Commuting - Awk other commuters, how do they do it?

I just have to ask the question, how do other commuters do it? I get behind some of these guys and gals out there, and I have to question either my sensibilities, or their's. I see them all layered up in parkas with scarves hats. They're all bundled up and pedalling. I'm out there in a wind shirt some polypro, and a wool sweater, where I am creating a great deal of heat, I'm sweating, aren't they?

Then there is the bike between their legs. I often come up on a fellow commuter on an MTB and they're riding on knobbies. They have got to be incredibly overheated with all that clothing and the extra resistence of the tires.

Finally, Not that it matters, but I see them with back packs on, even more sweat creating, energy sapping habits. I know they have been to an LBS as their ride will have a rear fender on the bike. What about a rack?

I'm a real believer in if it works don't fix it/ Everyone doesn't have to ride the way I do, I'm sure they look at me and wonder how the hell I don't die of exposure, and the two panniers on the rack have to be a wind drag. But, with a little education they could have an even better experience on the bike, and may even get others to convert.

Just sharing thoughts that roll through my head when I meet other commuters on the road.

I commute in cheap, worn out cycling clothes with a "book bag" backpack, and I look at people with their overpriced polypro clothing and snooty panniers and it makes me want to...

Mind my own business :D

Why should I care? I do what works for me.

Or, as you said:



I'm a real believer in if it works don't fix it/ Everyone doesn't have to ride the way I do .

I vowed I would never be one of those geeks in spandex, but my first winter of riding changed all that. I see a lot of people here ridding in the rain in jeans, doesn't keep you warm and they get awful heavy when it rains. But it falls into that what ever floats your boat category. I am one of those who prefer a backpack when I commute it goes with me when I run in for my coffee or into the store. I don't have to worry about it being hijacked and don't have to spend the time it takes to pull it off and put it back on. But then again I am a hiker from way back so sweaty backs mean nothing to me ;)

I feel the clothing cyclist wear to commute has a lot to do with the length of the commute. I go 18.5 miles each way, the weather where I live goes from in the 90's in the summer to below zero in the winter, sometimes the snow gets deel and the ice gets smooth and slippery. I wear cycling clothes but that gets expensive and not everyone can afford the high tech clothing. I also find the the amount you sweat is directly related to the cardio rate you're riding at. If you slow down, you won't sweat. On days when the weather forcast is wrong and it doesn't get as cold as they say, I tend to over dress, I just ride at the cardiio rate that allows me to stay comfortable and not break into a sweat. The bottom line with winter riding, when you sweat you get wet, when you get wet you get cold, when you get cold the fun stops.

I agree that it all depends. If they are going just a mile or two, they may never reach the point of overheating. Being able to dash upstairs with their backpack on may be a convenience that outweighs the disadvantages. The knobbies are probably very flat resistant.

Then again, they may all be in the process of finding out what works best. We were all like that a few years ago, right?

Paul

I just have to ask the question, how do other commuters do it?

I see them all layered up in parkas with scarves hats. They're all bundled up and pedalling.
I know. Yesterday afternoon, it was in the mid to high 50's, so I tried wearing a tee shirt and shorts. It was chilly at first, but I got quite comfortable until the sun went down, when I put on my windbreaker. That's when I started really perspiring, and I wonder if I shouldn't have left it off.

Well, anyway, about a mile from work (and 14 to go,) I was met by a gray-bearded commuting cyclist (I have now forgotten his name, shame on me :eek: ) We took off together and I immediately noticed his long coat and blue jeans, combined with helmet, rear-view mirror and panniers. His coat was open and flying in the wind, but I wondered, Isn't he hot? dressed like a pedestrian.

On top of all that, he pushed on ahead of me so that I had to push to keep up. But I soon discovered the answer to this puzzling mystery...

He whipped it into his driveway only two miles from the center of downtown. He is apparantly in an ideal position to ride to work. He could make it faster on his bike than in a car!

But this raises another issue for me: is two miles really an ideal bike commute? Years ago, I would have thought so. But now, having ridden a 30-mile round trip commute for years, I can't imagine having to stop after less than 10 minutes!

