|   How are you spending Bike Week? | Christine
Apr 28, 2003 7:29 PM | | Any regular bike commuters here? I am embarassed to admit that I drive the two miles to work- it's a hellish bike commute due to the fact that I live in a major city gateway (about twelve lanes of traffic- two highways- merge towards the bridge next to my apartment. Not to mention that LaGuardia Airport is across the street from my building, and I have to ride east, facing the sun....)
Yeah, I know, excuses excuses. But driving only takes five minutes, plus I bring coffee for myself and one of my co-workers. Still, I'm going to attempt a week of bike commuting. Got panniers, a little trunk, and two thermoses for coffee. No parking allowed in the office, but my commuter bike is thief-resistant (though not thief-proof- hose clamps on the quick releases, seat post chained to the frame, etc.) and I've got the NYC approved quad chain.
Would love to see some pointers from regular commuters as incentive. |
| When you reach the highest point of your commute into work .... | Duncan!
Apr 28, 2003 7:44 PM | | don't forget to stop take in the view. |
| Commuted to the post office today, 38 miles roundtrip. | AK Ken
Apr 28, 2003 8:48 PM | | The weather was 40 and overcast, but I felt really strong on the way there and averaged 15.6 mph even though that's the uphill leg.
Just as I turned in to the post office a raindrop hit me and I looked back the way I'd come and HOLY COWS it looked ominous.
By the time I concluded my business it was raining a little, and it only increased as I headed for home. Turns out my amazing strength was just a tailwind, which was now driving significant precipitation into my frontal area. I managed 11.5 mph average on the return, and was wearing all the clothes I had with me by the time I got back.
Discovered my panniers are a semi-permeable membrane that allows water IN, but keeps it pooled in the bottom.
My advice, have some plastic bags along to wrap your stuff in. My second piece of advice, actually use them! I had bags with me but my eternal optimism kept me from deploying them prematurely.
Your commute scares the bejeebers out of me!
Ken |
| "...semi-permeable membrane ..." Enjoyed that comment. | Rev Bubba
Apr 29, 2003 7:26 AM | | It sounds like the material used in every low bid ski instructor jacket ever used at our mountain. They keep you nice and wet on the inside.
Too damn cold at 40 degrees for me to be riding to the post office. |
| Like GoreTex, only backwards....... | AK Ken
Apr 29, 2003 8:41 AM | | I'd never been under the impression that they were water proof, (hence carrying plastic bags), but I was surprised to see water pooled in the bottom!
Vicariously enjoyed Turbo's maiden clipless voyage.
Happy spring!
Ken |
| It's like.............. | Mike T.
Apr 29, 2003 12:10 PM | | ......cartridge sealed bearings - those seals do a far better job of keeping water in than out. |
| The incentive to commute | laffeaux
Apr 28, 2003 10:16 PM | | Isn't being on the bike enough? |
| I rode in today..... | Mongol
Apr 29, 2003 5:16 AM | | the whole mile and a half. I rarely do it, unlike you I don't have any excuses, but need to get on the ball as I planning a campaign associated with Bike to Work Month/Week/Day. Living in a small town there is really no excuse for not bike commuting.
Good Luck,
Tom |
| Booze, Hogs, and women... | The Weasel
Apr 29, 2003 5:26 AM | | oh, you mean Bicycle Week. Riding of course. The nice weather should allow at least one or two commutes. |
| I put new batteries in my blinky light...WooHoo! | Steve-O
Apr 29, 2003 5:55 AM | | Reasons to commute.... Hmmm....
- Fresh air
- Exercise
- See parts of your town that you miss when driving by
- Get stronger for MTBing
- Say hello to other bike commuters every morning
- Save on gas and wear on the car
- Don't need to go to the gym
As far as pointers... well you learn most of it as you go along. I have a routine for packing my clothes and lunch. As for traffic, I've developed multiple routes that get me away from busy streets.
The biggest thing I can tell you is that commuting is NOT THAT HARD! I think you'll enjoy if after you give it a couple of weeks!
