You have the hardest part done..................... getting started. Of course, the challenge to find time to ride doesn't get any easier, but for a lot of us, the fun of it slowly moves it up the priority list.
 
Halt works well on dogs, and is more humane than mace, if that matters to you.

Jim,
I found that I really enjoy my 9 mile commute to work.  On the occasional day that I have to drive due to weather or needing the car, I really miss it.
 
I recently went over 1000 miles.  Only 3000 to go to pay for my Bacchetta.
 
Richard

Me thinks you should strap some raw beef on your back so that the dogs can chase you and motivate you to pedal faster.  
 
Quote from JimFPU on Jul 7^th, 2008, 7:57am:

 
 

Day two.  Almost the same stats.  
 
The ride home yesterday was uneventful, except for the 3 bridges on Hwy 5 with no (read ZERO) shoulder, but everyone gave me plenty of room...I think that trailer really helps me stand out...I wonder how much drag it actually adds though.  It seems when I ride without it there is not much difference.
 
Tomorrow I have to take the car as me and the wife discussed the dangers of riding while fasting.  I have a physical tomorrow so I can get 1/2 hour a day up to two hours a week on the clock for the 'exercise program' and riding my 'bent to work counts as exercise!!!
 

Youu know I picked up my old Mavica this morning and thought about how much it weighs...and put it back down!  LOL!  
 
Maybe I'll steal DW's mother's day camera...it's little!

Had to skip two days for Dr. appointment, and second day just because I was so tired from no food the day before...
 
Day 3: was quite fun ride in this morning!  Chased by 4 dogs (1 at one point 3 at another!)  I've ridden for most of my life and have never been chased but today 2 out of the 4 were right on my trailer!!  I need to find some place to buy mace locally that I can get to today on the way home.  I may stop by the police station and see if they have any.  And I'll tell them about the unrestrained 'pit-bull' type dogs that chased me this morning.  My best friend this morning at that point was something I usually don't like on a bike-traffic.  Two of the dogs couldn't cross, and the one that made it across almost didn't make it back-dang!  Great motivation for the hill that was right there, but this is not fun trying to out run them...
 
I'll post pics when I get home tonight of the bridges with no shoulder on Hwy 5 that I cross.

Aren't dogs fun?  Back in my more serious riding days, late 1980s on DF, we got chased all the time on routes north of Houston.  I got bit in the calf once when I had slowed to turn around to look at a car for sale and didn't realize there was a dog there until it was too late.  After I got home I jumped in my old pickup and drove back out there, thinking if that dog comes out to chase my truck, it's dead!  Fortunately for the dog it stayed in the yard.
A yellow lab once charged out his yard chasing a pack of us as we were going really fast down a curving hill.  Didn't see the pickup coming from the other direction that went right over him.  Apparently the dog wasn't hurt seriously, but from that point on when we went past there he would just raise his head a little and go "Woof!"  Guess he learned his lesson.
Most dogs you can outrun if you see them soon enough.  Good sprinting practice!