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With the coming of Daylight Savings Time, thought this might be a good time to find out how many regular 50+ forum regulars (and lurkers...) are bike commuters. I believe members tsl and Artkansas are regular commuters....I just started last summer and did my 20-mile round-trip 2 to 4 days a week all winter, weather permitting.
Questions:
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
- How far is your commute?
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
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- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
Yes
- How far is your commute?
About 7.5 miles each way.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
About 3-4 days/week when the weather permits and it is light. This means April to October.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
Pretty pleasant. About 1.5 miles on residential streets, then 5 miles on a MUP, then another mile on a sidewalk.
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
I use an older Cannondale MTB. It works well, since I have a rack on it to take my clothes and lunch.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Put your stuff on a rack and don't wear a backpack. Backpacks are hot in summer and can affect your balance.
As the only driver in the house, I have to run the domestic taxi service during the school year, but I do commute by bike during June, July and August.
If I do the entire round trip by bike it's about 35 miles, but sometimes I drive about 20 and do 7.5 miles by bike each way if time is short.
I've got everything from gravel roads to fairly urban roads. An old touring bike with appropriate tires gets the job done nicely.
If I were to give advice, it would be this: Wear high-visibility clothing and a helmet. Ride defensively and predictably. Realize that you cannot win an argument with several tons of rolling steel.
At 33 miles one way (that is highway) and 37 miles one way on bicycle semi friendly roads I'm afraid that commuting is one aspect of cycling that leaves me cold.
At 33 miles one way (that is highway) and 37 miles one way on bicycle semi friendly roads I'm afraid that commuting is one aspect of cycling that leaves me cold.
It's about the same for me. I even considered combining the bike and bus for the commute but unfortunately the bus service in this area stinks.
I do plan on using the bike for errands around town after I retire this year. That's one of the reasons I'm buying the new bike. It's more suited for carrying groceries and pulling a trailer than the Madone.
I live 25 miles from work so me & the wife carpool to her work (18 miles one way) & I ride the last 7 miles from her work to mine.
I plan on once the weather gets warm to ride the 7 miles in the morning then after work I'll ride the 25 miles home. Last year I rode home 6 times on my hybrid.
I had panniers last year for the hybrid but this year the 3 times I've ridden my Specialized Roubaix (which is the bike I'll ride this year) I just use a Camelbak for my cloths & lunch & works well.
I ride on highways with a good wide shoulder or take the back road that has smaller shoulder but less traffic. I try to wear bright cloths & my co-workers that have passed me always say; sure is easy seeing you on the road.
With the coming of Daylight Savings Time, thought this might be a good time to find out how many regular 50+ forum regulars (and lurkers...) are bike commuters. I believe members tsl and Artkansas are regular commuters....I just started last summer and did my 20-mile round-trip 2 to 4 days a week all winter, weather permitting.
Questions:
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
- How far is your commute?
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Questions:
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
Yes. I plan on commuting at least two days a week, and prior to my week-long tour from Pittsburgh to Washington in June I plan on putting in at least one complete week riding to work.
- How far is your commute?
Currently a bit over 15 miles one way. Come April, Montgomery County will be opening another short stretch of the Schuylkill River Trail, and I'll save at least a mile on my commute. It will also keep me off of roads longer.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
No, not now. Let's see what the future brings.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
All of the above. Unfortunately, it's hilly, which is the main deterrent to my tackling it regularly.
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
I've commuted on a Trek Navigator and a Trek 7.5 fx. I prefer the 7.5. because it's faster. Not much, but I prefer to have some speed.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Just do it.
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
I plan to start commuting this year when it warms up.
- How far is your commute?
About 8 miles each way.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
No. If it is not enjoyable to ride, i won't. I am not a full fledged tree hugger, so that aspect doesn't drive me. I may get to the point where I will commute in the rain, but I am extremely unlikely to commute when the temp goes below 40 (overnight low).
