Commuting - Writers/ Photographers?

I'm seriously considering writing a how-to book about biking to work. Anyone want to collaborate? :)

Sure, that sounds interesting. The first thing I'd suggest doing is having a quick look at the archives of the commuting section of this forum to find out the sort of questions people normally ask about commuting. Feel free to use anything that I've posted here for this venture.

I'd be happy to. Just let me know what you need from me.

Yeah, Chris, I'm sort of hoping to pick the brains of the Commuting community. Including in retrospect. :p

I'm thinking of this as an attempt to get more people started commuting. I figure on three main parts to the book, the beginning being sort of a motivational you-can-do-this section with quotes and anecdotes, part two general beginner biking info, and part three specific commuting information like how not to be smelly, and how to avoid danger. Nobody has published a book on bike commuting that I'm aware of, and I'm sure that if a mainstream publisher isn't interested, one of the smaller companies who publish biking or save-the-earth stuff could probably be sold on it.

Everything I know I learned from you guys in the forum (and a little experience! ;) )

Just gotta find the time......

Inkwolf, perhaps if you laid out a very specific order you want things (more than your post) as to what chapter is what, I am sure some people here (including myself) would be willing to write a chapter, or at least write lots of content for a chapter. This could help speed things along, and make it so in some circumstances you could be editing and enhancing.

It woud definately be cool to see on the shelves.

I'm not that organized yet. :D But I can safely say that one thing that would be great for the book would be photos of bike commuters on your various routes....

I suppose this means I should get off my backside and buy a digital camera.

LOL, i have this image of all of us setting up tripods on the street with our cameras set on a timer shot. Riding by, missing the sweetspot, and trying again. :D

What, don't we all have a friend, family member, or SO to bribe, badger, and bully into taking pics until we get a non-blurry one? :D

Definately not during my commute.

I'm planning on making photographs of some of my commuting spots (I ride by a marina, I think you'd like it!). If you have the budget, I'll be glad to photograph Chris L. It takes a long time for a good photograph. I'll need at least a month in Australia. :)

Originally posted by Erick L
I'm planning on making photographs of some of my commuting spots (I ride by a marina, I think you'd like it!). If you have the budget, I'll be glad to photograph Chris L. It takes a long time for a good photograph. I'll need at least a month in Australia. :) Make that two months because you'll need to travel to Western Australia to get pics of my commute too. I'll then travel back to Canada with you for a month to help choose the best pics for the book. :D

Hmm, that would be a cool photo compilation -- commuters and their rides and their bikes... page after page... yeah... hot idea, gold! I like it.

Originally posted by Erick L
I'm planning on making photographs of some of my commuting spots (I ride by a marina, I think you'd like it!). If you have the budget, I'll be glad to photograph Chris L. It takes a long time for a good photograph. I'll need at least a month in Australia. :)

The no expenses paid trip to Murwillumbah that I offered Joe is still available. Murwillumbah (the political, economic, social and cultural hub of the known universe) isn't far from here either.

Like the idea. I've already started on a repair book. I shot sequential shots of changing inner tubes, patching, and removing cranks and pedals. Not that it is done, but the photos could be used in a "Commuter" book how-to chapter.

Hey naisme,

I think a how-to section, amply illustrated, would be a valuable addition to a biking-to-work book. I am a new convert to commuting (and grocery shopping, general errand running) via bike. I'm have fairly good mechanical skills, but am not very knowledgable about techniques that are specific to bikes. So that type of information would be great to have.

--gordy

I am planning on writing a book on bike rides that all include a brew pub any collaborators? :beer:

And Ink wolf maybe you should ask Joe if he could put in a sub forum to the commuting forum so we can all contribute to your project us Seattlites can be very helpful when it comes to the water proofing of your commute (and the care and cleaning of webbed feet :D )

David

Good to see so much interest and enthusiasm! :) (Erick, if I knew what a budget was, let alone had one, I'd have spent winter in Australia myself! :D )

Inkwolf, we could cover the Upper Midwest states, while everyone else can cover their territory. Like the idea of Seattleites covering the dryness factor. where we can cover the how to dress for below zero.