:D

Anyway, I hope I meet this nice gent again. More power to him!

The longer I ride the less concerned I am about gear. Last winter it was gortex, this winter a hoodie and cut-off jeans. I prefer my messenge bag to panniers, because I like having an agile bike...and I think they would look kind of silly on a stripped down fixed-gear.

At least the bundled-up folks are riding...and maybe even enjoying themselves...despite their inefficiencies.

Since I MTBed before I started to commute, I had a bunch of shorts and clothes to wear, but it is amazing how much "bike specific" clothes one needs to commute twice a day, year round. I've got half a whole closet full of base layers, bike jerseys, fleece overcoats, etc. etc... Not everybody has a ton of different clean clothes to wear and even then I usually wind up wearing the same baselayer for awhile til it's real grungy. I also started to commute in a backpack before I got the panniers so everybody is in their state of involvement and when I bring my skis to work, I have to wear my ski pack cause my skis wont fit in my panniers and it's more stable in my daypack.

Jeans, I just don't understand though!! :)

Jay

Jeans, I just don't understand though!! :)

Jay

For me, they are more like knickers, and they only come out in the Winter. Don't tell anybody, but on colder days, I'll wear my Pearl Izumi knee warmers underneath. :D

I wear jeans every day on my commute. My commute, however, is only three miles each way. I also wear a pair of Patagonia Capilene bottoms under the jeans. WHen I get home, I immediately shed the jeans, then go out riding in just the bottoms. I prefer riding in looser fitting shorts, but that's just not an option these days in Indianapolis. I also have a rack, but have not yet decided how to secure my bookbag to it. It's a messenger bag, and the straps always seem to drag the ground if I secure it to my rack. I guess it's all relative.

It is all relative, I agree. I have thought about this post all day, and thought how much a snooty bike moron I am for mentioning it in the first place, as that is where I came from. Actually I came from riding Schwinns in jeans, and never a thought for distance or chaffing. But after rubbing certain areas with a zipper, I really enjoy the switch to something more supportive and less binding.

I do nod and shake my head at the same time, thinking at least it is one less car on the road. Hopefully they'll continue and as they do find the joy of a good eight panel cycling short, and a shirt that breathes, and that changing those knobbies for semi slicks or even road slicks makes the commute, even if it is 3 miles, a lot more comfortable.

I have thought about this post all day, and thought how much a snooty bike moron I am for mentioning it in the first place, as that is where I came from.
I didn't think so, not for a minute. I think the same thing whenever I see someone riding in jeans or something, but it's not because I feel superior in any way, I just wonder, "how do they do that?"



Actually I came from riding Schwinns in jeans, and never a thought for distance or chaffing. But after rubbing certain areas with a zipper...

:eek:

A lot of people commute without cycling-specific clothing -- like the whole population of China and Holland.

Paul

A lot of people commute without cycling-specific clothing -- like the whole population of China and Holland.

Almost nothing I use is cycling-specific. I can't afford that stuff. You'd probably laugh if you saw me.

:D

I ride about 3 hours a day, haven't driven my car in a long time. Don't even know if it would start if I tried. And yeah, I see people in parkas and such all the time. I don't get it, but I don't think they even think about it. People who don't put a lot of thought into their bike riding probably just dress as though they would if they were walking or standing outside.

I'm big on jeans actually. If there's precipitation, I pack rain pants. The jeans really take a beating. I'd shred cycling specific clothing if I used it daily. It stays in the 20's for the most part in my part of Ohio in the winter. Capilene undershirt, thicker than average fleece, windbreaker. If it's colder than normal, I'll pop on something slightly less breathable instead of the windbreaker, like the matching vented PVC top for the rainpants. I've also got a windproof helmet liner I wear that saves my butt, but leaves lines in my head for about an hour.

The only cycling specific clothing I wear on the daily commute (besides a helmet) are my specialized SubZero gloves. I rip through a few pairs of these a year, which kind of sucks, but I still love them.

Feh.

Ride what ya like, wear what you want. That's my attitude.

