World Class Commuter
Every day Monica West bikes to her job as a Personal Trainer and Swim Coach at Wildwood Athletic Club. In her spare time, she works a second job – as a world-class triathlete (really – no exaggeration or hyperbole). Her 2008 result at the USA Triathlete National Championships in Las Vegas qualified her for world-class competition, and she was one of 12 American women triathletes on the US team in the 2009 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships in Perth, Australia! Better yet, she finished in the top half of her division in her first try in the competition!
       Despite her full schedule, we caught Monica in a spare moment between jobs and asked her about her more mundane biking experiences – as a commuter.

Has the thrill of competitive riding and the routine of commuting and utility riding every day taken the pleasure out of recreational riding?
Monica:   On the contrary. My “sport” riding is about training and learning to ride faster, which tends to be hard work and very tiring. It’s in my everyday riding that I can relax and take my time and just enjoy the ride.
How long have you been commuting to work?
Monica:   About three years. I have a round trip of about ten miles to work and back.
Why did you decide to bike?
Monica:   Gas prices. It wasn’t just that gas prices rose – I could see they were being pushed up artificially, it wasn’t just inflation. They were rising much faster than any normal market factors could account for. I got mad. I decided I wasn’t going to pay those prices.
Do you bike year round?
Monica:   Mostly. I can get through snow about 2” deep with my mountain bike. I don’t ride when I find myself getting sick repeatedly or when I think it’s hazardous for car drivers. And that’s an important distinction - most bike riders only consider the effect of conditions on their own riding ability, but if the cars don’t have good control, there’s a real additional danger to bikers.
What kinds of bikes do you have in your stable?
Monica:   My commuter is a Specialized Roubaix. I also have a Specialized mountain bike and a Felt Time Trial for racing.
Do you have a car?  
Monica:   Yes, but I hardly ever use it. Mostly it’s when I have to transport my three dogs somewhere. For getting groceries or going out for social events I carpool. I have a big backpack that I use to carry stuff around when I need to.
What problems were most bothersome for you when you first started commuting?
Monica: The usual – darkness and cold, especially cold wind on my eyeballs. The dark I handled with good LED lights front and back; I wear ski clothes in the winter, including ski goggles, which keeps my eyeballs from freezing. Getting “dressed up” for cold weather is really no big problem at all.
What workplace issues did you have?
Monica:   When I first started bike commuting and storing the bike inside my office, everybody else wanted to do the same thing, so management told me to keep my bike outside. I did that for a while, but I have a nice bike, and someone tried to rip it off. Fortunately, the lock did its job, but I wasn’t feeling good about leaving it outside any more. Now I kind of sneak it in and tuck it away where it’s not obtrusive.
What’s the best thing about bike commuting for you?
Monica:   When I’m on my bike I feel connected to the world outside, more connected to the world in general. That’s important to me. It lets me get out of my own head for a while.
What’s the worst?
Monica:   It’s only bad when I can’t do it.
What tip would you give to someone who wants to start commuting by bike?
Monica:   Make the process manageable. Take small steps. Make your own rules - commute on casual Fridays, or commute once a week, or during the summer. It’s not an all or nothing situation. Don’t worry about what anybody else thinks - don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself. But, once you make your own rules, stick to them!

© 2010 | 2011 Bob Beach