Commuting - Need some commuting advice.

Starting next week I'm going to be commuting one way, from work to home. Which means in the mornings when my wife takes me to work I haul the bike, lock it up then ride home after work.

What I need advice on is do I keep changes of cycling clothes at work and leave the clothes I wear to work there when I ride home, or haul my B.O.B. trailer adn tow it with my clothes inside home after work? What would you do?

Thanks.

John.

A little more information about your commute would be helpful? But from the specifics you've provided so far, I'd suggest unlocking the bike before heading home ;)

From experience, I'd say a BOB trailer is overkill for hauling commuter needs, but each situation is different.

Leave your work clothes at work, except the ones which need washing.
I find a small single pannier bag sufficient for commuting. Dont haul shoes around with you, leave those.

Your situation seems odd, and I'd like to hear more about why you're doing it that way, but...

On the face of it, I'd suggest you carry in whatever bike clothes you need, as needed, and let your dirty work clothes accumulate at work. Once a week, toss the laundry bag into the car with your wife when she drops you off.

RichC

A backpack (or pannier) seems an ideal solution.

I don't care for the idea of leaving things at work. I have a CamelBak Rimrunner (about 1700ci) that I use to carry shoes, clothes, lunch, and a bunch of etcetera. When cycling in the summer it usually about 1/2 to 3/4 full.

Since you are beginning with one-way only, you don't really need to be concerned with packtowels, trash bags, rain gear, extra jerseys, helmet head and the rest. Try and find a pack or bag larger than you need just now. You will be two way commuting soon and in the winter clothing is bulkier.

Dan

If you can put a rack on your bike then just carry everyhting with you. If not it doesn't sound like too much you could probably put it in a back pack. I would leave the shoes if you can they weigh the most.

I have a 15 mile commute each way. I carry a change of cloths, tools, shoes, towel and a laptop computer. Thank goodness for racks. After a few tries you will figure out what works best for you.

How far are you going?

First, I'm only commuting one way because I actually like spending time with my wife in the mornings before both of us have to go to work.

Second we only have one vehicle so it will work out rather well.

Third, I ride a recumbent, panniers are a little hard to come by for one and not as easy to use as a trailer. And a back pack is impossible to have on my back while riding.

Fourth, I'm only commuting about 5 to 6 miles from work to home.

Finally, since I'm commuting home I don't have to worry about changing back inot my "street", or regular clothes until I'm good and ready to. It will make it easier for me to do my after work rides. I'll already be ready for them. And if I use the trailer All I have to do is drop it off at home, then take off for my regular ride.

Sounds like a piece of cake, N_C. No problem, anyway you work it.

I take my stuff with me everyday. I used to take a supply of food with me, but lately I've been dropping by the local supermarket (downtown near work) on my bike during lunch and picking up food for the week. So now I have more room to carry necessities with me, like loose pennies, nuts, bolts, broken blinkies, and miscellaneaous junk.

The extra weight gives me the workout I so desperately need.

:D

If you get a backpack with a hip belt and sternum strap, you might be able to attach it to the back of the backrest, somewhat like a "sissy-bar" bag on a motorcycle. Without seeing the bike it would be hard to say if it could be made to work.

Another option would be a large handlebar bag. I could fit shoes and clothes in my large handlebar bag, but my lunch wouldn't fit.

All the other options I can think of involve sewing and designing your own specialized pannier, you may not want to bother with those.

Dan

N_C, I don't see the problem. Why do you have to carry *anything* home from work? Just wear your street clothes and cycling shoes, carrying your cycling clothes, when you go in. Once a week your wife waits while you run back out with the previous week's dirty laundry. Your street shoes stay at work. Ride home (or beyond) in your cycling clothes. Sounds easy to me.

RichC

Originally posted by Rich Clark
N_C, I don't see the problem. Why do you have to carry *anything* home from work? Just wear your street clothes and cycling shoes, carrying your cycling clothes, when you go in. Once a week your wife waits while you run back out with the previous week's dirty laundry. Your street shoes stay at work. Ride home (or beyond) in your cycling clothes. Sounds easy to me.

I don't think I can add anything to the above. That is exactly what I'd do in that situation. :thumbup:

We attached a Trek grocery bag pannier to the seat back of my husband EZ-1 bent. We eventually got a rear rack for it so he has 2 other folding grocery sack pannier on it. Another option on some bents is to suspend a bag from the frame or under the seat if you have ASS. It doesn't take a lot of space in the summer, most rear rack trunks are adequete and they aren't that big.

nc
i commute to/from work. currently i, also, am using a recumbent (bikeE ct) that has a backpack (with pump, tire repair, tools, plastic bags for rain, raingear, light system, h2o bladder/hose, etc in it) attached by sholder straps to the back of the "sweetseat" (sweatseat :-) ). i have pannier racks attached so i can, and do, add pannier(s) to carry work papers, lunch, cell phone, change of cloths, heavier jackets, work rain wear, etc.. my trip, each way, is 3.5 miles in 15 minutes (10mins by car) ...Very Nice for 3yrs!!
remember, each time you commute by bike is one less car, part of the solution, not the problem. Does you pretty well also healthwise!
tom

Several ideas:

My workplace gave every worker with a cubicle
a lockable full length mini-closet.

I can actually lock up several days of clothing
and leave it in there for when it is needed.

I haven't made up my mind on how I want to
do this yet since I'm still fairly new to it.

Or, I can ride in with my work clothes rolled-up
and then I actually hang my cycling clothes in
the mini-closet and that allows it to aireate and
dry off (if there's rain).

My co-worker Paul was bringing in 4 days of
outfits on a Monday and then riding the rest
of the week and changing out of his cycling
clothes in the restroom.

We also have a locker room with showers for
cycle commuters which makes it a bit easier to
do the get-to-work-shower-change-into-work-
clothes-shuffle.

I also use the very small Phillips Stewardess iron in the office. I keep it in the locker. I iron on the towel.

I iron my shirts at home with the big iron, then bring all of them at work in the special plastic garment bag and do some additional ironing at work, for all the shirts at once.

John:

If you have the occasion, take a little time to examine the following products at www.jandd.com.

1) Expedition Rack ($56) 2) Mini-Mountain Panniers ($95), and 3) Rear Rack Pack II ($65).

Solid construction coupled with lifetime guarantees, and they are well worth the little extra money, and the time you will spend configuring your recumbent.

Because these Panniers & the Rack Pack II expand and collapse, they provide an ideal solution for work commuting. Almost everything in the world that you can think of packing on your return trip will fit in these bags, and they trim up elegantly when not full. They also go on and come off in a flash.

Henry