I've ridden in a ton-o-cotton for a while and that worked pretty well for me, especially when it's just commuting. This winter I've finally acquired some wool and that's been great for comfort, particularly since the wool tends to be less bulky than the equivalently warm cotton. Plus I don't have to wash it anywhere near as often. But apart from the padded shorts which I break out on rainy days, sweaty days, or when I'm planning on more than just a ride to work and back, I don't really have any cycling specific clothing. Yet I'll tear it up with anyone out there and I'm usually the passer, not the passee.

Take away what lesson you will. Maybe none.

When it's chilly, I figure if I'm not a bit cold starting out, I'll overheat eventually.

True that. Someone I know figures on dressing about 15 degrees warmer than the actual outside temp. That seems about right.

Then there is the bike between their legs. I often come up on a fellow commuter on an MTB and they're riding on knobbies. They have got to be incredibly overheated with all that clothing and the extra resistence of the tires.

Finally, Not that it matters, but I see them with back packs on, even more sweat creating, energy sapping habits. I know they have been to an LBS as their ride will have a rear fender on the bike. What about a rack?



I agree with most everything you said exept for the MTB and knobbies. I ride all kinds of bikes to work. When I ride my mountain bike, I keep full knobbies on it at all times. I have about 7 miles of the 11 miles I ride to work that I can ride off-road and, since this is an very enjoyable way to avoid traffic, I do it as often as possible. Sometimes I even ride over a mountain that is in back of my work on the way home, so I don't see a mountain bike with knobbies as being a detriment. In fact, if someone asks me for advice on slicks for a mountain bike, I try to convince them to keep the knobbies. If I want to go fast I ride a go-fast bike.

I do carry a Camelbak most of the time, no matter what I am riding so I don't see a backpack as being that big a deal either.

I have found, however, that different people react to the cold very differently. Some people can ride in shorts when I have to ride in a full winter kit. And others stop riding at temperatures far above what I would consider uncomfortable. Different strokes.

Stuart Black

I don't think the clothes make the cyclist. All the stuff works.
I ride every day I'm in the city, and wear cotton pants for almost every commute. For an all day ride, I'll maybe wear some wool tights or something, but can't dis the walmart bikers in their track suits, jeans, and puffy coats. They are out there, biking.

Yeah, I'm all over the spectrum on the clothing issue. I was doing 25 mile training rides before work, so I was "commuting" in the full lycra. Lately, that just hasn't been feasible, so if the weather's nice, I'll just ride to work in my office clothes. Usually, I'll take my jersey and shorts in my backpack so I can put in some harder miles on the way home. Or not.

I guess the longer I ride, the more I care about my wearing the right clothes and the less I care about what another rider has on.

Of course, you guys are in a lot more extreme weather than here, so clothes are more important to your health there.

It all comes down to how long you are planning to stay in the cold. Me? total commute time is about 2.5 hours to 3 hours including both ways each day. I go to work in the morning or noon and come back at night. I have to agree that even with just a base layer and a jersey, my PI Kodiak Barrier jacket can be a bit too much. I get hot or really hot a lot of time. I have to unzip the jacket to control the temp. I would rather to little over dress than under dress. I am a skinny rider and the excessive heat and sweat do not bother me. I have been commuting since Nov 1 and logged close to 2000 "base miles." I didn't get sick at all and not fear of the cold too. :) I have plenty of energy as well. Also, my body tends to cool down after 30 minutes into my ride.

Interesting the different styles...there really is no right one. I happen to be one of the Lycra/Pannier/roadbike types but I see people with streetclothes/backpacks/whateverbikes too.

One other big factor I think for commuters is the ability to clean up and change at work. We have showers and lockerrooms so I can arrive wet and a bit ripe and everthing is fine. Not everyone has that luxury.

Don't forget the cost factor, man. I would love a rack, some Ortleib panniers, cycling specific cargo shorts that wick sweat as I sit in class... but I haven't got to flow. Probably same for those K/Walmart commuters, in jeans and a parka: they don't have the money, or the will to make lycra or a Litespeed that high among their priorities.

But this raises another issue for me: is two miles really an ideal bike commute? Years ago, I would have thought so. But now, having ridden a 30-mile round trip commute for years, I can't imagine having to stop after less than 10 minutes!


