Thread started by Joe Borfo at 10.24.07 - 2:37 pm


I figure the only way I am going to be able to ride to work more regularly if I can either ride with people going in the same direction, or develop a group of Ridazz who have the wish to ride to work regularly and can encourage and inspire each other to do so.

Please post your route to work so that others can chime in if they can join you on your regular route, or to just express your willingness to ride and other can relate and identify with how you feel and encourage each other to keep at it.

I believe when people see more Ridazz riding to and from their Jobs, school, etc. They are affected by this to think about wanting to do it themselves.

My goal is to have my days riding my bicycle outnumber the days that I decide to drive.

My route to work is from El Sereno to Monrovia daily. I take Huntington Drive the whole way. Fnord! Please let me know if this is your route to work. Or just help kick my ass to do it more so often.

Please share your route or desires to ride to work regularly on this thread. Thanks!


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[RIDE YOUR BIKE TO WORK DAMNIT BORFO!]



FuzzBeast
10.24.07 - 2:39 pm

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I also got to say that Fuzzbeast is an inspiration to me being that he has been car-free for... how many years? .. Five I think. Wow...

Brassknuckle also rides as much as he can too.



Joe Borfo
10.24.07 - 2:43 pm

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i think tomorrow is the 2 year anniversary of me getting rid of my car.



brassknuckle
10.24.07 - 3:09 pm

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GET A JOB!!!!!!!!!!!



neverclever
10.24.07 - 3:27 pm

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Great idea Joe.

On a serious note though, i am struggling with how to deal with changing clothes/showering/sweat once i arrive at work. For some of my work, i need to wear nice clothes, tie, etc. and don't have the ability to really 'freshen' up as it were at the office and was curious how others with similar jobs or situations handle that.

Thanks,

stevo



stevo4
10.24.07 - 3:31 pm

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I am fortunate that my work doesn't require how much I stink or look.

Why not just have a regular outfit for work stashed there and towel down when you get there?



Joe Borfo
10.24.07 - 3:37 pm

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My work is casual dress, but still don't like to totally be sweaty when I go to work, so I usually carry a small camping towel from REI. It's high absorbency , dries quickly and can be used several times without retaining much smell.



GarySe7en
10.24.07 - 3:44 pm

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small towel, shirt folded, so not to get wrinkled. Your pants will be alright. Deodorant. go in the bathroom, wash your face and your pits, change your shirt. Give your self 10-15 minutes to cool off, so you don't clean up and start sweating again. If you insist, bring an extra pants and shoes, it not that big of a deal. Roll the pants, and it will elminate wrinkling. I did it, and I had to work as hairdresser, after riding 20 miles. Hairdresser, must look stylish, no body or breathe odor, he work right on top of people, so the odor factor is a big deal. it's totally doable. It's just a commitment.

Joe, you lazy M.F. You will be much happier riding home in the afternoon, then stuck in traffic talking to me about how traffic sucks. Don't forget to call this afternoon on the way home. Once you do it for a couple of weeks, you will ask yourself how you went so long, not doing it.



sexy
10.24.07 - 4:17 pm

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Get an electric bike!!!

There, problem solved!



User1
10.24.07 - 4:17 pm

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or better yet Joe, why not just have your dad, buy you a helicopter with a pilot, so you don't have to think on the way to work in the morning.

Oh Shiiot, you could be the next president.



sexy
10.24.07 - 4:34 pm

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I ride to work from MacArthur Park to Sunset and Vine.

I take one of two routes: Wilshire down to Arden, turn right on Arden, merge with Vine. Then up to Sunset.

OR.

Wilshire to Rampart. Rampart to the 101. Turn left on mystery street, then immediate right on Benton. Left on Sunset alllllll the way to Vine.

It's 12 miles roundtrip riding Rampart and 10.6 miles roundtrip riding Wilshire and Arden.

I have been car-less my whole life and have been biking as transportation since July 6th.



markedge
10.24.07 - 4:36 pm

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I'm at work right now.... in order to get to this site I have to go inside one of the "sip and surf" rooms. very corporate..... suit and tie type deal.... and quite a commute from east hollywood to el segundo......

I have 2 people who I can ride with to the same general area.... Skull and Super Cole.... anyone else???



Roadblock
10.24.07 - 4:41 pm

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Electric bike solves what problem Alan?

I actually have an electric motor on a bike that I hardly use anymore because it weighs a ton, Fnord! So I really don't want to use it regularly unless its for riding long flat distances ( Ideal for work)... Maybe I'll hook it up again. But I'd feel better to not have to rely on it. I'm also contemplating on selilng it if anybody is interested. (U.S. Power Drive) Attaches to your hub and has a large heavy Battery that lasts 2 hours up to 20mph on flat roads - Power Assists with a throttle button when you need it.

Maybe I't could get me going more regularly and then I can switch to my regular road bike.

I have to get one of those REI towels too.





