First Commute!

[Ujamaflip]

I completed my first commute this week! I started cycling at the beginning of autumn this year to help get fit, and found it much more pleasant than running and more convenient that swimming. As the nights began to draw in I got frustrated that I couldn't cycle in the evening after work, so this week I decided to get up early and cycle in.

My commute is around 30km, with 90% being cycle lanes and forest trails. It's a beautiful route, often I'm accompanied by falcons and other birds of prey swooping down the trail between the trees in the woods - that certainly beats sitting in traffic in the morning!

So far I've just been cycling in in the morning and coming back home by tram in the evening, it's been too dark to cycle on unlit roads after work. The exception was Friday when I finished work early and had a great ride home! This weekend I ordered some Ay-Up lights so soon darkness will no longer be an issue!

The route I take is fairly flat so it's been quite pleasant, usually it takes me about an hour and half. There are some more mountainous routes I can take when I begin to get a little more stamina. I'm living in South-West Germany, just on the northern tip of the Black Forest.

I've been reading these forums for a few weeks, but this is the first time I've contributed. Apart from being highly entertaining I've learned a lot from reading the posts, particularly what to look out for to avoid accidents.

Thanks for all the advice so far!

 

[ComedyPilot]

Welcome on board, enjoy the ride.

I take it you are a brit living in Gernany?

 

[Ujamaflip]

Thanks, and yes, I moved here about 6 years ago for a job offer. I miss England occasionally, but there's a lot to like about Germany, particularly the weather in this region! (although it's pretty damn cold and windy right now...)

 

[ComedyPilot]

I used to live in Dortmund in the 80's, and have holidayed in Bavaria 5 times in the last 3 years. I would move there at the drop of a hat.

 

[ttcycle]

Welcome!

Sounds like and excellent and beautiful commute!

 

[upsidedown]

Welcome and well done ! Sounds absolutely lovely.

 

[hackbike 666]

Nice,and welcome.

 

[jonny jeez]

Hi Ujamaflip (good name!)

Welcome, sounds like you have a really great commute there, I'm totally jealous now. (forest, wildlife, flat roads .... fantastic)

If you miss Britain then keep in touch with us (this forum is very addictive) and it'll make you feel right at home.

So much so that you'll remember that living just outside the black forests is not to shabby after all.

I have friends who live just outside Koln and we often drop over to see them and do the "Wine" trips down your way....If i know the bit you live in then, it's a stunning part of Germany and one that I would not swap quickly for "grey blighty!"

Let us know how you get on with those Ayups, you have the perfect ride to really test them out. (check out the vid on the ayup site...it could be YOU!!!! link) although I think the pulse on the ayups is a little too slow for city commuting (personally).

Happy trails

Jonny

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Another hello and welcome ujamaflip. I'm dead jealous of your commute. My route is pretty good, but yours sounds lovely!!

 

[Ujamaflip]

Thanks for the the warm welcome guys! I'll certainly keep in touch and let you know how I get on with the Ayups and the commute!

 

[jonny jeez]

Thanks for the the warm welcome guys! I'll certainly keep in touch and let you know how I get on with the Ayups and the commute!

Perhaps you can invest in a head cam and tease share the route with us all. It sounds really cool, I'd love to see it

head cams are way under £100 now (£50-£60)

 

[Ujamaflip]

Perhaps you can invest in a head cam and tease share the route with us all. It sounds really cool, I'd love to see it

head cams are way under £100 now (£50-£60)

Good idea, I'll look into getting a headcam. As a teaser here's a satellite image of the route I created with Sporttracks from a GPS track using my Garmin Edge 705.

The route starts out in Karlsruhe which is the big grey urban area at the top, after about 10 minutes of mostly cycle lanes it bursts into woodland roads. After squeezing between two flooded quarries I emerge in grassland and continue on cycle lanes for another stretch. Only the last south-easterly stretch is on road, and quiet country roads at that.

To the east of the route you can just make out the outline of the foothills of the black forest, when I feel a little more adventurous I can plan a route along there!

By the way, the river running to the west of the route is the Rhein, I've been on a few nice rides around there but there's still loads more to explore. Plus there's France on the other side of it!

More to come soon!

 

[Tollers]

Black Forest huh! Shame we can't have you come riding with us. You bring the cake!

Tollers

EDIT: And the Eiswein

 

[skudupnorth]

Welcome ! I wish my commute was so nice,trails and forrest route, what bliss that would be not to have to fight with cars everyday....just the odd squirrel !
I have driven through Germany many times and it is a wonderful country from a drivers point of view,i bet cycling is even better.

 

[HJ]

My commute is around 30km, with 90% being cycle lanes and forest trails. It's a beautiful route, often I'm accompanied by falcons and other birds of prey swooping down the trail between the trees in the woods - that certainly beats sitting in traffic in the morning!

The route I take is fairly flat so it's been quite pleasant, usually it takes me about an hour and half. There are some more mountainous routes I can take when I begin to get a little more stamina. I'm living in South-West Germany, just on the northern tip of the Black Forest.

Ach, that sound a bit rough, aye it's a hard life, but somebody's got to do it...

Enjoy