The answer to this might depend a lot on your local weather and terrain.

Almost nothing I use is cycling-specific. I can't afford that stuff. You'd probably laugh if you saw me.

:D

Backpack? Check.
Shorts? Check.
T-shirt? Check.
Sandals? Check.
....let's roll! :)

Don't need the padded shorts with a recumbent! Jeans work just fine.

I'm too lazy to spend all that extra time changing my clothes at work if I don't have to. Unless it's really hot, regular clothes work just fine. My clothes usually look ok after a ride, but nothing helps my hair. Ruined. I gave up on that.

Some may like the convenience of the backpack over the panier. I like the convenience of wearing normal clothes. I can't wear a backpack on a recumbent. I never understood those messenger bags. How the heck do you keep them from swinging around to the front?

They hang on your shoulders and the "real" ones come with a stabilizer strap that passes across the other side and fastens to the main strap.

Of course with a bent you can just hold the whole thing in your lap, right? ;)

Nah. I can't even wear a fanny pack pushed around to the front. Although you are reclining, your body position is about as scrunched up as you might be on drop handlebars. At least that's how it is on mine. All 'bents are different. It's a bit getting used to. At first it's hard to breathe.

I'm probably one of these people you see. Reasons:

My commute is only ~5 miles each way, short compared to some of you.
I don't ride as fast (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=82986), so I probably don't get as warmed up.
Plus, I think everyone's body chemistry is different. I'm skinny and I know I don't sweat as much as larger people.
I'm lazy and don't want to do any more extra stuff once I get to work, like change clothes, than I have to.
I only bike to commute (busy w/very young children and other interests otherwise), and only for 2-1/2 years, so I've yet to have much interest in "biking clothes", and, as someone else mentioned, am still experimenting.

In summer, and the warmer days of spring and fall, I wear a T-shirt or a long-sleeved cotton shirt depending on the temperature, work pants (business casual) or "regular-clothing" shorts. I shower when I get to work. (Hmm, maybe I wouldn't have to if I wore biking clothes?) In winter (-0 to 40 F), I wear all my work clothes, winter coat, gloves, boots, and head band, and still am not sweating so much that I have to shower. Fridays are "jeans day", so I do generally wear jeans those days.

As to backpack versus other, I assumed a backpack was the way to go when I started, so my company agreed to get me a backpack carrier for my company-provided laptop, instead of the regular briefcase-style carrying case. The back sweat is sometimes annoying in hot weather, but not so much so that I've taken the initiative to do anything about it yet.

Jeans are actually pretty good for commuting. They're tough, so they protect your legs, and they don't do a bad job of cutting the wind (nor are they particularly great at it, though). Chafing isn't a problem for me - if I intend to ride any distance in jeans, I wear one of my pairs of running shorts as underwear. I was running track before I got into cycling, and running shorts do a great job of preventing chafing over distances of even 30 miles or so, in my experience. I have also been known, in colder weather, to put on first my running shorts, then some flannel pajama pants, and then my jeans :D! I'm a poor college student, so those are basically my options. The only place where jeans really fail miserably is in the wet.

Now, I have these other pants, some loose, slightly baggy cargoes. Good thick cotton. Great for just walking around, they keep my legs warm... but on a bike, they are a nightmare. Pants that are too long (like a lot of my pants, I'm not quite 5' 6") are mildly annoying when walking, but downright distracting and dangerous on a bike. I would say, if jeans are what you have go for it - they're better than a lot of other choices you could make...

They probably will figure it out eventually, especially if they become part of the bike 'culture."

Then there is the bike between their legs...

Back up for a minute here. That's the biggest problem right there. The bike shouldn't be between thier legs it should be under thier arse. They need a bent. Much more comfortable. Not only that, but they'll have to get some panniers so they can sit back and pedal on thier nice comfy seat.

Sounds like you need one too! :D

I agree, it all depends. I think what you wear is directly linked to how long you commute is and if you have to change when you get to work. When my commute was 3.5 miles and I didn't have to change I was one of the jeans and parka crew, now that my commute is 10 miles and I do have to change I go all cycling specific (plus I work at a bike store on the weekends now so I can get it cheap).

