Name: Charmaine Ruppolt
Location: Arlington, Virginia, USA
Started bike commuting: About 1987 or so.
Commute distance (one way): Currently, 4 1/2 miles – but have had longer commutes up to 16 miles each way.

Describe your commute: Mix of suburb and city roads and bike paths.

Describe your bike and accessories: I have 5 bikes….depending on my needs and the weather. I mostly use a Specialized Sequoia road bike.

What bit of advice would you like to share with new bike commuters?: Plan ahead the night before by laying out your clothes, making your lunch, showering, etc., to save time in the morning. Leave a bit of extra time to get to work, in case you have a flat or an issue, so you will be on time. Enjoy a relaxed ride to work. :) It’s a good way to start your day. Also, you will get stronger as you stick with it, as your body’s muscles get used to the bike commute and terrain.