How to dress for below zero? Personally, I wear a T-shirt and jeans....and stay indoors. ;) I don't know if regional differences are so major that they need to be dealt with in different sections.

Hmmm, if we make this a REALLY group-wide project, I suppose all proceeds should go to support the Bike Forums....
Okay, I guess I nominate myself Grand High Editor. :D I'll try to post a general outline sometime this week.

The southwest has massive amounts of broken glass on the side of the roads, not to mention cactus spines and serious thorns. Preperation for dealing with several flats on a ride is key down here (not that you get flats every ride but some rides are just cursed from the start). I would think there would be some regional differences in this respect. Also, we get some serious heat down here during the summer which some other regions don't get. I would be willing to contribute ideas on desert riding. Although there are probably people here with more experience in that area (in which case you can just ignore me!).:D

Count me in.. you need a photographer.. as long as I get photo credit.. i'll help you out anyway I can :-)

Jeff

You should also include photos of the motor traffic, crowded busses and trains that the cucle commuter avoids.

Right. Here's an outline. Note that this is only preliminary, and things can be added or subtracted. In addition to the specific subjects, I think it would be cool if we had anecdotes and other items of interest as 'inserts' or captions with appropriate pictures. For instance, Paul L. could write a few paragraphs about commuting in the desert, and we'd stick it somewhere in the hot-weather section with a desert-biker photo.....I know we all have cool stories about commuting to share. And personal anecdotes will make the book much more fun and interesting to read than if we stick to serious instruction.

BIKE TO WORK: Or, How to save money, lose weight, get in shape, help the environment, and have fun, all at the same time!

Intro--Blurb about the joys of bike commuting

Part I-Why bike commute.
A. Save money
B Lose weight/get in shape
C Environment
D Fun

Part II--Getting started
A What you need to have
i. about buying a bike--what to look for, ewhere to buy, etc.
ii. different types of bikes, and their benefits and disadvantages.
iii. Gear for your bike--racks, panniers, lights, etc.
iv. Gear for you--bike clothes, and why.

B What you need to know
i. Signals, general traffic rules, general safety tips.
ii. Basic bike maintenance
iii.Maintenance of you--nutrition, hydration, cramps, etc.

Part III--Commuting!
A Getting set
i. Choosing a route
ii. Preparation

B Environmental hazards
i. coping with traffic
ii. Dogs, kamikazi squirrels, bird bombers and other live hazards
iii. Road conditions--slippery stuff and potholes and litter
iv. Surviving the bad part of town
v. Darkness
vi. extreme cold
vii. extreme heat
viii. Fire, floods, tornadoes and other bizarre things to cope with. :)

C Getting there
i. Finding somewhere to keep your bike
ii. Not being stinky/ having spare clothes

D Alternatives to bike commuting (if you can't do it)
i. Combining bike with public transit
ii. Bike AT work--bicycling careers
iii. Advocacy: help promote bike commuting

Part III--Extra stuff

A Other resources
i. Our favorite books
ii. Our favorite links
iii. Pertinent addresses
iv. Snappy replies to your friends' smart-alec and/or clueless comments.

B Credits/ bibliography

C Index

BTW, I hope it goes without saying that if you want to add any statistics or quotes to the writing, the source must be documented, and unless it's public domain (such as government documents or old info no longer under copyright) permission must be obtained to use it.

Inkwolf, you may want to consider instead making your book a collection of essays from us at BF and others, with you editing the pieces to eliminate redundancies, enhance flow, and provide continuity. Along the way the reader will learn about all the topics you've outlined (which I think is complete).