Joe Borfo
10.24.07 - 4:42 pm

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Great thread -

Usually I hop on the redline at Hollywood/Western, get off at either Universal or NoHo, then ride the rest of the way into Burbank. But in the interest of AIDS LifeCycle training, I am going to start riding the whole way from Los Feliz to Burbank.

Two possible routes would be: 1) from the Los Feliz area through Griffith Park (entrance on Los Feliz/Riverside) to Burbank, or 2) From Los Feliz to Hollywood and over the Cahuenga Pass, then Barham into Burbank.





trekkie
10.24.07 - 4:43 pm

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Way to go Markedge!

Trekkie, perhaps you could convince Rev. Dak to ride with you. He goes to work in that direction.



Joe Borfo
10.24.07 - 4:47 pm

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I have two places to work on any given week day, so my bike commute isn't precisely 'there and back.'

The route is:
56.3 miles
Total climb: 2796ft
Total descent: 2802ft

Here's a link to the route:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/My-Daily-Bike-commute-there-and-back

I am half way through this commute right now.

I start heading home at around 8:45



tern
10.24.07 - 5:29 pm

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Impressive route Tern... Dude, When can I get you your light and mini bike back?



Joe Borfo
10.24.07 - 5:59 pm

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Man...it will be so nice to be able to use that light again. Let's try and find some time this weekend. Would you mind emailing me at

darkcenturyride@gmail.com


That way I we figure out addresses and phone numbers and stuff. I lost your email address...so

Hey thanks again for holding onto the mini and the light for me!!



tern
10.24.07 - 6:04 pm

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Joe,

I have an electric bike that's under 50 pounds. The motor weights about 11 pounds. My batteries are lead acid batteries that weigh a total of 20 pounds. The range is not bad either. It pushes a fat ass person like me for 10 miles at 18 mph. You combine this with a train ride or bus ride, and it opens up alot of LA to the commuter.

Cutting the weight in half and doubling the range is not unheard of if one replaces the batteries with something more hi tech.

The story with the ebike is still the batteries are yet ready for mass consumption, but everything else is here today.





User1
10.24.07 - 6:14 pm

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Sexy has the right idea about how to ride to work. I have been doing it for 21 years and four different jobs. Some places had showers (really nice!) but others didn't.
I drive one day a week and bring 4 sets of clothes and a fresh towel on the drive day. I also take home the previous sets of clothes that day. The other days I bike and wash up Sexy style in the men's room. I like to splash my whole body to feel fresher, but this causes a puddle on the floor. I mop that up with paper towels (there goes another tree) or a second towel. I have lost all shame about doing this in front of my co-workers, and they have become tolerant of my eccentricities. Not driving is no problem, as long as you have a place to store your work shoes. You can carry everything else in a pack, bag or rack trunk, but it really helps not to have to carry the shoes.
I love biking to work and I love the example it sets for co-workers.
Do it!



Creative Thing
10.24.07 - 7:13 pm

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commute by bike !

For kicks, start in Santa Monica at 6:00, ride straight down the blvd to melrose then to sunset to downtown.

Half the time as a car. it is hilarious !

A ten mile tunnel, watch out for doors!



brandt-sorenson
10.24.07 - 7:40 pm

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Get a pigeon!



SPOOK
10.24.07 - 8:07 pm

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I commute from Normandie and Third to Fairfax and third.

Short and sweet I take 4th street all the way..

Been car less all my life. I don't even have a license.
Been commuting by bike since May 07.


:)



feelingrandy
10.24.07 - 8:10 pm

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I live in Silver Lake and work downtown, if I ride to work I generally take Glendale all the way till it becomes 2nd and then hang a right on Spring. It wouldn't be much different to take Silver Lake to Sunset, then Sunset to Glendale and the same route if others were making the same trek.



seanbonner
10.24.07 - 9:22 pm

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Been car-free for one year 13 months. Started off commuting by bike from Hollywood to Pasadena and back, which is really a sweet ride. Commute is much shorter now, unfortunately (heh) gotta supplement with rides of decent length!



ephemerae
10.24.07 - 10:27 pm

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what a great gigantic idea Joe, I would lov to ride my bike to work at least 4 out of 5 days, anybody, anybody from Silver Lake/Sunset to Culver City by the Fox Hills mall, hey lov ur post sign..lol



SONNY
10.24.07 - 11:48 pm

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Kudos, Borfo!

Riding with others is great and you feel safer, but one of the attractions of cycling is how independent it makes you.

My advice would be to start off slow. Try doing it once a week, or just go on a whim when the weather is nice. Do a scout drive or ride. You'll work out the bugs and find a good route and learn to be comfortable riding by yourself. A Google Map application like bikely.com, with elevation profile, is your friend. Learn the bus routes, it's a great backup plan.

Good gear can make things a lot more pleasant. Research things like bikes, lights, racks, bags, fenders, and stuff like that. Lots of us here ride to work using a wide variety of equipment. Ask away. It can mean the difference between a commute you look forward to and one you dread!



cabhauler
10.25.07 - 12:37 am

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Nice work you blokes!!! Borfo did you make it to Amsterdam?