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
A little of each. No significant cycling presence, so drivers get irate quickly, and don't leave enough room. This underscored by the redneck quotient makes it relatively unpleasant other than on the couple of MUPs. (which I can use for part of the ride).
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
I will use a Giant Sedona to start with, and move to a touring bike I am building up. I will see which one I prefer. :)
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Be flexible. For example:
Based on what I have read, ride your route when not under time constraints to learn the better routes.
I am considering starting out easily, and driving to a "Park and Ride" location and shortening my trip a bit until I lose some winter flab.
I believe members tsl and Artkansas are regular commuters...
Yup! I sure am. Coming up on two years at the end of this month. Until his recent hiatus, crankyolddude was a regular commuter too.
Questions:
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
No reason to stop now!
- How far is your commute?
Depends on which of three locations and if I work extra miles before or after. Usual is 2 to 4.5 miles one-way. Saturdays it could be 20-25 miles each way.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
Every workday, all year, all conditions.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
There's one dicey spot in each of two routes, but otherwise no hazardous riding. The shortest ones are the dreariest. The 4.5 mile regular one runs through a park, which can be interesting depending on the season. Of course when I take a long loop to or from work, those are the best.
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
I ride a 2006 Trek Portland, outfitted with $500 of lights, plus full fenders, stainless-steel rack, a second wheelset for the studded snow tires, and a few other goodies. I'd buy exactly the same rig and accessories again in a heartbeat.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Go with the flow. This applies to equipment, traffic, routing and technique. Fighting any of it spoils the ride, so be open to opportunity, flexibility and choice.
With the coming of Daylight Savings Time, thought this might be a good time to find out how many regular 50+ forum regulars (and lurkers...) are bike commuters. I believe members tsl and Artkansas are regular commuters....
Yep, I'm a regular commuter and have been for most all of my life starting in second grade and continuing with my first full time job and when I moved out on my own. I've had a variety of commutes; one that was 17 miles each way five days a week and just took too long and one that ran through a nature preserve which was great, racing coyotes on the way to work and rolling along the river on the way home.
My current commute is a mere 3 miles one way, which is what you get when you have the job before you have the apartment. I commute every day and do all my errands by bike. I ride at all hours and in all weather as I don't really have access to a car. Though my work hours are flexible, so I may wait a few hours to avoid the worst of rain or snow.
My current route is hilly. There is one flat spot. The first half is suburban streets which turns into a business district. The suburban part is okay and the streets are wide enough, but the business section is pretty rough and drivers are irritated that a bicycle dares impinge on their turf. I've had drivers yell at me to get onto the sidewalk, and I have to explain that it's illegal for me to get onto the sidewalk, and they never believe that that could be true. I've even had a cop tell me to get onto the sidewalk. After I got to work, I called the police and that cop got a lecture.
I don't love hills, so the uphill parts are okay and the downhill parts are pleasant. There are several nice vistas in the suburban part and one nice vista in the business district.
My commuter bike is a 17 year old Specialized Hard Rock and it is just about perfect for the route. It's a mountain bike modified with street tires, fenders, a rack and lights. Sometimes I commute on my Bacchetta Giro 20 recumbent. With the heavy traffic and the hills, its not nearly as fun, though there is one winding downhill section in the suburban part where I can get up to full speed, whee!
My best advice? Always have a flat kit and remember that it is not a race. Take time to enjoy the ride.
Thanks for the posts, everyone.
My turn:
Questions:
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
Yes
- How far is your commute?
10.3 miles each way.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
I just started last summer. By late September, when shorter days meant that I lost the ability to commute in the light, I decided to "get serious" and ride through the winter. My goal was to ride at least 2 or 3 days in the winter and crank it up to 4 or 5 days a week in the spring and summer...so far, I'm on track. I won't leave home in pouring rain (which is rare in Seattle), but I'll ride in light rain, wind, mist, etc.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
5 miles on unlit suburban streets (almost like country roads); 3 miles on a MUP crossing an Interstate bridge to downtown Seattle plus a path through a park; about 2 miles on busy downtown streets. Somedays I get spectacular views of the sun rising on Mt. Rainier...other days I can only see the rain coating my glasses.
