CorliJ

Did my first cycle commute this morning. 16 fairly hilly kilometers. Time-wise, it's about 30 minutes longer (one way) than driving (I'm already slow, and went even slower than normal up the hills). So it's quite a time investment. I'll see what I do as the days get shorter - I like to start working at 07h30 but I'm not keen to ride in the proper dark to achieve that. But then I'll have to stay longer in the afternoons, which I don't like. I took a shower before starting the commute and used wet-wipes at work, feels fine. Was a bit scared of every person along the road being a bikejacker, which also makes me feel bad about being so mistrusting. One omie waved and went "daarsy, daarsy, daarsy" 🧡 I'll definitely not do this more than twice a week, so brought in most of my things yesterday. If I continue, I'll also bring something for lunch the previous day already, so that I don't have to carry a backpack. I'll see how it goes this afternoon when I have to climb out of Somerset West central to the top of the hill...maybe this will be a first and a last time!

The main climb wasn't up Irish, probably at least partly for that reason. They climbed up jeeptracks (starting a bit before Jonkers gate) up to (I think) the contour road after Irish 5, which did a decent job of spreading at least the front of the field. But yeah it sucks when you've got a good rhythm going and the person in front of you stalls in the singletrack (as my husband, often following me, can attest).