Commuting - Trying to get everything I need for commuting

Hey guys,

I'm trying to gather up the things I'd like to have for commuting to work. It's 8 miles each way to work; its all pretty flat and its paved roads/sidewalks. Weather-wise, the absolute coldest would be like 45-50, but, in another month or two, it'll be 70 in the morning and around 90 coming home... with rain almost every afternoon.

I have a Felt SR91, a water bottle & cage, gloves, and an ankle strap.

I'm leaning toward getting a sling bag (its like a backpack, but, has a sling that goes across you instead of 2 straps). I want to be able to carry my lunch (leftovers in plastic containers), maybe a dress shirt/pants (not sure what as I haven't commuted yet), maybe shoes, sometimes my 35mm slr camera and a lens or two, and maybe a book or something. Not everything all at once, I might be reading a book for a few weeks, but, then leave it at home and play with my camera at lunch one day...

Anyways, I also want to carry an extra tube and my plastic tire levers. I was looking at some of the "wedgie" type bags, but, haven't purchased anything yet... I was thinking about getting a sling and just throwing the tube/levers in one the pockets.

Well, I've never had a sling before, but, I used backpacks all through college as well as the gym and stuff.

How do you guys think one of these would work for the commute?

http://www.shopecko.com/cdocs/ECKO/images/E0642.1.jpeg
http://www.shopecko.com/cdocs/ECKO/images/E0642.2.jpeg

http://www.shopecko.com/cdocs/ECKO/images/E0670.1.jpeg
http://www.shopecko.com/cdocs/ECKO/images/E0670.2.jpeg

I had a flat last week, so, I put on a set of 700x25 Armadillos.

Anything else I'm missing? Oh, the bike will be kept inside of my office building right next to me in my cube ;)

I have a bag like that,i do use it some but when braking or going down hill it sometimes wants to slide and wind up in front of me. a backpact with two straps will not do this.Randall

I'd second Randall - the last thing one needs is an unsteady load. I make sure to have the following bike related items at all times (some of which you have listed already):

Spare tube
Patch kit
pump
Tire levers
Multi-tool

I commute in cycle clothes, and take a week's worth of work clothes on the monday. Work shoes stay at work, which saves the effort of carrying them.

Hope that helps,

Ed

8 miles is a long way for a backpack. I only use them on 1-3 mile rides.
Can you fit a luggage rack. If you dont have eyelets at the rear dropouts, then a seatpost one will do.
Are you riding on wet roads? Without fenders, you riding gear gets dirty as well as wet.

Even if you are riding in daylight it doesn't hurt to hgave a rear blinking light also.

Consider a Carradice saddlebag with their SQR quick release mounted to your seatpost. Carradice makes saddlebags in many sizes from small to huge. If you install a rear rack, there are commuter panniers made by multiple companies, including Carradice, but your stuck with the rack on the bike all the time.

The Carradice saddlebags are made from cotton duck and are pretty waterproof. The big advantage is you will not have a pack against your back in the heat and will stay cooler.

yes, the pump... I knew I was forgetting something... I also want to pick-up a smaller pump. Is there a difference between a frame-pump and a mini-pump? Also, which is better... like a mini-pump or a co2 pump?

I like your idea with leaving clothes at work... I will probably end up doing something like that.

I'll probably pick up a wedgie pack soon and stick my patches, extra tube, levers, multi-tool (when i get it) and pump in it.



I'd second Randall - the last thing one needs is an unsteady load. I make sure to have the following bike related items at all times (some of which you have listed already):

Spare tube
Patch kit
pump
Tire levers
Multi-tool

I commute in cycle clothes, and take a week's worth of work clothes on the monday. Work shoes stay at work, which saves the effort of carrying them.

Hope that helps,

Ed

hmmm... See, I was under the impression that these types of bags were better for cycling than the regular ol' backpack...


I have a bag like that,i do use it some but when braking or going down hill it sometimes wants to slide and wind up in front of me. a backpact with two straps will not do this.Randall

i figure i'll probably pick up a headlight/taillight soon enough too... anything to help these elderly citizens to see me.

how are those LED headlights? i think it was the specialized ones i was looking at... the LED headlight lasted like 100 hours vs like 3-4 hours for the regular bulb headlight... and it was only like $5 more ($25 vs $20).