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
I commute on a Trek 520 touring bike. Love the 32c tires and the ability to ride w/a pannier, fenders, lights, etc. I also wanted a commuting bike that can be used for something else -- and the 520 is a classic steel loaded touring bike. However, if I wasn't going to use it for touring I'd buy something lighter for commuting (like, a cyclocross bike or Trek Portland), but I wouldn't want to commute on something w/narrower tires. It's hard to dodge broken urban pavement in the dark.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Commuting is about organization -- getting the gear sorted so that you can quickly and efficiently make the same trip 2x a day. Single best advice I read was on BF commuting forum: make sure you pack the night before! That way you're motivated to wake up and roll out the door in the morning.
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
I commute April to November.
- How far is your commute?
14KM each way
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
I ride 5 days a week, rain or shine.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
My route is very pleasant. Four Km on residential, then 9 on a path along the Rideau Canal, then about 1km on downtown streets. The Rideau Canal is a UN world heritage site, some mornings are so beautiful I have to slow down just to take it in and the trip home calms me right down.
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
I ride a Stevens Strada 600. The only thing I would change if I could would be switching to disk brakes but it's not a big thing.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Just do it.
Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
Yes - have for eleven years.
- How far is your commute?
It's a 20 mile RT, but I usually shorten it by putting my bike on the Metro bus for part of the trip. The bus runs nonstop down the Interstate, and cuts my travel time from one hour each way to a half hour.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
Yes.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
Very pleasant. Lots of wildlife to see and hear. Less hassle and more fun than driving.
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?\
German Kettler commuter/trekking bike, modified with front dynohub. Bikes that met my specifications were hard to find back then and I was about to import one from Holland when I found my Kettler. If I were doing it today, I'd look for a bike with a Rohloff-14, rather than a Nexus-7.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Simplify everything. The bicycle should be a labor saving device to make your life easier. The thing should be reliable enough so you don't need tools or a patch kit. It should be convenient enough to use that you never have to prepare anything.
Paul
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
Yes
- How far is your commute?
7 miles each way
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
yes, except for in snowy or icy conditions. The streets are too narrow, and snow and ice removal and treatment is so sporadic, that it's just not safe in those conditions. I've been commuting regularly for about two years now.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
I ride through neighborhoods in my town and in DC. For about half of the trip there's a bike lane, which means the road is very wide and nice. The road is at an angle, though, so there are a lot of roads that intersect and lots of stop lights and stop signs (probably about 25 of each.) The last few miles are on a narrow, heavily-traveled street with cars parked on the side, so I have to be vigilant for cars pulling out or opening doors.
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
I got my Rivendell Glorius mixte last year specifically for commuting. It's got a nice rack and fenders, good lights, and comfortable albatross bars with bar end shifters. It's like driving a Cadillac, and I love it. Wouldn't change a thing, except maybe disc brakes would be nice in the rain.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Be visible--lots of lights, reflective tape, and bright clothing. And have fun!
With the coming of Daylight Savings Time, thought this might be a good time to find out how many regular 50+ forum regulars (and lurkers...) are bike commuters. I believe members tsl and Artkansas are regular commuters....I just started last summer and did my 20-mile round-trip 2 to 4 days a week all winter, weather permitting.
Questions:
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
YES Have been for years (decades actually), plan to keep with it forever.
- How far is your commute?
12mi one way
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
Except when I have symphony rehearsals (it's hard to carry a French Horn on a bike), or the roads are covered in snow, ice and cinders (a month or two every year), or I'm sick.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
Yes, not usually, and no. I live just outside a city of 70,000 on the east side of the Cascades in Oregon. Not much traffic, and the views of the mountains in the morning are fabulous.
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
RANS VRex (recumbent). I'd at least try a 'bent w/ dual 26" wheels, but the 'Rex is pretty good overall.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Start out easy (once a week in good weather), and build from there.