I'm one with a short commute - 5 miles round trip. I wear my work clothes in on my bike, which is a mountain bike with semi-knobby tires. This includes jeans, etc. When I go longer distances on my road bike, or on my mountain bike in the winter, I wear cycling specific gear. If I had a longer commute, I would dress differently.

Here's a question - if the bike ride is too short for your tastes, would you drive instead? ;)

They hang on your shoulders and the "real" ones come with a stabilizer strap that passes across the other side and fastens to the main strap.

Of course with a bent you can just hold the whole thing in your lap, right? ;)


On a lot of bents, you can just hang the bag from the back of the seat.

Put it this way, the whole population of holland or china doesn't push 80% of the MHR 25 miles a day in windy 15 degree F weather. If they did, they wouldn't be wearing a big puffy jacket and jeans. They're probably chugging along at ~10mph. At those speeds, I just wear regular clothes too.

Jeans are actually pretty good for commuting. They're tough, so they protect your legs, and they don't do a bad job of cutting the wind (nor are they particularly great at it, though). Chafing isn't a problem for me - if I intend to ride any distance in jeans, I wear one of my pairs of running shorts as underwear. I was running track before I got into cycling, and running shorts do a great job of preventing chafing over distances of even 30 miles or so, in my experience. I have also been known, in colder weather, to put on first my running shorts, then some flannel pajama pants, and then my jeans :D! I'm a poor college student, so those are basically my options. The only place where jeans really fail miserably is in the wet.

Now, I have these other pants, some loose, slightly baggy cargoes. Good thick cotton. Great for just walking around, they keep my legs warm... but on a bike, they are a nightmare. Pants that are too long (like a lot of my pants, I'm not quite 5' 6") are mildly annoying when walking, but downright distracting and dangerous on a bike. I would say, if jeans are what you have go for it - they're better than a lot of other choices you could make...

I am ALL about the PJ pants. I've gotten a few extra pairs since I've found how awesome they are for riding. It's a lot easier to ask for them for Christmas too (as opposed to some kind of cycling specific thing). They're also great once I get to my boring desk job, so comfy to be sitting around in all day at work. Oh, yeah, under my regular pants I mean.

As far as the cargo pants, I'd rather ride in those than jeans at times, mostly because of the zips on the pockets. I've got some velcro tape that I use to keep the crank and such off my legs. I look like a nerd, yeah, but I'm comfortable.

I used to have one pair of cargos I really liked for summer commutes. They were shorts until I zipped the legs on, which rocked since I can't exactly wear shorts at work. Too bad the zips on the legs totally messed up after a few months.

I am ALL about the PJ pants. I've gotten a few extra pairs since I've found how awesome they are for riding. It's a lot easier to ask for them for Christmas too (as opposed to some kind of cycling specific thing). They're also great once I get to my boring desk job, so comfy to be sitting around in all day at work. Oh, yeah, under my regular pants I mean.

As far as the cargo pants, I'd rather ride in those than jeans at times, mostly because of the zips on the pockets. I've got some velcro tape that I use to keep the crank and such off my legs. I look like a nerd, yeah, but I'm comfortable.

I used to have one pair of cargos I really liked for summer commutes. They were shorts until I zipped the legs on, which rocked since I can't exactly wear shorts at work. Too bad the zips on the legs totally messed up after a few months.

Ha! We have style, taste and good sense even if the jersey-wearers can't see it! Glad to see I'm not alone in my somewhat unconventional means of dressing for cycling.

I actually can see wearing cargoes for cycling and liking it, but I need to stock up on elastic bands, since none of my cargoes fit very well. I have an older pair that are awaiting conversion to shorts - the right leg ended up totally trashed from close encounters with my chainwheel. Good thing the fabric was weak and thin, or that might have been my leg. :eek:

Word on the PJs, though! Damn comfy!

Exactly what are cargo pants?

Paul

Exactly what are cargo pants?

Paul

Basically "Khakis" or casual pants that are loose fitting usually with many pockets. Not as dressy as your usual "dress casual" khaki pants.

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