first commuting day

[Browne]

today was my first commuting day at Trek. A full 23 miles, one way. It's fairly flat here like I suspected, but if you go a little to the west of Madison, things start to get hillier (so I'm told).

Rode in with Dan Dacko, the lights and computers guy, and we got to the first real hill. He looked over and said, "yeah, since you're on a fixie this one will hurt." but coming from the Burg, the hill only made me breathe a little harder. It took us just over an hour which makes me confident that I can do this more than I'd originally planned.

One great thing is that Trek's Commuter Incentive program is much better than Dirt Rag's. Whereas as Dirt Rag you get $1 per day (50 cents per way) cash, regardless of distance, Trek gives anywhere from $1 (0-3 miles) to $4 (+10 miles) per day, good for credit at either the cafeteria or the TCG catalog (componentry). And since they distribute goods other than Trek-branded items, it makes the $$ something i will really use.

Also got my paws on a size 15.5" 69er that I'm taking to Phoenix this weekend for NMBS #1. Maybe run it on Super D... who knows. Should be very cool to have some solid trail time before we launch the bike in Santa Cruz prior to Sea Otter.

Note to Fxdwhl If you're still planning on Trans Iowa, well, best of luck. Drop me a line if you plan to be in the area.

[Cyclenaut]

Nice one, Michael. What part of town did you settle in?

In case no one has told you yet, there's a nice little coffee shop in 'downtown' Waterloo, and a pretty decent Mexican place in Marshall.

Hopefully, someone has taken you on your innaugural visit to Jim's Cheese?

[Nick Verstain]

Commuting 23-miles on a fixie for $4 that he'll spend on cheese fries and Bontrager brats. Yinz can take the boy outta the Burgh.....

[50 Mission Cap]

today was my first commuting day at Trek. A full 23 miles, one way. It's fairly flat here like I suspected, but if you go a little to the west of Madison, things start to get hillier (so I'm told).

Rode in with Dan Dacko, the lights and computers guy, and we got to the first real hill. He looked over and said, "yeah, since you're on a fixie this one will hurt." but coming from the Burg, the hill only made me breathe a little harder. It took us just over an hour which makes me confident that I can do this more than I'd originally planned.

One great thing is that Trek's Commuter Incentive program is much better than Dirt Rag's. Whereas as Dirt Rag you get $1 per day (50 cents per way) cash, regardless of distance, Trek gives anywhere from $1 (0-3 miles) to $4 (+10 miles) per day, good for credit at either the cafeteria or the TCG catalog (componentry). And since they distribute goods other than Trek-branded items, it makes the $$ something i will really use.

Also got my paws on a size 15.5" 69er that I'm taking to Phoenix this weekend for NMBS #1. Maybe run it on Super D... who knows. Should be very cool to have some solid trail time before we launch the bike in Santa Cruz prior to Sea Otter.

Note to Fxdwhl If you're still planning on Trans Iowa, well, best of luck. Drop me a line if you plan to be in the area.

Browne,

Sort of unrelated, but you should go check out either of the kettle moraine state forests (north and south branches) just east of Madison. Some decent single track.

Good luck on your new commute.

Mick

[jonassterling]

Sounds like you are settling in nicely.

You should bring that 69er to the Wilderness 101 and break the 10 hour mark this summer.

[fxdwhl]

Wow, that's a sweet deal for reimbursment. Any idea of how many employees take them up on the offer?

Still on the fence about TI but it's looking less likely, just getting out there and back is my major hang-up.

[FastandFurriest]

Welcome to Wisconsin Browne! Since I'm sure you will be looking this spring, Blue Mound state park offers the tastiest singletrack (to the public) in southern WI. It lies about 20 miles SW of Madison, and we even have a rail trail called Military Ridge that runs from Madison to locales SW which can drop you right at the entrance to the park.
The place tends to eat bikes, and knees, shins, etc. And sometimes evens threatens ones commitment to a rigid ride, at least until its all over and you get to sample some fine WI brews.
WI also has the largest XC race series in the country in the Wisconsin Off Road Series. We also have a series of 12 hour/100mile races that is a bit more grassroots but grows every year. That series includes 12 hours of Blue Mound, and new this year is the Levis/Trow 100. Check out both series and we hope to see you there.

P.S. Perhaps you can help knock some heads together at Trek and get them more involved in local racing and getting the kids interested. It seems the Lance years have put the blinders on those people and they can't even see what is lying right in front of them. Good luck!

[Browne]

wow. so many questions, so many things to say...

let's start from the top:

JG: yeah, we have beer thirty here too. I don't have to buy it, and I don't even have to get up from my desk to get it. just like home. :)

Cyclenaut: finding things in Madison is frustrating. circles, one-ways, confusion. makes me long for the chaos I knew...

Mick: kettle moraine is on my list. so are the trails across the street. but first I'm hitting up Phoenix this wknd to ride the 69er at the first NMBS. thanks for the suggestion!

Jonassterling: I think I just might. Maybe a suspension fork will help with this year's attempt. That rigid was just too much!

fxdwhl: there are lots on the product development side. Of the 60 people I'm exposed to everyday, it's a good bet that at least 10 rode to work. mileage varies from 6 to 26.

Fastandfurry: Blue Mound for sure! I'll see what I can do to get WORS figured in to things more, but I almost see it like running a Dirt Rag promotion in Pittsburgh--not the smartest allocation of resources to spend $$ on saturating your back yard. Then again, if your home town people got nothing to be proud of, then who does??

Alright over and out. To Phoenix I go!

-michael

[KDWeb]

Hey Mike...ya might wanna change your signature block...that thing with Karen and all...ya know?? Just saying...:rolleyes:

[wigger thomas]

And since they distribute goods other than Trek-branded items, it makes the $$ something i will really use.

We'll still love you if you leave stuff like this out of your posts. Trek's pretty cool for a big company. You don't have to tell us you have interest in other brands of cycling products. We know.

[RacerK]

Yes, although the implanted microchip seems to be functioning nicely (I'll take cash money over company-store credit any day), you ain't the editor no more, Mr. Browne. :p

What's the weather like? Often the only problem with flat stuff is the wind...

[bigpedaler]

CASH INCENTIVE FOR BIKE COMMUTING?
at my job, i'm lucky they let me bring the bike in the building! had another employee try & tell me i couldn't one time -- good laugh, 'cos i've had mgmt. OK for it for 7 yrs. -- i told him i'm not padlocking a +$1000 bike in the parking lot.

[RandomV]

I work in a factory that manufactures bolts for the automotive industry. They don't like my stupid bicycle. They do give us a "rack," but it's a wheelcrusher model that isn't even fixed to the ground. I leave my bike locked by the receiving docks where I actually work.

The idea that someone would give me cash or some other incentive to ride a bike to work is a lovely one indeed.

[robmdem]

The agency where I work has a commute trip reduction program which pays $1.25 per day for up to 60% of days traveled and $2.50 for over 60%. Walking, biking, carpooling and public transit all qualify. Plus I can park my bike at my desk:)

[RandomV]

You really do enjoy making me cry... don't you.:(

[bdee]

Reimbursement would kick a$$ but I'm just happy this joint has showers (a carry over from when this building was used for manufacturing)! I'm not so sure if I took another job like this I'd be so lucky. Pretty certain I'd have to join a local gym or something like that... Ideally living much closer than 20+ miles from work would maybe mean no showers, or reimbursement needed.