Just got back from two weeks in London and is that one bike 'friendly' city. Well you do see all kinds of Londoners riding like complete maniacs competing with loony drivers.and you thought LA was bad. They are all Mario Andretti's over there. They don't mind a spot of rain neither!!






Limeyfly
10.25.07 - 6:52 am

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I'm pretty fortunate with my commuting, my home, work, trader joes, a farmers market, and the Bikerowave are all in a 2-3 mile radius of each other. This week I actually started rollerblading to work some days just to mix things up a bit, and also keep from losing my skating legs. Don't do it as much since becoming a bicycle maniac.

When I was approaching graduation from college, I started plotting all the places I wanted to apply for work on google earth and started hunting for apartments at the center of the largest concentration. My mom has always had a terribly far commute, and I was determined to live comfortable biking distance from work, even if it meant paying more for rent.



GarySe7en
10.25.07 - 7:17 am

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I'm not completely car-free yet.
I still need rides and whatnot when going down the Pass from Victorville. This is mainly due to all the road closures they have because of those damned tract developments they're building along Glen Helen Rd near the Sierra exit off the 15.
It's even worse when I've still got funds to cover fuel expenses, but no vehicle to shuttle me down there.
Problem is, I'll accept riding solo if it's in an urban environment, but if you've ridden where I live, soloing just makes the ride evermore desolate.
As for how/why I've survived without a car?
I can get by just fine up here without one, but I don't own one right now due to my previous two either burning up, or falling apart.
That's why as soon as I've got the funds in order, it's DTH(Down-The-Hill) relocation time baby!!!



bentstrider
10.25.07 - 8:00 am

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my daily work commute

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1412737



Noble Experiment
10.25.07 - 9:37 am

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Borfo, your commute is a dream. Huntington Dr was paved by the cycling gods. Ride it sucka!



City Hobgoblin
10.25.07 - 10:42 am

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Hey Borfo it's just 12 miles. Do it or I'll kick your ass.

Maybe I'll join you if you want to get started even though you ride faster than me.

My commute is 3 steps from the couch to my desk. But I usually take a detour through the kitchen for coffee. If I wake up early, I go down the driveway to pick up the paper. It's a 15% incline. I can do it with the mountain bike but not with the road bike. I'd like to ride but I walk. Not allowed to ride inside the house.



marino
10.25.07 - 3:26 pm

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Thanks Marino. I'm going to ride to work tomorrow. I got up too late today to ride. What a bum.



Joe Borfo
10.25.07 - 3:31 pm

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Another thought on commuting to work.

Spandex, with the wicka' material. This is great, because it is small and compact for storage, lite weight. It dries quick, you won't be riding home in the morning's sweaty shirt. You look like a real roadie too.

I have to confess, I did have the advantage of working in a salon, that went through 1000 to 5000 towels a day. (I'm not stretching the truth either, the salon I worked in, is the biggest in North America. Over 200 employees with lots of clients). So the towel issue. wasn't a issue for me. We had private bathrooms, so nobody saw me, and I did wash my feet. Sweaty, dirty feet is a big deal to me.



sexy
10.25.07 - 3:38 pm

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I'll have to remember that Sexy.



Joe Borfo
10.25.07 - 3:58 pm

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Borfo, Huntington SUCKS out on the east side of Pasadena, but there really is no better route available from El Sereno. That last section out in Arcadia by the 210 is a bitch.

My advice: bring a disposable U-Lock (for throwing at cars).



ubrayj02
10.25.07 - 4:09 pm

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^^ Yeah that's actually true -- I always cut up to Colorado once I hit Arcadia. Forgot about that. But before Arcadia it's the bestest.



City Hobgoblin
10.25.07 - 4:34 pm

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Did my first work commute today....

I feel fucking fantastic and energetic and.... PERKY!!


View Larger Map



Roadblock
10.26.07 - 10:48 am

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Good for you Roadblock! Dang, that's quite a trek.

I vow at least 3 days next week...



Joe Borfo
10.26.07 - 11:10 am

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yeah it took an hour and 15 which is about 15-30 mins longer than it would have taken in my car 101-110-105 route.... and I put that extra hook in there around LAX so I could be at the beach and not next to cars..... I had a blast though.... so much nicer than sitting in traffic and being half asleep when I'm at work..... I was free-forming it and I see some mistakes I made that I can improve my time with.... I will commit to doing this 2 times next week: BORFO's WORK RIDE CHALLENGE



Roadblock
10.26.07 - 11:23 am

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I rode to work today and I feel FANTASTIC!

I'm not even sweaty and stinky!

Huntington Dr. is a breeze except for Arcadia, where I found an alternate road take once I got there.

So 13 miles in an hour isn't so bad. I had to stop at the market on the way too.

Yikes - I vowed to do 3 days this week. That's one down.

How many will YOU do?



Joe Borfo
10.30.07 - 8:56 am

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Mar Vista (near Mar Vista Park) to Westwood. Leave at 8am. Anyone wanna start riding?

That's me over there ----->



barleye
10.30.07 - 9:23 am

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Well done Borfo...