Scott P
Bend, OR
I'm a former bike commuter, now self-employed and working from home. I MISS the daily bicycle round trip to work. It was a great way to start and end the day with a modest amount of exercise. Now I have to put in a little extra effort to get myself out on some days.
When I rode to work, the distance was about 2 miles each way. I chose homes deliberately to be within 3 miles of work, figuring that was the distance I could easily ride without getting too sweaty and requiring a change of clothes. I rode all year long, including cold Nebraska winters and dark dreary Puget Sound winters. The exception days were when the streets were icy and when it was raining hard and then I generally walked or took the bus. My routes were all on city streets, mostly with relatively low traffic. I bought my Windsor Super Carrera 10-speed in 1979 as a commuting/touring bike and still ride it.
To me, bike commuting was a mindset and I never considered any other option except walking. I've always gotten jobs first, then found a place to live (and have had few of either). Housing within bicycling distance has even been an interview job question I've asked. If I got a "day job" again I'd be back to bike commuting without question.
Questions:
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
- How far is your commute?
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?[/QUOTE]
Well, I currently live 17 miles from work and a few years ago I did commute a few tmes over a couple of summers. I am currently in the process of a divorce and hope to find a home within 5 miles of work so that I may commute at least once a week or more during the good weather. The neighborhood I like will leave one pretty good hill with a section of road with no berm, a little scary but I plan on wearing my orange reflective vest to help me be seen. That section is only a couple hundred yards but doesn't have great visibility. I'm thinking that I will probably use my mtn. bike for commuting, I may put a rack or a basket on it to carry stuff. I may use my other bikes depending on the situation on other days. My best advice to offer any commuter is make an effort to be seen, blinking lights, reflective vest, anything that will help you be noticed.
I'd love to, yeah, but port to port it's just not realistic; I'd have to get up way too early and I'd get home way too late. I'll grant you, it's only 15 miles each way -not too bad, in and of itself- but getting over that hill in the morning is just too daunting. I suppose I could bike to my train station and take the train on in as I do now. That's only 7 miles but there's still that hill... no, don't think I'll be commuting by bike.
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
Commuting for about 10 years
- How far is your commute?
3 miles r/t
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
Almost every day, year round (it's Hawaii so why not) - excepting occasional heavy rain days.
Riding in and out is the high point of many work days.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
Mostly pleasant. Big hill in the middle of the ride keeps it real.
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
Breezer Villager 7-speed. This IS the bike I chose to do it over again -- fenders, chain guard, internal gearing, generator light, rear rack. Upright position is excellent for short-distance riding on city streets, makes it easier to keep an eye on traffic. I did put on a bigger cog to help out on the climbs. Also recently switched out the original fattish Kenda tires for 1.25" Paselas for a little more zip.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
(May I offer two?)
Dress comfortably, whatever that is for you, and keep a spare outfit at work.
Taking back streets can turn an otherwise stressful ride into a fun ride
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
Yes. For the last 30 years.
- How far is your commute?
Currently 20 mi. rt.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
Yes. I'll drive only when I need the car during the day, which is very rare.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
Some of each, thanks.
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
Custom lugged steel road bike. I built it specifically as a commuter.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Read the Nike ad.
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
Yep: will be going into my seventh season as soon as the snow/ice:(stops and clears.
- How far is your commute?
Actual distance is about 9 kms. each way, though (time permitting) I usually try to extend the return trip as much as possible.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
Every day, but not all year; I stop typically in latish December, once the snow/ice is here to stay, and start again usually some time in March, though this year -- who knows? During mid-winter, out comes the trainer; I've no wish whatsoever to risk breaking a collarbone, hip etc. at age 56+.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
I'm pretty fortunate; we have an MUP system which follows the banks of the three branches of our mid-city river; my home is about 200 yards from the river, so if I choose I can do the whole thing w/o more than a few minutes in traffic. Having said that, don't mind slicing and dicing anyway -- it's all good! The river side commute is, though, really quite beautiful most of the year (oblivious walkers, runners, dog-walkers, mid-path 'stop and talks' etc etc aside).
