Sounds Like A Good Idea

Hi all,

I've recently decided to start commuting after years (since a child) of not cycling and not owning a bike. We purchased our son a bike from Winners Edge a couple of years ago that happened to be a Trek. I figured that Trek would be as good a company as any to start researching bikes. As it turned out I liked what a saw and reviews supported the brand so I ordered a Trek from the same shop a couple of days ago with a few commuter accessories.

2012 Trek 7.5 FX Disc Bike (was fitted to the 15 inch frame)
Bontrager Commuter Road Fenders
Bontrager Back Rack Classic
Bontrager Interchange Waterproof Pannier Large
Bontrager Trip 5W Computer
Bontrager Trek Flare Bseen taillight
Bontrager Ion 2 Headlight
Bontrager Convert helmet
Bontrager Sport Commuter Rainshell

The commute is 15.1km, according to Google Maps. There are actually 3 routes, 2 of 15.1km (Harbour Road and Middle Road) and 1 of 16.1km (along South Shore). I've been weight training for about a year so I think I can handle the hills and distance. I plan on riding in on Mondays and Wednesdays, and riding back on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Once I adjust I'll move to round-trips on Mondays and Thursdays. The plan is to work up to doing round-trips 4 days a week. My weight trainer, Kenton, is happy since he has been telling to do cardio since we started.

A side goal is to drop 30 pounds of excess fat; ok, maybe its a little more than a side goal. I'm 190pds with 60pds of fat according to this fancy bathroom scale. Less 30pds will put me about 18% fat with is not to bad considering elite athletes are about 13% fat or so. I tried out the row machine in the gym earlier this week: 5000m in 27 minutes burned just over 250 calories. I think the commute will take me just over an hour at a similar steady but deliberate effort. Roughly 500 calories one way. That should be about 1 pound every 8 one way trips; all things being equal.

I'll post a picture when the bike arrives. I ordered a few other goodies on the internet that I'll save for mention then.

Edmund