Steve-O (3k miles/year bike commuter) |
| Grrrrr... fixing my broken bike. (nm) | Titan
Apr 29, 2003 6:08 AM | | |
| re: How are you spending Bike Week? | seanf
Apr 29, 2003 7:11 AM | | I have been biking nearly every day since Febuary of last year. I am avereging about 4500 miles per year. Commuting benefits:
The car that I am not driving gets about 20 miles to the gallon. Thats 225 gallons of gas not being exhasuted in to the environment. Not to mention the finacial benifits of not buying the gas. |
| Oh yeah! More NYC commuters! | Mackie
Apr 29, 2003 7:24 AM | | I'm a Brooklyn Boy myself. Up until february, when I changed job locations, I was commuting from Brooklyn to Columbia Presbyterian, up on 168th street in Manhattan.
16-ish miles, depending on how I went.
3 tips -
1) Be very aware - because you cannot be sure that the cars are aware of you - treat every driver as if they do not see you.
2) Watch out for pedestrians & other cyclists! They can be the most dangerous thing on the road. i had more close calls with delivery guys on bikes on the wrong side of the road....
3)Have fun! the best way to see NY is on a bike. You appreciate it more, see more and feel more. You will feel great when you get to work, and when you get home.
Good Luck!
Doing the 5 borough bike tour? |
| I did work as a NYC bike messenger for a few weeks last year... | Christine
Apr 29, 2003 7:41 PM | | .....so I know all about the hazards. Difference is, I'm working in the Bulova building, which is surrounded by shoulder-less highways instead of slow-moving gridlocked traffic. Really and truly ridiculous.
Riding IN the city is a total rush. Riding just outside the city is a bit more heinous. Hardly seems worth the trouble for a piddly two miles, but I'm still going to make a point of it as the weather gets nicer.
Also, the need to change clothes is a pain. As a messenger, I could spend the day sweaty and filthy, and rub elbows with squeaky-clean office drones in elevators. The men were usually envious that I got to ride all day; the women, incredulous that I'd consider such a thing. Would ride over the 59th St. bridge to the phone booth on the corner of 1st Ave. to start out my day.
I'll figure something out. The car is depleting my soul. |
| I saw "Pedal" the film on bike messengers in N.Y........... | UncleMTB
Apr 30, 2003 6:26 AM | | Congrats on surviving an incredibly dangerous job.
besides being slow, I would be flattened in a few seconds.
Have you done that Alley Cat race with a track bike?
They are an interesting part of the Cycling community.
Glad to hear you are giving the "Monza" a rest...
Hope to see you again at one of the gatherings.
Tim(on jury duty for bike week) |
| I was hardly winning any prizes!! | Christine
Apr 30, 2003 12:56 PM | | Actually, I had no insurance at the time, and wasn't depending on it for the money- it was just for a lark. Wouldn't go in the rain, and was doing a handful of packages an hour- the minimum, basically!
Had my seat stolen after about a week, My collarbone went numb in two places, I think there may be permanent nerve damage. Saw Martha Stewart filming a segment in front of FAO Schwartz. Got into an argument with a construction worker who wouldn't let me pass by. An undercover cop in the subway once ran up to me thinking I snuck in w/o swiping my MetroCard, but other than that, it was pretty uneventful!
The Monza was probably never worth as much as a good mountain bike! |
| Sounds like one of those things you tell the grandkids.... | UncleMTB
Apr 30, 2003 4:47 PM | | among lifes many adventures...
Sort of like my six months roughnecking on a drilling rig...
I was there, did the best I could and didn't get killed.
In my case it wasn't a lark... My family was starving and this paid as well as gave me a foot in the door at the Geysers. I was glad when they laid me off...
Tim |
| Probably stop by the NYC bike show. | Rev Bubba
Apr 29, 2003 7:31 AM | | It is being held about two blocks from my Madison and 23rd street office. I also plan to do the 5 boro ride once again. Will I never learn?
Commuting by bike? No. I will continue to drive (in my 4 cylinder car) the 5.5 miles of winding, New Jersey, back roads to the train station and use mass transit as I have for the past 17 years for the final 40 miles or so into the city. |
| Driving as much as possible [nm] | Pete.
Apr 29, 2003 7:47 AM | | |
| Hanging out here.. | wg
Apr 29, 2003 1:49 PM | | 
Going to meetings.
Yabba friggin doo.
wg |
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