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
Heavily upgraded/roadified hardtail mtb; works very well, though I am tempted by, and do keep trying out, flat and drop-barred road bikes -- just might pull the trigger on a Giant FCR Alliance this year (just had a look at the thing in my LBS).
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Nothing original to say, but always, ALWAYS assume that drivers and pedestrians CANNOT SEE YOU, EVEN IF APPARENTLY LOOKING STRAIGHT AT YOU. YOU DO NOT EXIST (repeat "I do not exist when riding my bicycle" at least 1000 times, so that that belief becomes part of your very being).
I had no idea that so many in 50+ commute.
There goes the age excuse! :)
My "commute" consists of waking up, showering and dressing, walking downstairs into the kitchen to make some coffee, and then taking the coffee upstairs to the office. It's not practical to commute by bike; getting up and down those stairs would be too challenging. Perhaps if I had a unicycle.
But to be a bit more serious, when there's enough daylight to do it, I like to take a five-ten miler to jumpstart the day, and then another to end the day, as though I were commuting.
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
I commute 3-5 days a week.
- How far is your commute?
Short way is 11 miles, long way is 18 miles each way.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
I live in So-Cal......so yes all year round.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
I think any time I'm on my bike commuting or just ridding it is very pleasant......as far as dangerous....So-Cal drivers are not the most safe people to be around.
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
I try to mix it up...some times I ride the single speed mountain or road bike, or the 14.1 pound Fuji, or the tandem solo works too.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Just do it!!
No matter how bad a day work gets I always feel better after I ride home.
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
Yes
- How far is your commute?
about 10 Km (6.2 miles)round trip, but I plan to change my route to extend this on good days.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
Everyday for the bike year late March to December.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
Pleasant
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
Only have the one bike, if I had the money I wouldn't mind either a Surly LHT or Steelwool Tweed
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Plan a good route, bike paths and side roads will be more relaxing then running down the main drag.
Questions:
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
I will start to commute again once it gets a little warmer and the trail I use dries up thoroughly.
- How far is your commute?
My trip to work is about 17 miles. I add a couple of miles to the trip home to avoid crossing a major highway in the evening. There's a lot more traffic in the evening and by adding a couple of miles I can go under the road rather than crossing it.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
In the past, I have only used the bike to commute one day a week, usually Friday. I'd like to increase that to 2-3 times a week this year. I typically only commute May through September. Part of my route in is a crushed limestone rail-trail. It can be unrideable during the winter months.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
I like my commute to work. There's about three miles of suburban streets, then I am on the Illinois Prairie Path for about 6 miles. Then there's another three miles of somewhat narrow, but low traffic 2-lane road. After that, the balance of the trip is on paved bike path or suburban streets. A lot of the ride is along the borders of various forest preserves.
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
I use one of the two bikes I one. One is a Specialized Sirrus (modified with a sprung front fork) and the other is a Novara Randonee touring bike. Both are rack equipped, so I can hang panniers for clothing and other supplies. Both work equally well for the job.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
I agree with a prior comment about packing the night before. I have my pannier(s) ready to go and my riding clothes laid out before going to bed. It makes it easier to get out the door. And there is a certain degree of commitment to the bike ride in the morning.
With the coming of Daylight Savings Time, thought this might be a good time to find out how many regular 50+ forum regulars (and lurkers...) are bike commuters. I believe members tsl and Artkansas are regular commuters....I just started last summer and did my 20-mile round-trip 2 to 4 days a week all winter, weather permitting.
Questions:
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
Yes
- How far is your commute?