I will have tofind out if there are showers at Van Nuys airport and leave my monkey outfit there for work.

If they do I'll do a Glendale to Van Nuys!!!



Limeyfly
10.30.07 - 10:17 am

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Riding to work is the best!

I've gotten in super form just from commuting 30-45min each way 5 days a week.

When I felt good, I rode as fast as i could. On days my legs felt tired, I made sure to ride super easy to recover. Or maybe easy in the AM hard in the PM, etc.

Two a day workouts are the quickest way to get super fit.





Urban Commuter
10.30.07 - 10:46 am

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The best is to kill it on the bike to work, then be bonked and retarded for like the first few hours of work until lunch. nobody can tell.....



Urban Commuter
10.30.07 - 10:47 am

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How many people wear Lycra on there commute?

I tried both, cars got way less respect when youre dressed in street clothes. Its very strange.

I think the best strategy is:

-Shower in the am, put clean cycling bibs on.

-Get to work like 10min early, rinse off in the bathroom, maybe have a towel.

-Hang the Lycra up to dry!

-Work.

-Change into the dry Lycra, ride home.

-At home, jump in the shower, shampoo the Lycra, rinse and hang to dry. In the morning the clothes are fresh again.





Urban Commuter
10.30.07 - 10:52 am

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View Larger Map

This was my old commute back in 2003, three or four days a week when I was crashing on my ex girlfriends floor in claremont. Actually it was faster than driving...



Urban Commuter
10.30.07 - 11:06 am

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I hide my lycra under my dickies... shh don't tell!



Joe Borfo
10.30.07 - 11:08 am

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i go from hollywood (sycamore and franklin) to santa monica (14 n montana)
if anyone ever heads that direction.....



Brittanica
10.30.07 - 11:36 am

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which are better bibs or shorties?




Limeyfly
10.30.07 - 2:07 pm

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Oh fudge... I'm getting inspired reading this forum.

Hey Limefly... you say Glendale to Van Nuys? What's your route? When I rode to work a couple times. I'd take Victory ~~> San Fernando Rd. and head west on Strathern into Panorama City.

I really need to start riding and getting in shape. I need to get out of the "Clydesdale" status.

I've got to do the shirt and tie thing. Would you guys leave your dress shoes at work?



digablesoul
10.30.07 - 2:51 pm

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Here's my route to and from work, which I've started this week. It's totally not as far as I thought it would be. I live at Hollywood near Normandie and work at the northern most point on the route, in Burbank.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1422834

Gave myself an hour to get to work this morning, and got there in just under half an hour, doing about 16-18 mph. Looking forward to doing the Cahuenga Pass tonight back into Hollywood. Can't wait to ride through all the parked cars on Highland. ;-)

If anyone wants to hop on this route, hit me up.



trekkie
10.30.07 - 3:53 pm

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I think Midnight Ridazz did that as a route once. Nice!



Joe Borfo
10.30.07 - 4:03 pm

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7th St. / Vermont to 135th St. in Gardena.
5 days a week-7:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Whose with me???????????????



I AM Traffic
10.30.07 - 4:28 pm

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La Cañada to Pasadena. 10 miles each way, with a steady uphill climb on the way home. Five times a week. Irregular hours.

I've been doing this for a couple months now, and I seem to have come down with a case of the sexiness.



lackflag
10.30.07 - 5:21 pm

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I've been carless for just about two years, been 'commuting' by bike ever since i started working my current jobs 14 months ago...

check out my ridiculously-hardcore-two-job-daily-route


View Larger Map



Lance K
10.30.07 - 6:12 pm

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If you belong to a gym, switch from one near your home to one near work.



iggycortes
10.30.07 - 6:36 pm

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roadblock -- we talked about riding to work together last night, if you still want i can wake up later and we can hit the streets together or whatever.

anyway, I usually ride from Normandie & 29th to Manchester to Aviation to Imperial to Boeing in El Segundo, i try to do it every day of every week but it seems like there's always one or two days that i have a good reason not to. like today, my rear wheel was all bent to shit so i had to go pick up a newer, more sturdy set after work today. oh, sexy bicycle come here!



trickOfshade
10.30.07 - 7:22 pm

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Alright... it's time to do this. After talking to a girl (I forgot your name) at the Angelopes ride... it's about time to do this ride to work thing. I just read a couple post above and saw what I wrote in 10/07 and can't believe it's been this long. So... I've the route picked but one question...

I'd like to get a workout out of this but I think I'm gonna take it easy into work and bust ass going home. 12 miles one way. I'll do the three S's in the morning... ride to work. Wipe down in the bathroom w/ hand towel... apply underarm deodorant, and unroll my dress shirt and pants, a little cologne... and BAM ready to work!

