How to Survive Your First Week of Commuting

The Warren Wall. Photo: Stephen Lam/Element.ly
The Warren Wall. Photo: Stephen Lam/Element.ly

I don’t really commute.

Not that I don’t want to, but I can’t. I mean, it’s kinda rough to roll up to a photo shoot carrying 30-40lbs of camera gear.

But with the car in the shop (thanks, rock) and the fact that I am in the studio this week, what the heck, it’s only a mile. NBD I can do that. It’s only a mile but dude, no flats! Half mile, 10% descent immediately followed by a 14% climb (well that’s the average but it’s far steeper than that in some sections) for another half mile … aka the Warren Wall for you SF readers.

So it’s a bit of a workout but whatever. I’ll deal with it. Here are some notes from the past few days (so far).

Day one: Super early call time equals riding in the dark. Those new Knog lights are pretty sweet (review soon).

Day two: Shut up legs, I’m half awake. But hey, I have my coldbrew, a bottle of fruit smoothie and it’s warm enough to wear a t-shirt at 7 a.m. without freezing my ass off.

Day three: Alright alright alright I’m getting used to it now. 14% in street clothes is a bitch but at least I’m wide awake by the time I make it to work. Forgot my coldbrew today and that Odwalla mango protein shake was gross. What was I thinking?

Day four: Barely made it to work on time. Rushing up Warren and trying not to swear sweat too much just don’t work.

Day five: TGIF

Here are a few things I came to really enjoy during the “commute.” It’s been a hard week on set yet the ride to and from home (Weeee downhill!) is arguably the best daily escape, or even a bit of a guilty pleasure I can count on to get away from the grind for just the right amount of time like having my pasta perfectly al dente. No phone, no KOMs, just rides, dude.

Plus a little bit of workout doesn’t hurt, either.