2.5 if I go straight to work/home, sometimes I can make it 10 miles by doing a loop
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
Yes weather permitting
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
Its not so safe, as its an arterial road that crosses three other arterials
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
'87 Schwinn Sierra ATB, probably not, I'm thinking of buying a new MTB for this ride this spring as it stands.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Don't quit. :)
- How far is your commute? LESS THAN 1 MILE...ACTUALLY ITS ABOUT 12 BLOCKS
- Do you commute every day? All year round? USUALLY JUST IF I GO INTO THE OFFICE ON WEEKENDS. I NEED MY VEHiCLE ON A MOMENTS NOTICE DURING THE WEEK SO IT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME TO RIDE THE BIKE
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary? PLEASANT
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike? USUALLY MY MOUNTAIN BIKE WITH A RACK ON IT. SOMETIMES IT IS THE ONLY TIME IT GETS RIDDEN.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
WATCH OUT FOR CARS.:p:p:p
I commute to work three times a week, year-round. Thanks to the mild southern California climate, and to my living less than five miles from my work, over surface streets. With hills, though!
I use my Roubaix Pro, though once I change the gearing on my new/old Bianchi I'll use it sometimes, too.
The route is mostly safe and pleasant, along an arroyo through residential streets. Going via major thoroughfares would be faster, but more nerve-wracking.
Advice: give yourself enough time, keep a change of clothes at the office, and just do it.
I had no idea that so many in 50+ commute.
There goes the age excuse! :)
I see lots of folks my age and older commuting in Seattle. In the winter -- when only the hard-core commuters are out in the rain -- I get *smoked* by older riders *all* the time.
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
Yes, I started last April, and I've bike commuted about 3,000 miles since then.
- How far is your commute?
My usual commute is about 22 miles (36 kms) roundtrip, but I sometimes add a few miles.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
I try to ride every day it doesn't rain, sleet or snow. Sometimes I have errands to run that require a vehicle. So it generally works out to 4 days/week, year round. Riding in January and February were more pleasant to me than August, which had nearly unbearable heat. I also usually do longer rides on the weekends with friends.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
My route is pleasant and mostly safe, but rather boring. Most of my route is on lightly traveled suburban streets, with one busy 4-lane road for about 1.5 miles. There are no bike paths on my route, but I am comfortable riding on roads. My route is also pretty hilly.
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
I ride a steel lugged De Bernardi road bike, which I originally bought to make into a fixie but decided to commuterize instead. Occasionally I ride one of my Merckx road bikes. If I had it to over again, I would buy a touring/sport touring frame with eyelets and braze-ons for racks and fenders. I've have rigged up a pretty decent system for hauling gear with a Carradice Barley seatbag, but a rack would make it simpler. My current bike is not designed for fenders, and doesn't have much clearance for them, which is part of the reason why I try not ride on rainy days.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Go to Google pedmaps or bikely.com and find a safe route for commuting. That's what kept me from doing it for many years, because I didn't think it was safe. However, after studying the maps and finding roads I didn't know existed, I found a very safe commute route.
Finally, just do it. Make up your mind that you're going to ride every day, or 2-3-4 days/week, and don't talk yourself out of it. It's very easy to lay in bed on cold winter mornings rather than get up.
- How far is your commute?
20 miles (one way)
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
No, various reasons. I'm not afraid of rain when it's warm.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
Pleasant and dangerous. I have a 1/2 mile section of 50 mph traffic with a bump (small hill) that I need to sprint through and a nasty, badly designed major intersection with tricky merges. Later in the season I can add miles as part of training but to avoid this I add different dangers and additional miles. To minimize the problem I leave before rush hour, this means I need lights. So it's about 1/2 mile out of 20 that gives me trouble.
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
I'll be forced to use my Giant TCR2 until I can get my Mongoose Ti RX100 or my Trek 1100 fixed. The last two bikes can accommodate my BOB trailer. I also have an old MTB that I need to tidy up but I can use it.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
While on the bike relax and take that slightly longer route. At 15 mph avg. a detour of 1 mile only adds about 4 minutes.