GOTTA DO IT!! I GOTTA DO IT!!



digablesoul
04.6.08 - 7:09 pm

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i havent had a job in like five months.
but
i am riding to work tomorrow as well!




ruinedbyidiots
04.6.08 - 7:12 pm

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i do a breezy 7 miles along the deathtrap pch every morn an evening
and im somehow still alive



hartwick, youre a pussy
04.6.08 - 7:28 pm

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I've been wanting to ride to work since I started working...
I live in North Hollywood and work out in Westlake Village. It's 24 miles each way. Most of it is along the Orange line bike path, but once I get passed the Warner Center I don't know the best way... I ride a fixed gear too.
Am I being realistic?
Any route suggestions once the bike path ends?



Leetard
04.6.08 - 8:06 pm

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I've ridden from Noho to the Sagebrush Cantina via the route I mapped out. From there it looks like the westbound part of calabasas Rd. has a small shoulder while the eastbound has a bike lane. This is all done looking using the streetview on google maps. Getting into the City of Calabasas it looks like both the east and westbound parts of Mureau and Agoura Rd. have bike lanes.

Here's the elevation from Calabasas to Westlake Village.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1766173

Route...

View Larger Map

Ride the route out in your car and see what you think. Tell me how it goes...

Al



digablesoul
04.6.08 - 8:46 pm

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on the elevation link from gmaps... just hit the elevation button on the left side. I forgot to save it with it showing.



digablesoul
04.6.08 - 8:50 pm

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Go for it guys!

I'm feeling inspired again.



Joe Borfo
04.6.08 - 9:00 pm

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Like I may, or may have not mentioned before, 10 miles in the city is like 4 miles here in the desert.




bentstrider
04.6.08 - 9:12 pm

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what are you trying to say about me?



Joe Borfo
04.6.08 - 9:30 pm

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@lee,

That grade out of the SFV to Las Virgenes is quite a hill and the length of the ride looks like 3 or more hours each way. To cut that down there are these bus lines between Warner Ctr and Westlake Village. And we've had our 110 degree days August out here, so I'm thinking if I had to do it, I might not mind cooling off on an air conditioned bus from WC to WV, so here are the lines:

• Conejo Connection No stops once it leaves Warner Center until it hits WV


• MTA Line 161 This line seems to have the most frequent runs.


• LADOT Line 423

Mixing modes (car + bus + bike) does work but it is easier with foldies because the MTA does allow you to take them on board. Once in a while a driver may challenge you about taking a foldie on board (happened to me once on the Org Line), just let them know of your awareness that MTA policy permits this.

Or hell, park the car part way there and ride the bike the rest.




OverTheHill
04.6.08 - 10:13 pm

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I think this thread needs to be brought back up to the top!

I've been thinking about doing this and tomorrow is going to be my first ride to work. For too long, I've been sitting on the freeway looking at all the dumb asses, just like me, wasting life and money just sitting there, going nowhere fast.

Sexy, gary,mark and others offer some good tips in the posts above regarding cooling off and changing before work. Check em out.

My commute is 48 miles round trip and I feel ready and confident to do it. This thread has got my ass in gear and I hope it inspires others to do the same.

Who else is considering riding to work? What's it going to take to get you to do it?





Leetard
04.29.08 - 9:54 am

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I gave my car away to charity in favor of regular bike commuting over a year ago. I have had a few jobs since then and can always seem to find an excellent bike route there. Riding out to Santa Monica for a gig was actually what inspired me to use 4th street across town. Shortly after that, a dream of 4SBB was born.... :)


4SBB - Live the dream!

I especially love setting a good example for my co-workers when I arrive at work with my safety vest still blazing.

if i ever manage to get a job again, i will no doubt be riding there!!

Borfo, I swear - you better start riding your bike to work. oooooo, you better...... or else..... dun...dun....


dun.....




ingipet
04.29.08 - 10:46 am

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In this day and age, riding to work is one of the best options. Seriously, gas is to expensive to just sit in traffic and let it go to waste.
I started commuting by bike again recently. I gave my car to my sister to force myself off the gas titty! My commute is only 16 miles to and from school, and add eight more miles to work. This has been a great improvement in the way I feel in the morning while working as well as makes me excited to go home and fly through traffic.
It would be nice to have company on for my ride. I ride out from Mid-City around 6:50 or so to get to Santa Monica by 7:30. That gives me enough time to chill for a second and regain my composure. Granted, I smell like a big mess of B.O, but I am at school, so I don't care. But luckily I have showers at work to change and freshen up. I think l I will pick up one of the quick dry towels soon. The stench is stifling.
Here is my route:
Start on Redondo & Venice
Venice to McLaughlin
McLaughlin to National
National to Bundy
Bundy to Ocean Park
Ocean Park to 31st.



Rogue Rida
04.29.08 - 10:48 am

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MAR VISTA (CULVER CITY) TO WESTWOOD
LEAVE 8AM M-F
ANYONE?



barleye
04.29.08 - 11:00 am

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Echo Park to where Western Ave becomes Los Feliz, just under five miles, the last part of which is very uphill. I've been trying to ride at least once a week, but I start work at 8 am and sometimes have big things to carry and I'm mostly going away from traffic and I have a free easy place to park so my motivation is sometimes lacking.