I've read several books on bike-commuting and they all share the same theme as your outline. I think the essay approach will be more readable than those I've seen, and be more personal, vivid and detailed. The reader will be able to draw from experiences across the range of conditions and locations.

Whatever you decide, I'd be happy to help.

Originally posted by Andy Dreisch

I've read several books on bike-commuting and they all share the same theme as your outline. I think the essay approach will be more readable than those I've seen, and be more personal, vivid and detailed. The reader will be able to draw from experiences across the range of conditions and locations.

I didn't know there WERE any books out there on bike commuting already. :p Darn, thought we were breaking new ground, here.....

None are nearly as good as yours will be !!! They're pretty boring, actually. I'd say I've seen maybe 4 or 5 total.

Some topics that you havent specifically mentioned:
Parking/storage at work
Locks
Varying the route depending on conditions or mood
Coping with hills
Interval training on the commute

A comment on the joy of commuting - you are in control, you can choose to take 30 mins or 2 hrs. In a car, if you blast through all the stop signs and cut off the other motorists, you will only save 30 secs.

Originally posted by AndrewP
Some topics that you havent specifically mentioned:
Parking/storage at work

Yep, under "Getting there--finding somewhere to keep your bike"


Locks

Figured that would be covered in the above title and 'Gear'


Varying the route depending on conditions or mood
Coping with hills
Interval training on the commute

Hmm, should we add a section on training and riding techniques, then? Wouldn't hurt.

Hey Inkwolf, it occurred to me that maybe you can add some spice to the book by having articles/essays "pro" and "con" on particular topics. Take: panniers versus messenger bag. MTB versus Touring bike versus Road Bike. To shower or not shower. Take a full set of clothes or only the day's clothing.

All kinds of topics that would provide some fun point/countepoint.

Good idea. :D We could have all the opposing opinions on whether to pack a gun and how to cope with dogs, for instance....

I draw cartoons for a living, and have even done a couple on bike commuting, believe it or not... it'd be quite easy to draw one on carrying a gun or coping with dogs, for instance. Or showering...

Cool! :) Now we have writiers, photographers, AND artists! :D

Originally posted by Inkwolf
I didn't know there WERE any books out there on bike commuting already. :p Darn, thought we were breaking new ground, here.....

:( Sorry we had to burst the bubble. I have a book by Rob Van der Plas but it's pretty dated. That said, I still think there's plenty of room for yet another book. I also like the idea about a compilation of essays. I agree that approaching commuting from many different angles would be quite useful.

I also don't think the previous authors had the resources of this great forum either.

Some subjects--like the dog issue--we could actually put in the book forum-style, with all our diverse opinions and tips...and even our screen names, if you like.

Okay, here's a revised outline. I added a training section, general riding tips, and a section on going completely carless (which I forgot the first time. Maybe that can be one of those inserted essay things)

BIKE TO WORK: Or, How to save money, lose weight, get in shape, help the environment, and have fun, all at the same time!

Intro--Blurb about the joys of bike commuting

Part I-Why bike commute.
A. Save money
B Lose weight/get in shape
C Environment
D Fun

Part II--Getting started
A What you need to have
i. about buying a bike--what to look for, ewhere to buy, etc.
ii. different types of bikes, and their benefits and disadvantages.
iii. Gear for your bike--racks, panniers, lights, etc.
iv. Gear for you--bike clothes, and why.

