{"id":3301,"date":"2012-07-17T13:42:22","date_gmt":"2012-07-17T20:42:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/?p=3301"},"modified":"2020-09-03T14:39:52","modified_gmt":"2020-09-03T21:39:52","slug":"became-bike-commuter-shed-stress-immediately","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/became-bike-commuter-shed-stress-immediately\/","title":{"rendered":"How I Became a Bike Commuter and Shed Stress Immediately"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have finally achieved my dream of starting to commute to work by bike! I am now officially a bike commuter!<\/p>\n

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However, I\u2019ve long admired Joe\u2019s dedication to being a bike commuter \u2013 and I have noticed over the past few years that he has managed to shed over 60 pounds, improve his cardiovascular health and cure his high blood pressure.\u00a0 What\u2019s not to like about that?<\/p>\n

Related: 8 Tips to Plan for Success as a Woman Bike Commuter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

This summer my chance to be a bike commuter has finally come<\/strong>. We live in Burnaby, and I have a new job downtown. The ride is 12 km each way, all on cycling routes, and most of it either off-road on the Central Valley Greenway<\/a><\/strong> (Thanks Translink!<\/strong>) or on separated cycling lanes (Thanks Gregor Robertson!<\/a><\/strong>).<\/p>\n

I managed to find a downtown gym a block away from my office where I can shower, change and store my personal items in a locker.\u00a0 My building doesn\u2019t have showers yet, but it has awesome bike storage in a locked cage with surveillance and security guards. The storage also has lockers but you can\u2019t leave things there overnight. Hmmm \u2026 time for some activism of my own.<\/p>\n

My goal \u2013 Become a bike commuter and cycle 3 days each week from North Burnaby to my office in downtown Vancouver and back.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Week One Bike Commuter Goal \u2013 cycle to work two days<\/h2>\n

July 3, 2012 \u2013 Day 1<\/h3>\n

Morning ride:<\/h4>\n

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Uggghh \u2013 getting up \u00bd hour earlier to get to work at the same time!\u00a0 What am I doing?\u00a0 Not only that, it\u2019s raining! Oh well \u2026 if you don\u2019t do it in the rain in Vancouver you don\u2019t do it all, right?\u00a0 I\u2019m on the bike and it\u2019s not so bad. I\u2019m surprised that I am going at a pretty good pace. I still got it \u2013 ha!\u00a0 I remember when I used to run in the spring rain and it kept me nice and cool. Not too many cyclists on the road, but I\u2019m loving it now. This will be the worst ride since I\u2019m taking two full panniers, stuffed with showering supplies, food for my lunches, a couple of sets of clothes, my purse and a small brief case.<\/p>\n

Evening ride:<\/h4>\n

I\u2019m heading home. Legs feel pretty good and the sun is out, but it\u2019s still cool. I am proud that I managed to bike the short but steep uphill that I avoided on my practice run on Sunday. Such a green warrior! And I’ve finished my first day as a bike commuter!<\/p>\n

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