-Yes, rain or shine, winter or summer
-2 mi to/from train station
-winter is not always fun
-custom built commuter
-act like a car
I commute from about now through november, this is the third year that I've done it and a continue to enjoy it more and more
I'm on Cape Cod. so this time of year stinks a bit because of the raw ocean breezes and constant wind but falls are glorious.
it's about a 26 mile round trip: 11 to work (teacher) and about 15 home. I have to take a less busy route home in the late afternoon... too many F250's leaving construction jobs at 4:00 on this particular stretch..... In the A.M I ride 5 miles on quiet roads and the rest on a bike path: same story going home except I ride through a local state forest, which is gorgeous (but about a 1 mile hill to drag up
I always hate the first three pedal strokes but then LOVE the ride home, even if the weather isn't perfect.
bikes: lately it's my 1983 team fuji set up with lights and coffee mug holder and a 42/16 single speed (brakes , no fixies for me). That gearing scoots me along around 13 mph and I can get over the 3 major hills on the commute w/ no problems.
I also have a geared cannondale that I love, but lately that single speed does the trick for me!
karl
Questions:
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
Yes. Most every workday.
- How far is your commute?
6.3 miles each way.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
Yes. In the Livermore Valley of N. California this is possible and pleasant.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
Pleasant. I use quiet, residential streets, a MUP along a creek and through some vineyards, and bike lanes with only two busy intersections where one must be careful (but there are traffic lights).
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
I use my Surly LHT touring bike to shuttle clothing and computers etc back and forth and also when the weather is inclement. For variety I sometimes use the roadbike or mountain bike. If I had only one bike it would be the LHT without question.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
If you have safe places to ride (as I do) then buy rain gear and good lights and make sure you commute even in the heaviest of storms.
I almost never drive a car to work. I commute via various combinations of bicycling, jogging, carpooling, and transit.
I will commute a few days a week when the weather warms up..
I will bike 1 mile to the train station -sit on the LIRR train for 15 minutes and then bike 4 miles to my office..I don't want to get sweaty before work
coming home I will bike some days the 16 miles home if I can leave my back pack at the office..
or take the train again home
I will use my Specialized Sirrus with a messenger bag
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
I occasionally made the ride last year but I plan on being a lot more consistent this year.
- How far is your commute?
6.5 miles one way
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
The plan is to ride 4 out of 5 days - Friday nights on the roads I will need to travel are just a bit much. It's South Florida, so I worry more about summer than winter.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
Traffic is a real pain on the route I need to take and there is only a paved shoulder - no real bike lane. As a matter of fact, my first commute ended in a car/bike 'confrontation'. Luckily (or unluckily depending on how you look at it), my bike was injured more than I was. It took a while to get back in the commuting mindset after that, but hey - my next commute was a rousing success seeing as no rescue vehicles were involved. :D
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
A Trek 7100 - pretty modified, with rack.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Don't let excuses stop you - just do it!
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
Yup for the last 6 years
- How far is your commute?
Currently about 14 miles round trip
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
As I live in So. California, almost every day.
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
Very pleasant, 80% along the beach bike path through Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beach
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
A Kona Lava Dome mountain bike circa early 90's. My lights cost more than the bike. It rides great.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
By the time you get home . . . stress, what stress?
Very pleasant, 80% along the beach bike path through Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beach
I'm jealous!
I used to live in West LA and rode that path many times...
I would love to commute, but I work from home.
If I didn't, I would for sure commute spring, summer and fall.
I have started my commuting season earlier this year. I started the last two weeks of Feb. and have ridden at least twice a week since then. Will do at least 4 days a week when the weather is more stable probably in the middle of April. Feels good to be on the bike after not riding since November on a regular basis but I notice the legs are not in great shape but not as bad as last seasons start thats good and probably because I did ride until after Thanksgiving.
Questions:
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
I commute about 75% of the time. I'll be back on the bike again as soon as
the weather breaks I hope.
- How far is your commute?
If I take the direct route it's a 10 mile round trip, but it's darn hard not to take the
long way home.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
I missed all of Feb. due to injury, I'll be back on full time soon
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
Mostly residential streets. Life in general is dangerous, especially in civilization,
though my dangers do not come from congested traffic.
cycling can never be dreary
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r152/crankyolddude/IMG_0683.jpg
Yes I would, I love this crate. Like a Timex...It takes a lickin' and keeps on a tickin'.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Enjoy the ride. Ride at whatever pace feels good. Prepare to take longer and longer
rides home at the end of your day.