Luckily I don't have to look too fancy or smell pretty for my job and riding home is lots of fun. I do enjoy the energized feeling that lasts a good part of the day that I get from riding to work.

Having someone to ride with would certainly make things safer and more fun for most bicycle commuters.



mr rollers
04.29.08 - 11:13 am

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I'm going to ride Thursday and Friday.

2 times a week is my goal.



Joe Borfo
04.29.08 - 11:20 am

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I ride to work solong as I'm not on nights, so nearly everyday of the week. It's about 8 very hilly miles one way, and I have a shower at work! The only thing that sucks is out here in the high desert it's nearly trople digits right now in the afternoon, but as long as is have water it's all good. I'm riding my fixie with 48-15 and works well for me. Imagine how much gas would be saved if everyone would ride their bikes to work just two days a week!



dolamyte
04.29.08 - 11:37 am

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Silver Lake to Weschester: Departing Daily

Morning route: Down to 4th Street then west across town to its end at Cochran, south on Cochran to 6th. 6th west to Crescent Heights. CH to its end at Guthrie. Guthrie across La Cienega. Sidestreets down to Venice Boulevard,Venice to Hughes. South on Hughes (becomes Duquesne) to Ballona Creeks Bikeway Ballona Creek to Sepulveda south on Sepulveda to Centinela. Departs: 7 -7:15 a.m. Arrives: About an hour later. Distance: 14 miles.

Return trip follows same route back: Departs: 5:30 - 6 p.m. Arrives: About an hour later.




Agent Orange
04.29.08 - 11:44 am

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2 times a week!

2 times a week!



ingipet
04.29.08 - 11:46 am

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@roguerida

The best way to not smell when riding to someplace you have to, is to make a little time for yourself, and ride a little slower.
Luckily for myself, I've got a downhill, a tail-wind, and a short-distance to play with, so my work's cut out for me.
If I'm going to sweat hard, I'll ride hard to the gym, run/lift hard at the gym, then, VOILA!!!
Showers up the ying-yang.

I just felt the need to offer some assistance in relation to this B.O. problem I hear of.
Oh, and a can of Axe, or equivalent when dismounting and walking around near some of the non-riding, ladies.
That's saved my ass countless times.



bentstrider
04.29.08 - 11:52 am

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I've never done this but would like to try.
Burbank to Santa Monica - anyone wanna join or know good routes for this ride?



shadylane
04.29.08 - 12:47 pm

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Shady, I'd be willing to ride out there Friday with you if you want. Turns out I have Friday off. I could stay out in SM and do CM later on. Let me know.



Joe Borfo
04.29.08 - 1:01 pm

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I have to be at work at 11 and then I would be out in time for CM, but I dont know if I would have the energy to ride back from CM. What are you going to do? email me Andreatea@gmail.com



shadylane
04.29.08 - 1:11 pm

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wow this thread read my mind. i'm moving tonight to a new apt in palms and i work in century city so it would be stupid of me not to ride. but i don't know since pico sucks ass and i hate sweating in the morning. i don't have the long commute as some of you. hopefully you all work something out. riding in groups is 100 times better.



tomato
04.29.08 - 1:16 pm

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I can't arrive to work all sweaty in the morning, so I bus from Venice to WeHo, right next to the Pacific Design Center. I throw my bike on the front of the bus.

But I do ride home. I take Melrose to La Cienega - La Cienega to Venice and then Venice all the way to Pacific, where I live.

So if that helps, or if you have questions about bus schedules or you want to meet up for the good ride home, that's cool.

I leave work at 5:30 and it takes a little under an hour to get home -- approximately 11 miles.





bondink
04.29.08 - 1:46 pm

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I'd like to make a map / chart of the routes people take to work and post it. That way people can see where others ride and possibly message them and join them on their commute. Perhaps even if it's just a fraction of their commute, I think it would be a good thing. Unfortunately nobody goes Eastward like I do. But thats ok Its not such a bad ride except for the GD Arcadia Police who pulled me over and harassed me for riding my bike to work.

So if you havent posted your work route please do along with a way to contact you if you are down and I'll start working on a map/chart

Thanks.



Joe Borfo
04.29.08 - 1:57 pm

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I think that is a great idea! Below is the info requested!

contact: thesarabond@yahoo.com

Melrose - La Cienega

La Cienega - Venice

Venice - Pacific





bondink
04.29.08 - 2:05 pm

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I have a pretty short commute in comparison, but i'm heading from midwilshire area to santa monica.







FMontanez1974
04.29.08 - 2:09 pm

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@ rogue rida

i'm over at Treyarch right behind el torito and coco's, in next business park over from AI. I live a few streets down from you. What route do you take to work?
email: felix.montanez@gmail.com



FMontanez1974
04.29.08 - 2:19 pm

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My commute always seems a little more uphill on the way to work in the morning and a little more downhill on the way home at night... I suppose that could be psychosomatic though. I ride it every day of the week unless I'm injured.



Undercover Bob
04.29.08 - 2:23 pm

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I'm VERY fortunate in that my coworkers don't sweat my sweat when I arrive in all my backpack-wearing drenched-tshirted glory.