Even if you are riding in daylight it doesn't hurt to hgave a rear blinking light also.

I find that a regular back pack makes my shoulders tense up on a bike. I got a messenger bag with a strap that goes around my waist at an army surplus store, but haven't ridded with it yet. Good luck.

Any amount that you can leave at work, will allow you to take more on your ride with the least increase in weight. I pack for any and all contingencies anyway, so I am forced to use panniers. Think about it, you might want to stop to have a picnic on the way home, or someone could invite you to the theatre, you'll have your snaziest outfit with you. No rushing home! Then there's the bike shop in a bag...

I also find that a rack and panniers is better than a backpack/messenger bag. Riding is more comfortable for me this way. Have you thought about how where you plan to store your bike? My boss let me clear a locked storage closet inside our building, but some people aren't as lucky

yeah, i definately hear you about the leaving-stuff-at-work part.

i wont be having a picnic to/fro work... nor will i be going to the theatre or anything... i dont have a bike lock... nor would i trust one anyways... and i dont need any snazzy outfits... ;)


Any amount that you can leave at work, will allow you to take more on your ride with the least increase in weight. I pack for any and all contingencies anyway, so I am forced to use panniers. Think about it, you might want to stop to have a picnic on the way home, or someone could invite you to the theatre, you'll have your snaziest outfit with you. No rushing home! Then there's the bike shop in a bag...

My bike will be kept right here in my little office cube... theres 12 people total in this office... and the average age is about 50 (no offense to anyone)... and they are very very sedentary... they all think im nucking futz for wanting to ride my bike to work! they all pay an extra $35-50 a month to park a block away from work... rather than walking 3 blocks to our free spaces... :rolleyes:


I also find that a rack and panniers is better than a backpack/messenger bag. Riding is more comfortable for me this way. Have you thought about how where you plan to store your bike? My boss let me clear a locked storage closet inside our building, but some people aren't as lucky

"...they all think im nucking futz for wanting to ride my bike to work!"

Get used to this reaction.

If you ride on the streets -- don't forget to pack a little patience, wide-eyed attention (remember: they car drivers either won't notice you or are in fact trying to maim you), and a little courage.

I have been commuting for a few weeks and have 330 miles under my belt so let me tell you the little bit I can. I have both full and fingerless gloves. IN Albuquerque right now I ride the full in the morning and the fingerless at night. I have a LED light, Avenir w/ 3 leds, and its ok but if there arent any street light around you dont wanna go much over 8 MPH. I use a messenger style bag and it isnt bad. You do sweat and it sounds like it will be pretty full with the stuff you plan on carrying. Im looking forward to getting some panniers, I think it will be better all around than the messenger bag. I love my little computer, i like to know how fast im going. oh yeah lastly i had bough some polyester long sleeve shirts at walmart for $7 to wear as a base. Good Luck I hope you love commuting as much as I do!

yes, the pump... I knew I was forgetting something... I also want to pick-up a smaller pump. Is there a difference between a frame-pump and a mini-pump? Also, which is better... like a mini-pump or a co2 pump?


There are many different opinions about pumps so here's mine. I do not like the CO2 because you never know if you have enough air with you plus the waste; with a pump you aways have enough air as long as you got arm muscle to do it, and there is no waste untill the pump breaks! Frame pumps are nicer because they can pump the tire faster with less pumps and can reach higher pressures than mini's, plus you can use them as a dog wacker. But I use the Torelli Aria mini pump probaby the smallest mini on the market, and yes you do have to pump it quite a few times but it can go to 115psi (I took a tire there just to see) but I only use a max of 100 anyway so that's not an issue. Most mini's have a bracket that mounts to the water bottle cage so you don't have to put in a backpack or worse forget to put it in the packback.

i figure i'll probably pick up a headlight/taillight soon enough too... anything to help these elderly citizens to see me.

how are those LED headlights? i think it was the specialized ones i was looking at... the LED headlight lasted like 100 hours vs like 3-4 hours for the regular bulb headlight... and it was only like $5 more ($25 vs $20).

