Commuting - I'm new to Commuting

Just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for justing starting out communting. I recently moved and now only live 1 mile from work. I have a Specilaized Enduro Comp that I will be riding. Help!

The main problems I see with your bike as a commuter are no fenders, no chainguard, and no lights.

I'd get a blinky for the seatpost, a simple battery light (Road Toad, or equivalent, and some rubber bands to wrap around yout right pants leg.

It's quite a valuable bike, so I hope you have a safe place to park it at the other end.

If there were some way of putting on removable fenders that you could take of for trail riding, that would be nice. Fenders keep road grit from wearing out the working parts of your bike and also prevent a "skunk stripe" down your back.

Basically, "just do it." If you are going to ride after dark, though, you really do need lights.

Paul

Well, you won't have to worry about food or water. Tools can be minimal, a spare tube, some tire levers and a decent pump or CO2 inflator would be fine. Maybe a handy multitool. You don't even need to invest in Bicycling specific clothing for 3 or less miles. Heck, get on the bike and go. Enjoy the commute. :D

If you are only going a mile you might leave your nice bike at home and get a 25 dollar one at a thrift shop or something. An old 3 speed or cruiser with rack and fenders would be ideal. The uglier the better.

Don't know what the crime is like there but if you have a quick release front wheel and quick release seat you might come out to find your front wheel and seat post gone as well as any lights, bags, etc.

I always try and bring my bike inside wherever I am commuting if possible.

Just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for justing starting out communting. I recently moved and now only live 1 mile from work. I have a Specilaized Enduro Comp that I will be riding. Help!
Only one mile? I'd walk.

Only one mile? I'd walk.

No kidding. I guess one of the big advantages is that if he gets a flat on the way and has to walk the remainder, it will only make him about five minutes late.

I tell you though, I know plenty of people who live about a mile or two from work and they drive their cars to/from work every single day.

Hehe when I walk to the train station in the winter, it's almost a mile round trip just to get there.

You might as well walk though I can see the advantage being it'll take you 5 minutes to get there vs. 20

I'd get either a cateye el-200, 300, or 400, they're really bright. It won't light up the road that much except for the 300 which would put a decent spot about 6 ft ahead of you but the blinking's almost like a camera flashing, they'll see you a mile away.

Or you can just get one of those lights Paul recommends like the road toad. If you do, go to radio shack and get a bulb that's slightly under the voltages that you need. It shortens the life by half but bulbs are cheap and the light burns 2x brighter.

If you're willing to pay for shipping, I have a few of those roadtoad type battery powered lights lying around, I can send one over with some spare batteries.

Also invest in a rear LED blinker so cars see you. Add fenders and I think you're set.

If it's only one mile, I'm not even sure if you need the spare tools. Assuming your bike breaks down halfway, you're only 10 minutes away from work and only 20 minutes walking on the way back. Get some specialized armadillo's.

Just wondering if anyone had any suggestions for justing starting out communting. I recently moved and now only live 1 mile from work. I have a Specilaized Enduro Comp that I will be riding. Help!

You live 1 mile from work . . . walk! It would probably burn more calories, and shouldn't take more than 15-20 minutes. Plus you don't have to haul out the bicycle, or change into cycling gear, or store your bicycle somewhere when you get there.

If you do decide to ride, it'll take you less than 5 minutes of actual ride time, so I wouldn't be too concerned about special equipment.

However, if you'll be commuting in the dark, be sure you have lighting and reflective gear. If you'll be commuting in the rain, be sure you've got mudguards and rain gear.

Also, be sure you have a safe place to store your bicycle at work.

I agree with more others. Unless you plan on going on long bike rides before or after work. You're better off walking. I walked when I lived 2 miles from work.

Riding will cut down your drive time, but you'll lose that time by dressing to get on the bike, getting the bike out from where ever you store it, stowing the bike at work, and dressing for work (if necessary). Plus, you'll expose your bike to the elements and, possibly, thieves, all to save very little, if any time.

Now that I live 4-8 miles from work (depending on the route), I ride.

That said, if you plan to ride, get yourself some nylon or gore-tex shells to cover your work clothes. I also agree with the advice to use a cheap-o bike for such a short commute. Your fenders should be almost as expensive as the rest of the bike.

I don't see why there would be a need to wear anything but normal work clothing for a one mile bike ride (or even a 5 mile ride, foir that matter).

When I lived a mile from work, I always chose the bike rather than walking. I just hopped on and went.

Paul

Most days, no extra clothes would be needed. But if the ground is even a little bit wet, you can get dirty real fast, at least in terms of how clean you should be for work. If tcbikers plans to bike every day, I think the shell is a good idea. Either that or s/he needs to plan to get clean clothes to work.

Unless the route from tcbikers' home to work is bike friendly and pedestrian unfriendly, I still think walking makes more sense. But we all have our prferences. If tcbikers bikes to work, I hope the ride is as fun as mine.

I do a lot of riding within a few miles.
It helps to have a convinience bike rather than a racer. You need fenders and lights, and a luggage rack is useful. High gears are not needed, but a few gears are useful if you haul shopping or ride a few hills. Really any bike can do the job.
You dont need special riding gear, but if you ride all the time, you are better off with hiking style normal clothes. Helmet and gloves are useful and a bright windproof jacket.
I could walk, but it uses too many calories :), and riding saves time and is more fun.