Who commutes to the job by 'cycle?

[DosVerde]

Location?  Melbourne, Australia
Distance?  About 10km each way - inner city, so a lot of stop/start traffic.
Weather?  If it's nice I try to ride the bicycle 2-3 days a week, otherwise I ride the S4R no matter the weather, and there has been a lot of rain here recently
Employer Accomodations?  We have a dedicated motorcycle only parking area accessed by boom gates. No cover though.
Extra Hassle?  Not much, just the hassle of getting gear on and off, and washing the bike more frequently.
Tips?  When splitting lanes in stopped traffic, look down to see if the women in the short skirts have their foot firmly on the brake

[phlipmode]

Where are you located?  Vancouver, Wa/Portland, Or
Distance? 28 to 60 round trip depending on the route.
Weather-dependent?  I'll get wet. I don't really like to ride if it's close to freezing.
What accomodations has your employer made?  If it's wet I can park in a heated dry space.
What extra hassle does it add?  Bringing stuff to and from work, I have a limited amount of room.
Tips, techniques, and tricks to successfuly moto to work...?  What ^^^they^^^said. Get the best gear you can afford, for all seasons. Make sure it's comfortable. Try to be visible, I have a red mohawk on my helmet.  People pointing and laughing saw me.  
If you don't have panniers get a stable and comfortable bag, I use a Chrome messenger bag that pretty much holds everything I haul, I carry a cargo net for  things that don't fit in the bag.  
Bike maintenance --DO IT!  it sux to break down on the freeway when the weather is less than desirable. Get tires oriented to commuting, A Michelin Pilot Sport may be the cats meow in the twisties but 30 miles everyday on the highway turned mine into a square.  I am moving to the Pilot Road 2's next.  
Ride aware! You have a horn, use it.  HAVE FUN!! Thats why we got these things.

[SILENTCOREY]

I live in Spokane, WA and commute to Airway Heights, WA everyday. (north eastern WA state)
Its between 12 and 15 miles each way depending on what kinda time I've got and route.
For the most part I don't mind the rain at all. Generally don't even watch the weather report unless its still early spring or late fall time. I found out that me and the bike don't melt if we get wet.  We do get quite a bit of snow and wintery weather here in the northwest so the bike sits in the garage for months at a time during that season.  Especially this last winter and even spring, we had snow here as recent as may tenth.
The only accommodations my employer has made was an agreement to allow me to store my bike in the shop when its raining.  
The extra hassle of gearing up and down for every stop can be a bit of a pain but worth it in my opinion.
Well the obvious thing is to watch out for the others not paying attention out there, but I also find that a good set of gear like warm gloves and jacket, along with riding pants makes the commute so much nicer.  Also keeping the bike well maintained is a huge thing cause nobody likes being stuck on the side of the road, and besides the bike just looks so much better a speedin you down the road. Making sure all the ergonomics are set up for the rider, like controls,  mirrors, seat height. and suspension settings to name a few. I also like to vary my route a little bit from day to day and I always avoid road construction as much as possible.

[timmer357]

Where are you located?  Eugene, Or
Distance? 16.4 miles roundtrip
Weather-dependent?  Sometimes...planning on riding the xs400 once it is fixed in the rain.
What accomodations has your employer made? Free covered parking...car passes are $55 per month
What extra hassle does it add?  Bringing stuff to and from work, taking kid to daycare on way
Tips, techniques, and tricks to successfuly moto to work...?  Where full gear no matter what.  My crash in May was in the parking lot at work with Old Navy cargos on, knee scarred forever

[GLantern]

Where are you located? Long Island Riverhead, NY
Distance? 33miles one way, usually longer because i like the backroads!!
Weather-dependant? Usually needs to be above 40degrees as im lacking proper winter gear, a spot of rain i don't mind but if its down pouring FORGET IT
What accomodations has your employer made? None except i keep spare shoes under my desk.
What extra hassle does it add?  Just that i have to change into my shorts or jeans when i get to work and change my shoes.  Otherwise standard parking and the 2minutes gear up and gear down time.
Tips, techniques, and tricks to successfuly moto to work...?  Make sure you have an easily removable bag or backpack.  I personally hate using a backpack. So i went with the cortech sport tailbag which can fit my laptop, lunch, and a change of clothes.  Also be extra alert in the morning or leave a tiny bit later to try to skip the rush hour traffic.  And always wear your gear rush hour is insane and you never know when you might go down.  I got out of work early and was so excited i didn't let my tires warm up and i low sided 1minute from work........

[DucofWestwood]

Where are you located? Los Angeles
Distance? ~ 7 miles each way
Weather-dependant? I won't ride if it rains, but that rarely happens here in So-Cal
What accomodations has your employer made? special moto parking spots in the garage; there's a gym at my office and i have a small locker to keep stuff in overnight (work shoes, dob kit, etc.)
What extra hassle does it add? carrying change of clothes is doable but obviously not as easy as with a car; getting sweaty while riding requires that i shower at the gym (at my office) when i arrive; also the sweat plus the fact that i wear full-gear limits my ability to go directly to anywhere where i couldn't shower or change clothes first (e.g. meeting people for drinks after work, a mid-day doctors appointment, etc.)
Tips, techniques, and tricks to successfuly moto to work...?  i have a chrome messenger bag which is great - very comfortable and holds a lot of stuff; i wear full body armor with mesh-kevlar, made by cycleport ... it's not cheap, but it's worth every penny.  my ride is all city-streets and every intersection is a chance for something to go wrong ... i ride pretty conservatively and try to set it up so that every intersection i go thru, i am next to a car travelling my direction, so as to prevent people from turning into my lane from the opposite direction (i.e. i use another car as a blocker)