I wish there were shower facilities here, but in their absence I park my bike in my office, get some work done for about a 30 minute cooldown then adjourn to the mens room to change clothes and reapply some deodorant.



Agent Orange
04.29.08 - 2:23 pm

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I like my stink...



Joe Borfo
04.29.08 - 2:31 pm

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hahaha..



bondink
04.29.08 - 2:33 pm

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It's a few blocks walk to the office, so I cool down a bit before I head to the men's room to change.

I highly recommend the camping towels that Gary mentioned. I just always plan to take an extra 15-20 to clean up so I can make it to work at a reasonable time.

I've seen a few of you in the morning while I'm commuting. I see Hayden coming home at least once a week!



markedge
04.29.08 - 2:36 pm

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Borfo and shadylane ( <3 your handle!!)

I am riding to work friday, but early early! I wanna meet up and hang out until CM though! I work in MRD... where can we meet up!?



mixtemotions
04.29.08 - 2:38 pm

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Nicole, we are working on it. I'll get back to you tonight on our ride!



Joe Borfo
04.29.08 - 2:53 pm

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Hey Felix!
Funny I never see you riding around. I am usually all over the Mid-City area.
I live on Redondo & Venice pretty much. I usually take Washington into Culver City. From Culver City I usually jump on Venice. From Venice I go all the way down to McLaughlin. From McLaughlin to National, National to Bundy, then Bundy to Ocean Park.

What time do you normally leave? I leave anywhere between 6:50 & 7:10 to get to school by 7:30.



Rogue Rida
04.29.08 - 3:11 pm

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This is my route. It's a little further on the way back ... the Ballona Creek bike path is freaky after dark and, after white-knuckling it once, I will never ride it at night again. I like more urban biking, anyway, so I go this way for the ride home:

Fiji > N on Lincoln > NE on Washington Boulevard > SE on Centinela.

A longer ride, which is just the way I like it.



katiepoche
04.29.08 - 4:05 pm

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woah... big duh for me... i totally forgot about taking the Ballona Creek bike path ... I bet that would be super nice in the morining!!





mixtemotions
04.29.08 - 4:28 pm

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I hear Ballona creek path is a nice route.



Joe Borfo
04.29.08 - 4:32 pm

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@ Rogue

I don't have to be at work until 10am, so I usually leave around 8ish so I can get to work, cool down and then start the day. My hours are pretty crazy so i'm usually at work from 10am to 7pm through out the week. I've been getting up earlier because it's getting hotter out in the morning. It takes me about 20-25 minutes to get to work taking national all the with only 1 hill on national where it intersects with overland.



FMontanez1974
04.29.08 - 4:43 pm

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Felix...
Lucky you... I wish I did not have to go in so early. But there are some days that I go in later. Mon, Tue, and Fri are my late days. I usually do not have to go in until 12 but like getting there around 8 to get some work done. We should plan a meeting point on Venice on Friday or something. usually on Fridays I leave SM and just ride to whatever ride is that day. If you wanna roll, just let me know.



Rogue Rida
04.29.08 - 4:50 pm

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Ballona's pretty nice. It's kind of boring, though. On mornings when I have my shit together, I take the "scenic route" and bike in the same way I bike home (Lincoln). But I rarely have my shit together in the mornings. Or most other times of the day or night, now that I think of it.

mixte -- Where do you work? Tanner's?



katiepoche
04.29.08 - 4:52 pm

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@ Rogue

If you're at Venice and Redondo, we're about a mile apart. I'm on Venice and Stanley which is a couple streets down from you. Mon, Tue and Fri will definitely work.

my email: felix.montanez@gmail
cell: 310-402-6841



FMontanez1974
04.29.08 - 6:21 pm

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Does anyone know if the Commuter Express has a place/rack for bikes on board?
It has way fewer stops than the Metro so it'll be quicker, but if they don't cater to a cyclist, then it's not an option...



Leetard
04.29.08 - 7:27 pm

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I've been wanting to do this bike to work thing.
After crashing my bike last saturday (already fixed)....and crashing my car today....I am gonna be forced to attempt a 26 -28 mile round trip (up hill on the way home). I have some choices... The Foothills/Burbank Area

La Tuna Cyn (scared shitless) to glenoaks, to hollywood way to olive

or

Sunland Blvd to san fernando rd to hollywood way to olive

Any suggestions? I'll be leaving home at 3:45 am and returning from burbank at 4:30 pm



LizardQueen
04.29.08 - 7:52 pm

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Ballona Creek is NOT cool. There's been a rash of assaults on cyclists down there in the past few months. Also, there's always a lot of debris at the bottom of those big dips...I get a flat every damn time I ride through that shit.

When I was a kid, My Pop & I rode down to the Marina through there and got bottles thrown at us, so this stuff is not new. Fuck that bike path.



hatehills
04.29.08 - 7:54 pm

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Leetard, yeah the commuter expresses have bike racks. I used to use them to commute by commuter express bus from encino to pasadena in the morning, and bike home at night

the buses are pretty damn nice inside too, more like coaches



ephemerae
04.29.08 - 9:54 pm

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and on the buses like coaches note.