I use to own the Cateye EL300LED light and though it was the brightest (4AA) self contained battery light I have ever seen it still lacked what I really wanted. The beam was only about a foot in diameter with no scatter light. In the city I found a flood to be more useful so you can see road debris better. I used the light for about 2 months when my LBS started carrying Cygo brand of lights. I compared the Cateye to the lowest costing Cygo called a Metro with dual beams and the Metro just totally overwhelmed it with just one beam on! I was able to trade them in and just pay the difference which was only $12. And I also liked the Metro because it runs on 6 D bats and does not tie me to a wall; if the bats were to go dead on a ride I can just go to any store and buy more, but that hasn't happened-they give plenty of warning time when that is about to happen. The 6 D's will last 5 hours of continues running on one beam or 2.5 hours on both. The wattage output is 6.3 on spot and 6.2 on flood; the flood is what I use to commute on with city lights and is more than enough light; when I head out into a pitch dark bike path I use both even though the flood is bright enough I do it for added safety. I buy cheap alky bats in a 12 pack from Walmart called EverActiv and they cost $8 and the pack lasts a year.

Tailight wise, I prefer and use the Cateye TLLD600, it's the brightest LED taillight I've found. Recently I added those weird handlebar end red LED lights to each barend, and to my surprise they are very bright. I actually had several motorist comment on how well they could see me and one claimed he saw me from over a mile away real well.

I also use wide reflective leg pants bands on each leg and my helmet, seat bag, backpack and jacket have reflective stripping.

yeah, i definately hear you about the leaving-stuff-at-work part.

i wont be having a picnic to/fro work... nor will i be going to the theatre or anything... i dont have a bike lock... nor would i trust one anyways... and i dont need any snazzy outfits... ;)

The only thing I left at work was the lock. At my last job before moving I could lock the bike in the office, but it was by a open back door and rarely was anyone back there so I locked it to a metal shelving rack; then when I left I would leave the lock locked to the rack.

"...they all think im nucking futz for wanting to ride my bike to work!"

Get used to this reaction.

The guys where I use to work didn't think I was nucking futz, but they would call me Lance Armstrong-all in good humor of course since I am not anything like him.

I bought a couple of leave-at-work shoes to leave at my office; sure beats carry an extra two pounds of shoes. I also have a wool cardigan sweater I put on when I get there. Kinda like Mr. Rogers, I change my shoes and put on a cardigan when I get to work :D.

My work also has bike lockers we can use for free. I got the last out of 8 but in the year I've been commuting to work, I only seen one other cyclist using the lockers.

Carry a spare inner tube, and keep another spare at the office.
Keep some spare underwear/socks for WHEN you forget to bring them.
Minipumps are good enough for commutes. You will struggle to pump above 90psi, but that is plenty good enough to finish the ride. A floor/track pump at home is a good investment.

This is probably a given, but you may also want to consider a good helmet. When riding in winter, the roads can be very slick and unforgiving to the rider. This winter I was doing around 15 mph. at 4 a.m in the morning when I hit a patch of wet leaves that was left in the street. I was too busy bouncing all over the road and curb to realize exactly how many times I hit my head, but the helmet said, "Please replace me." This could have been my head. Always wear a helmet.

Cheers,

Urbanmonk

I have a sling bag like that. The only difference is that there is a second strap that goes uder your right arm and connects the main strap to the bag. It works great and has yet to slide around even in death grip braking. i ride 15km roundtrip and as long as i am not too loaded down the bad causes no discomfort.

Hi,

I've been bike commuting for well over ten years now, ten non-flat miles each way and the most important things that I've learnt in that time is, don't use a back pack, a rack + a good pannier is by far the best for carrying stuff, carry at least two spare tubes as punctures always seem to come in pairs, get the best pump you can as trying to get 100psi into a 700x23 in freezing rain in the dark at 6am is not the most rewarding of experiences, lastly & most important get the brightest lights you can if you're going to ride in the dark, each of the 3 times I got T boned it was dark and the response was always SMIDSY, the lights I have now can be seen from the Moon :D :D

This is in addition to all of the previously mentioned advice.



Cheers

FlakMonkey