|   Five Lessons from the Commute | Steve-O
Oct 26, 2001 6:12 AM | | I made it my goal this year to spend more time on the bike. The only way to make that happen on a daily basis was to ride to work. If the weather holds out in the Midwest I should be able to finish the year with 3000 miles in the saddle (okay I'll admit that its 80% road and only 20% trail). Over the course of the year I learned some valuable lessons which I felt would be helpful for those curious about bicycle commuting. Here ya go!
1. Mother nature is an amazing thing. She can take wind that is blowing in your face the entire way to work and completely reverse it so that it will be blowing in your face the complete ride home.
2. One lane means that two cars can fit. Two lanes means that three cars can fit. This lesson is especially good to know in places where the road necks down a lane. It seems to work no matter what size of car or truck is on the road.
3. Helmets that seemingly have poor ventilation on steamy summer days have surprisingly good ventilation on freezing winter mornings.
4. Track stands are good to learn. When done properly a track stand can so completely captivate a driver that they let you jump out to a good 25 yard head start from the stoplight.
5. No matter how cold or rainy the weather is when you ride to work you will not earn any more respect from your fellow co-workers by riding your bike. Typically the reverse will happen. They will begin to question your sanity with questions like "Why do you ride on days like this?" and "Isn't that a nice bicycle to ride in the snow?".
Thanks for reading - Steve-O |
| Get yourself some..... | Stine
Oct 26, 2001 6:53 AM | | DOG EARZ! They work great. Attach to your helmet straps. The fleece ones are even better. I don't remember where we got the fleece ones though.
How does they wind do that anyway??
;) |
| forgot to say... | Stine
Oct 26, 2001 6:55 AM | | last winter when I rode, I found just the dog earz enough. I was too hot if I had anything else under my helmet! I actually needed the vents in the helmet to let some heat out. |
| Kettlemania swagfest, wasn't it? | celly
Oct 26, 2001 7:02 AM | | I seem to recall those silly things there. They do seem to work (although I've been using a headband for years).
bc |
| WOW... good memory! I think you're right. (nm) | Stine
Oct 26, 2001 7:19 AM | | nm |
| I believe Spike brought a set home..... | celly
Oct 26, 2001 7:20 AM | | Not sure if she used them or not. I seem to recall that she gave them a go and liked them. |
| that was it alright... | Nonny
Oct 26, 2001 7:21 AM | | ...altho for some odd reason i forgot to grab me a pair of the darn things when i threw the pile of em into the big box with everything else and said "freebies!". (stoopid me)
=)
Non. (has been using a fleece skiers cap under the helmet in the winter with great success) |
| You can get the fleece ones at... | TinyTank
Oct 26, 2001 7:15 AM | | MEC which is Mountain Equipment Coop. Or just go MEC.CA and you can spend your US$$ for good Canadian products.
Annie
tt\ |
| Well I'm a Headband guy myself | Steve-O
Oct 26, 2001 7:16 AM | | It seems that Gore Windstopper fleece does the trick! Or if it's really cold get that authentic terrorist look with a fleece Baklava! |
| you must be psycic | easyRider
Oct 26, 2001 7:20 AM | | I was just going to put a post in regards to this today. I have been really thinking about riding to work on a daily basis, my problem is that there isn't a shower in the building that I work at and I don't want to offend my coworkers. Plus theres the whole bringing your cloths thing. I geuss this is handled with a backpack. How do yall handle these issues. I.E; showers and or sweating and work clothes. I'm in software and work on the 5th floor of a downtown office building. |
| Baby Wipes..... | celly
Oct 26, 2001 7:30 AM | | Let yourself "dry off" (cool down), then get out some anti-bacterial baby wipes and clean yourself up (including your privates). Then get changed into your work duds. Grab some hairgel to get rid of helmet head and you're on your way. |
| They even make them in small towel size now... | Stine
Oct 26, 2001 7:46 AM | | Regular wipes. Not baby wipes. They're called "Ultra Wet One's"
In the summer, I'd throw the package in the cooler in the car and it felt so good to use them when the ride was over. |
| What Celly Said (More) | Steve-O
Oct 26, 2001 7:40 AM | | I shower before work in the morning... I do get a little sweaty on the ride but dressing for the weather really helps. In the summer I wear lycra bike shorts and light, airy jerseys (sleeveless is even cooler). In the winter, depending on how cold it is I where combinations of fleece and coolmax. I try to avoid nylon unless it's going to rain. Nylon breathes terribly and traps sweat inside (yes... even Goretex does this!). After a while you learn to dress for the elements. I can typically ride until it gets down to 20F. Then my face just gets too cold to stand it!
As for the clothes, changing, showers, etc. I bring my clothes to work each day (casual wear). I keep a pair of shoes stashed in a locker and this cuts alot of weight out of my pack. There are no showers where I work so I take the Celly approach and cool off then if I'm really sweaty, towel off and change.
Simple as that! |
| Forgot to mention..... | celly
Oct 26, 2001 7:42 AM | | Don't forget the deodorant/anti-persp! That SHOULD be obvious. ;-) |
| thanks to the both you | easyRider
Oct 26, 2001 7:48 AM | | I believe I'll start next week, at least two days a week should be a good start. Gotta make my list now, thanks again. |
| If it's cold where you live | Steve-O
Oct 26, 2001 7:52 AM | | This is a good website to get hardcore about winter riding!
http://www.bikewinter.org |
| Same routine here. | Bikebreath
Oct 26, 2001 8:29 AM | | I'm allowed to use the showers in the "other" building, but it's not close and it doesn't seem to matter. Shower before I leave home, wear a cotton shirt, or two, or three and simply change into work duds after I cool down.
I liked the part, Steve-0, about the track stands giving you and edge...works for me too.
Bb, [ commutes for training for off-road. ] |
| I ride even when its 10°celcius (below) | Keiko
Oct 26, 2001 12:04 PM | | I use those thin fleece hoods that cover your whole head, leaving only your eyes uncovered, then I put on ski glasses with replaceable glass, both tintet and clear.
I used to commute for 25km each day, but now my trip to work takes only 3min. I miss my commute. |
| Ski Helmet | bob
Oct 26, 2001 1:54 PM | | I use a downhill skiing/snowboarding helmet for the really cold days (-5 to -15 celcius). Nice and light, works great and it solves the ventilation problems (mine has adjustable vents).
A thought if you also go skiing often. |
| How many miles do you commute? | Nuget
Oct 26, 2001 7:33 AM | | I've been thinking of commuting myself next year but i'm not sure if i'll like the 20 mile ride through the city. I'll have to go from south Minneapolis(Uptown), to Roseville. Quite a ride and all my friends think i'm nuts to do so but I don't think it'd be that bad once I got used to it. Just wondering how many miles is it one way to your work?
Later Steve |
| If you won't want to do it every day..... | celly
Oct 26, 2001 7:44 AM | | Pick a day or two to commute. I don't commute every day when I'm into it, but even one day a week is not only good for you, but is good for the environment, etc. |
| Roundtrip | Steve-O
Oct 26, 2001 7:46 AM | | is 18.9 miles.... Some days mileage varies depending on construction or my own whim... In the summer, when the days are longer, sometimes I'll say screw it to rush hour and hop on a bike path near work and add in a 30 mile loop. By the time I'm back to my office it's now 6:30 pm and I ride home with less traffic.
The biggest thing with riding through the city is finding nice wide streets. Main streets that are wider can be a good choice, even with a lot of traffic because you've got more room between you, the cars, and the shoulder. The City of Chicago also publishes a list of streets with bike commuter lanes. This is helpful for mapping out new routes. |
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