my bike and riding was becoming more enjoyable. It's only been a week since I put it in storage and I already miss it! I went the same route as you, I went with a Ninja 250 as my first bike as well. Ride safe and enjoy!

Hey, congrats on the bike. I am definitely getting more comfortable, I have been commuting to work (25km one way) and i'm still riding it. I am delaying storage as long as possible. I figure if it is 10 C during the day it is warm enough with my gear on.
Morning and evening commutes seem to have different issues. In the morning it is still misty and the roads are wet and a bit slippery. The problems with the evening commute is simply that it gets dark too soon.
It is definitely something I really enjoy doing so far, I can't wait to daily commutes next season.

Enjoy your bike, ride safe.

 

[Tovarish]

The more I commute - the more uncomfortable I get..
Please do not ever get too comfortable commuting no matter how many years you ride.

Congrats on a bike and enjoy!

 

[noob_in_mid_age]

Thanks Tovarish. I think today is my last day on the bike this year, I will certainly make the most of my commute home tonight.

Flurries on the weekend and daily highs of 6C (max) next week. I'll winterize it this weekend, get a nice warm blanket and put it on for the hibernation.

 

[socially distorted]

Congrats on finding a new joy! But holy crap, you are one brave soul by starting out your riding career in November!!

 

[noob_in_mid_age]

Finally stored her for the winter yesterday, 26 Nov.. My gear keeps me warm but I just don't like the slippery roads in the morning; I commute 25kms to work on city roads. Plus it is getting dark very quickly. i rather save it for next year.

It was tough to store her. I wanted to take her out one more time but I thought the time was right. Looking forward to April 2013.

To those still on the roads take care and ride safe.

 

[fyrebug]

Better safe than sorry dude. Itll just make the spring time that more enjoyable. I put mine away last year after 2 cars crashed on black ice right next to me. Its not worth your health. Not sure sbout this year but theres nothing wrong with packing it in.

Sent from my GT-I9100M using Tapatalk

 

[unL33T]

I don't know how you people get through traffic faster on the bike. The only time it benefits me is when I ride in the parked car lane and even that is sketchy since cars will try to block you, cyclists are in the same lane and therefore in the way, cars are parked way over, etc. I'm constantly trying to get back into the other lane which is full of cars that don't want to let me in since I was just going around them. The only other ways I can see it being faster is if you're breaking the law and lanesplitting/filtering. On some roads I can't even used the parked car lane because there isn't one or there's a bike lane.

 

[KarGo]

I don't know how you people get through traffic faster on the bike. The only time it benefits me is when I ride in the parked car lane and even that is sketchy since cars will try to block you, cyclists are in the same lane and therefore in the way, cars are parked way over, etc. I'm constantly trying to get back into the other lane which is full of cars that don't want to let me in since I was just going around them. The only other ways I can see it being faster is if you're breaking the law and lanesplitting/filtering. On some roads I can't even used the parked car lane because there isn't one or there's a bike lane.

Filtering most of the time. However, another technique I use is going to the signal on the lane with the cars parked head(usually cars don't park near the signal). Since bikes can accelerate faster, at the green, speed up and change lanes. Especially hate Slow poke street cars!

 

[unL33T]

Filtering most of the time. However, another technique I use is going to the signal on the lane with the cars parked head(usually cars don't park near the signal). Since bikes can accelerate faster, at the green, speed up and change lanes. Especially hate Slow poke street cars!

Yeah I do that too. Only sometimes a cyclist will turn into the lane and then I can't whip around that first car and I end up stuck waiting for 10 cars to go by before I can safely get back into the lane.

And since filtering can land you a stunting charge, I don't do it.

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