Happy Trails.
I commute daily, but it's only 1.2 miles each way. If I do the PO and grocery store circuit it puts it up to 5 miles round trip. I ride every day unless I have something too big to carry on my bike, which has happened twice. I have a vintage Nishiki mixte I fixed up for my ride, but when it snows I take my mountain bike. (I'm a teacher so if it snows a lot, work/school is cancelled.) Also no summer commuting, school isn't in session. My students think it's pretty cool that I ride every day, and some even wanted me to start a cycling club.
Dangerous? Ha, I live in a small town and the biggest danger is spraining my wrist from having to wave at everyone. I'm always waved through the 4-way stop first. If I drive my car anywhere, everyone wants to know why I'm not on my bike. I also don't have to chain my bikes up when I go in anywhere. If my bike was stolen, there would probably be a dozen people call up the local marshall and report someone riding "Claudia's" bike. As far as I know, no one has ever stolen a bike parked outside a store in Belle, Mo.:D
Questions:
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
- How far is your commute?
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
1-yes, I commute by bike--have been doing it regularly for almost 20 years.
2-My commute has varied from 41-49 miles round trip. I had about 6000 commuting miles last year.
3- I wish I could commute every day--it averages out to about 3 times a week over the whole year. In the warm/mild months it is mostly daily--in the winter, I don't ride in ice/snow or high winds. I can deal with the cold, but not in conjunction with the wet :)
4- route is mostly the W&OD trail outside Washington DC- I think I know every bump and hole on the route:) I have had 2 accidents on it over the years--one when a pedestrian veered into me (he was running with a walkman--the pre-cursor to the deady ipod)--another when my buddy's handlebars clipped my bag handle (bag since disposed of).
5- bikes-- started with a mountain bike with a rack and panniers-- the whole bit--then the locker room opened up at work, so I could leave stuff there. I then moved to a road bike and now almost exclusively on the fixie. I have no rack on it, but carry a backpack with clean shirt/underclothes. Shoes, pants, belt, ties and coats are kept at work and get cycled for cleaning on a regular basis.
6- KEEP DOING IT! It makes the day so much more pleasant--and keeps me in shape
train safe-
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
Absolutely!
- How far is your commute?
Bit under 5 miles.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
As long as there is no ice on the roads......
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
Best part of the day. Safe route with most of it a bike trail
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
Normally ride the fixie, but have a Bianchi, Airborne and Lemond if I feel like it.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
You don't need as much stuff on the bike as you think you do.
My commute is a fairly hilly, rigorous 25 mile RT. I really don't have the time or energy to ride both ways every day. I try to do 3 - 5 "legs" a week when I can.
For example, I drive in on Monday morning with my bike in the car. I ride home. Next morning I ride to work. There's two "legs". After that, I plan around required driving errands, weather, etc. and try to do 1-3 more legs that week, sometimes (rarely though) back and forth.
The days I don't commute there or back, I try to ride 15-20 miles at lunch a couple times a week, which works out very well from my office (even have a shower!). My goal is 75 - 125 miles per week, including one long ride on the weekend with friends.
- Do you commute by bike, or do you plan to commute by bike this year?
Yes, usually from March to November or so. I don't commute when there's snow on the ground.
- How far is your commute?
About six miles round trip if I just go in and out. Up to 20 miles if I take the scenic route home.
- Do you commute every day? All year round?
- Is your commuting route pleasant? Dangerous? Dreary?
Depends if I take the scenic route home.
- What bike do you use? If you had to do it over again, would you choose the same bike?
Rocky Mountain hybrid with fairly skinny tires. I'd buy one without the shocks next time.
- What's the single best piece of advice you could give to new bike commuters?
Take your time. Stop for the red lights.
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