B What you need to know
i. Signals, general traffic rules, general safety tips.
ii. Basic bike maintenance
iii.Maintenance of you--nutrition, hydration, cramps, etc.
iv. Training/preparing your body for the commute

Part III--Commuting!
A Getting set
i. Choosing a route
ii. Preparation

B Environmental hazards
i. coping with traffic
ii. Dogs, kamikazi squirrels, bird bombers and other live hazards
iii. Road conditions--slippery stuff and potholes and litter
iv. Surviving the bad part of town
v. Darkness
vi. extreme cold
vii. extreme heat
viii. Breakdowns: emerbgency fixes
ix. Fire, floods, tornadoes and other bizarre things to cope with. :)
x. Helpful riding advice and tips

C Getting there
i. Finding somewhere to keep your bike
ii. Not being stinky/ having spare clothes

C 1/2 Going Carless

D Alternatives to bike commuting (if you can't do it)
i. Combining bike with public transit
ii. Bike AT work--bicycling careers
iii. Advocacy: help promote bike commuting

Part III--Extra stuff

A Other resources
i. Our favorite books
ii. Our favorite links
iii. Pertinent addresses
iv. Snappy replies to your friends' smart-alec and/or clueless comments.

B Credits/ bibliography

C Index [/B][/QUOTE]

What about get you home fixes for when something breaks. e.g cable tying your cassette to the spokes if the freewheel gives up the ghost.?

Good one, I added Emergency repairs to the Hazards section.

I think we could have an entire book on nothing but Part III, section IV. Perhaps a two volume set in a leather bound slipcase? After all, if they'll be saving money commuting, they'll be able to spend more on books.

Man, I thought this was going to dry up, we actually have an outline! Under the bike sextion, "Gear for your bike." Could we have a "Or no gears?" I guess fixed gears and SSs would go under type of bike.

Another part of the section would be "restoration of the old ride." I only add this as I've added two English 3 speeds in need of some restoration, so I can take notes, and photos as I go along with each project.

Add to the "Our Favorite links" a section on helpful programs for charting our rides and goals.

What is the submission policy going to be? Do we want to just write, come up with material, or volunteer to edit/write/collaborate on different sections?

I'm not 100% sure how we're going to handle it yet....we can't post everything here, because that would make the book 'previously published material' which might make an editor shy of publishing the book. Maybe we could post the various parts on private websites for group appraisal and editting, so that they can be removed once they're ready.

As to organizing who does what, I've been a bit busy this week, but will try to get seriously down to business on this in the upcoming week. I'm sure that there are a lot of people interested in certain parts, but nobody's specifically called dibs on anything yet! :D

Ink Wolf, I'd like to take a stab at the getting started section (SecIIa:i-1v)

I can also cover a couple photo essays on changing tubes patching, and shoot some photos at my LBS (they may ask for credit, if I can finagle some parts too).

Originally posted by Inkwolf
I'm seriously considering writing a how-to book about biking to work. Anyone want to collaborate? :)

Hi,

This is a great idea. I would be happy to contribute with my experiences and a few pics.
Vancouver has a number of bike lanes for cyclists. The couriers never use them but alot of friends of mine who commute do.

Anyway, count me in and let me know what I can do to help.

Justen

we are also looking for writers/artist/photographers etc........more creative writing related to riding, funny commuting stories and the like. www.iheartbikes.com

No, I haven't lost interest! :) Hope you haven't either. I've been considering various ideas for how we could get together to discuss and post our work for mutual critique. Joe, bless his heart, is willing to set up a private section of the forum for us! :)

So, is everyone still in? Who all wants access to the writing forum? Does anyone want to work on a particular section of the book and wants to call dibs?

I hope we can make a go of this!

Originally posted by Inkwolf
No, I haven't lost interest! :) Hope you haven't either. I've been considering various ideas for how we could get together to discuss and post our work for mutual critique. Joe, bless his heart, is willing to set up a private section of the forum for us! :)

So, is everyone still in? Who all wants access to the writing forum? Does anyone want to work on a particular section of the book and wants to call dibs?

I hope we can make a go of this!

Hi Inkwolf,

I would love to be a part of this. Please count me in. I would like access to the writing forum - I have some good stories to share too :-)

Justen

There's a writing forum? Did I miss something. Count me in!

Not yet, Chris. :) Joe is setting up a forum for us to work on the bike commuting book. (And who knows--maybe future writing projects.) We'd be happy to have you on the team!