If the rack is full or it is not operating. I found that most drivers on the commuter express are easy going enough to allow you to put you bike underneath the buses in the luggage compartment.

Next question.........
Has the fly-a-way installed racks are there buses. At one time I was able to get my bike underneath in the luggage compartment if room permitted about 70% of the time.

Last time I tried the worker on the ground (not the bus driver) at the fly-a-way in Van Nuys wouldn't allow the bike on. They said it was the rules.

I eventually wrote a letter to the airport people who oversee the fly-a-way, they sent me a letter saying that bike are not allowed, and since I was able to in the past, they where going remind all drivers not pick up bicycles unless secured in a box.

I was about to make it my project to make sure that bikes become allowed in luggage area on the fly-a-way. It got pushed to the side and never happened. That was two years ago. Last year at LA city hall "Bike to Work" day, I talked with a representative from LAX (they handed out hand wipe-it packages), she stated that they are going to be installing bike racks in the front of the buses. Does anybody know if that happened?



sexy
04.30.08 - 2:08 am

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Roadblock,

That's very similar to the route Will Campbell takes I think. Y'all should ride together.



Alex Thompson
04.30.08 - 3:01 am

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I ride most days. SM Blvd to Sunset, then Sunset to Beaudry and Beaudry to my office.

There's no reason to stink if you are willing to change clothes. Even without toweling down, so long as you don't wear a synthetic shirt on the way there and you shower before you leave home, you can change clothes after you stop sweating and smell good enough that deodorant will hide it. Synthetic clothes always make you smell worse. Don't know why. Trying to commute while wearing your work clothes is impossible unless it isn't far and you can ride really slow, in my experience. Anything over a mile causes me to work up a sweat that lasts for several minutes even after I stop.

--sam





ideasculptor
04.30.08 - 4:20 am

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HUH?



eddieboyinla
04.30.08 - 5:47 am

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that is a fact. If you ride with less exertion, you will not heat up as up, therefore you won't sweat. It is not impossible. I was and still am more of a commuter then somebody who rode for the exercise of it. I road for many years and never had to worry about the smell or sweat factor, until I decided to push it harder. The realities is you may not get in shape for a weekday "go fast" ride, riding in that manner. You do get cardiovascular exercise, you may not get to your destination as fast, you will be able to enjoy all the areas you pass through, and most likely be stopping to pick up the many things you will see in the road. Your legs will get stronger, but you won't stink. If smell and moisture is an issue, go slower, its not bad.

(disclosure: some people will get hot and start to sweat when you talk to them, so this might not ably to all)



sexy
04.30.08 - 10:47 am

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Hey Fuzzbeast,

5 years without a car? That's awesome.

I go from Echo Park to Glendale Monday - Friday. I'd like to get to Brand Blvd. at the 210 Freeway by 6:45. Are there any Ridazz who are going that way?

Mrs. Rollers





Mrs. Rollers
05.1.08 - 2:03 pm

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Randy has been car free her entire life.



Joe Borfo
05.1.08 - 2:07 pm

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FIRST COMMUTE TO WORK COMPLETE!

So, it's not that big a deal to most, but I did my first 'car-less' commute to work yeserday... 48 miles round trip.
I live in North Hollywood and work in Westlake Village, so I biked along the orange line until Warner Center and weaved about until just before Calabasas where the hills were getting rough. Hopped on the metro 161 and got off at Kanan and biked the rest of the way.
I felt great and I even beat my friends home who took the freeway!



Leetard
05.1.08 - 2:14 pm

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Congrats, Leetard!



Joe Borfo
05.1.08 - 2:19 pm

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"Roadblock,

That's very similar to the route Will Campbell takes I think. Y'all should ride together.

Alex Thompson
04.30.08 - 6:01 am"



I saw big Will once whilst riding that route.... but no longer. for I have been LAID OFF of that job....



Roadblock
05.1.08 - 2:34 pm

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Sweet. Now you're unemployed like the rest of us.



hatehills
05.1.08 - 2:55 pm

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Here's my latest route to work, almost all chill or small streets that go through. Often I just take the bus at Wilshire and Fairfax to keep the legs fresh and check my e-mail and read blogs:

Silver lake to Santa Monica







cabhauler
05.1.08 - 3:04 pm

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my commute's so long, I had to break it up into 2 images. I bike daily from my bungalow in Quartz Hill, CA, to Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.

[IMG]http://i32.tinypic.com/28a118n.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i29.tinypic.com/k516u.jpg[/IMG]

The commute is somewhere around 50 miles one way, so I'm biking over 100 miles a day, 5 days a week. I used to have a weight problem; this routine seems to keep it off.



RichardWagons
06.24.08 - 4:05 pm

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Rode to work yesterday, studio City to Van Nuys airport and back, no big deal compared to others lengthy commutes but just thought I'd bump the thread.



Limeyfly
11.16.08 - 10:08 am

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