[Henecton]

I commute 120 miles round trip a few days a week in Northern VA. I try not to ride if there is a chance of rain but sometines I have no choice. The only real down time is getting the bike out of the shed and going over it, other than that the bike is a fast commute. I work second shift so I ride 60 miles at night through the back roads and deer are everywhere, I have had a few close calls over the last two years. The employer makes no exception but it is no big deal. I have to change pants at work because I wear arborwear pants with knee pads and swap shoes(I keep them at my desk). I have a very large tail bag on my Multi so I pull it off and walk in with it like any other bag, pretty slick. Best tip is buy rain gear and watch the weather channel if you plan on alternating between car and bike.

[moto-zen]

Where are you located?: Florida panhandle, west of Panama City, East of Pensacola
Distance?: 10mi  (I need to move further away)
Weather-dependant?: No
What accomodations has your employer made?: None
What extra hassle does it add?: Gearing up when I'm running late blows. Signals don't work when it's raining.
Tips, techniques, and tricks to successfuly moto to work...?: 1.Don't skim on gear! I can't stress that enough.  Having quality gear makes all the difference. I have one set of gear that I wear in all seasons. Even in high humidity/triple digit temps. It wasn't cheap but is worth every penny.
2. Get a tail bag. I need one. A backpack becomes a pain, a tankbag has to be removed to fuel. Another PITA

[HeyThatsMyBike]

Where are you located?  Oxnard, SoCal.
Distance? 14 mile round trip, mostly city
Weather-dependent?  Don't ride in the rain
What accommodation's has your employer made? None at all!  Wish there was something coz our neighbor is a whole-seller and there are way too many slats being moved around  
What extra hassle does it add?  Bringing my camera gear when I have to go on location.  Try to keep it to the minimum!
Tips, techniques, and tricks to successfully moto to work...?  Wear my Dainese Super 3 and gloves always.  'Cover' myself at intersections with a car turning the same direction.  Have my high beam on during the day, watch drivers and wheel movements of cars close to me.  Almost had a woman run into me when she didn't yield in a turn-about!!!! There was Someone watching over me!!

[ellingly]

Where are you located?
Canberra, Australia. Our nation's capital .

Distance?
30 km each way (so, about 19 miles)

Weather-dependant?
No.
I've ridden from days where the temperature was 40°C, to when it was -8°C when I left (in that case, the visor froze shut at a traffic light). I've ridden in rain, and hail, and once with a light dusting of snow (snow never settles here).

What accomodations has your employer made?
They tolerate my crap fashion.

What extra hassle does it add?
There's another minute on each end putting on and taking off gear, apart from that, none, as I can split through the traffic.

Tips, techniques, and tricks to successfuly moto to work...?
1. Everyone in a car wants to kill you, even if they don't mean it.
2. Gear to suit all occasions. I have three different jackets (winter, leather & summer), three different sets of gloves, some very good thermal underwear... and a 1 piece rainsuit. That seems to help.
3. No matter how sucky the weather is, you'll always be happier than taking the car (at least I am).

[redxblack]

Where are you located?  akron, ohio
Distance?  38 miles each way
Weather-dependant?  somewhat
What accomodations has your employer made?  none
What extra hassle does it add?  just worring someone will make the beast with two backs with the bike while I'm working
Tips, techniques, and tricks to successfuly moto to work...?  leave before the people putting on their makeup hit the freeway every morning!

[herm]

i was commuting from southern oregon to northern california
back roads between 50 80 miles one way
unless it snowed
no employer accommodations
there was always the possibility that the weatherman would be wrong.........for the ride home
make sure you have enough fuel if you are running back roads in the sticks

[eichh]

Location?  Minooka, IL

Distance?  About 20-30 miles I go somewhere differant everyday.

Weather?  I ride unless the weatherman says 80% chance of ass pounding storms are coming.

Employer Accomodations?  Sometimes theres only dirt so I have to find a smashed can to put under the kickstand. About 80% of the time theres a road or gravel.

Extra Hassle?  Just the worry someone might steal my gear when I am not around.

Tips?  In the morning I assume every car is out to kill me so I ride figuring the car in front of me and next to me will move without looking and thats gotten me out of a few jams because I expected to swerve or hit the horn.I look at it like this, riding a bike to work is not always the most relaxing way to go but everytime I do I save about $4 in gas.

[yamifixer]

Where are you located? Coastal NC (not the twisty good end)
Distance? 22ish in 50+ home
Weather-dependant? yep hate riding in rain
What accomodations has your employer made? made a shelf for my helmet
What extra hassle does it add? can't take good coffee from home, unlikely to work OT so i can ride home (less money for mods and beer)
Tips, techniques, and tricks to successfuly moto to work...? leave quitly so I don't wake neighbors.

[muscle_cars_only]

located: Lynchburg, VA
distance: 15 miles round trip
weather dependant: Yes, <30% chance of rain I'm taking the bike.  30 to 50% I take a good look at the radar.  I don't mind the bike getting rained on but hate riding in it.
pluses: 1 ton crew cab dually diesel  VS one of the bikes
negatives: Sometimes the weather sneaks up on me
Employer Accom:  20 up front car spaces have been converted to motorcycle parking only.
Extra Hassle: None really
Tips, Tech for successful ride to work:  While entering the expressway ,the idiots here tend to think a YIELD sign means STOP!