Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Need Help Commuting to Work?

If you are thinking about commuting to work and need some help or advice, please let me know. It truly is confusing when it comes down to commuting, equipment, etc and I have been going through it all so if anyone is on the fence, please let me know. Would love to help out.

What are the best excuses to use when you show up late again because you took the long way? :D

Bike jam. lolololo!!! :)

What are the best excuses to use when you show up late again because you took the long way? :D


"my GPS lost signal and i couldn't find my way "

id say no excuses just leave ealier for work.

when ive got an appointment across on the other side of the city i calculate how long it should take me to get there add 15 minutes for emergency (get a flat tire or whatever) then add 30-60 min so i can enjoy riding where i want in the general dirrection of where im going.

The first time or two might have a hiccup. I might suggest to load the bike in the car and ride home at the end of the day and back in the next morning. You know how much time it will take and usually riding in the am is a little faster/easier. You just have to do without your car for one evening. Your next day clothes can be in the car waiting for you. Some work places are very punctual, others can support a little lattitude flexibility. If you ask them for flexibility on commute days what is the worst they can say? "no"

Oh, from your thread title, I thought YOU needed help bike-commuting to work and my first thought was "no way am I peddling that guy's bike for him"

But now I understand. :D

you pedal, I will smile! :)

I will be your eye candy! :)

This Sunday, (my Monday) I am going to ride my bike into work! I am going to leave my gear in my locker at work so I don't have to ride with a 30 pound back pack, and am going to buy my lunch that day. I am excited almost to the point of being giddy!:lol:

Chef, you have inspired me! Thank you so much! How bout that ride?

going to feel weird walking out of work with out my gear bag... but I am sure I will really enjoy it, just have to figure out how to bring my breakfast and lunch into work, and then into my office fridge.

I rode 2 miles to work today. It was almost all dowhill with a tailwind. Might use a bike/train/bike combo to get to our Jersey office tomorrow, but may bag in the event of rain. But then again, maybe I won't.

going to feel weird walking out of work with out my gear bag... but I am sure I will really enjoy it, just have to figure out how to bring my breakfast and lunch into work, and then into my office fridge.

you can fit a lot in a large underseat bag.....I have one (bought years ago) that I could roll up pants and shirt.... certainly you can find bags big enough for a sandwich...unless your name is Dagwood

another option is a seatpost mount rack

rec: I am riding on Saturday in Delaware if you want to ride with me. PM me.

a lot of my older posts in my profile will address your questions and go to the library, lots of bike clubs have people and programs to help as well

I guess this was a half @ssed attempt to make a serious thread! :)

Well it was serious enough to help me to get over my wimpiness and actually ride into work. While it wasn't Sunday as originally planned, (I set my alarm for the proper time to get up, but forgot about the time change:crash::() so I ended up having to drive. But this morning I did it, feel great wide awake, and can't wait to get out of work and ride home.:D

a huge thank you Chef!:thumb:

anytime rec. If you need any more help with commuting, let me know. I have learned the hard way many times. :)

I am wanting to ride to work but I work strange hours. I start work at 10:15 and get off anywhere from 20:30-00:00. The commute would be around 12 miles each way. My only real reservation is the ride home. Most of the miles will be on roads with very little to no light other than the moon and stars. What headlights and tail lights do people use? I've looked at Dinotte lights but they cost a fortune! Any suggestions on good bright lights that will enable crazy four wheelers to see me?

I'm 35+ lbs overweight, 47 years old, and have a long running aversion to the discomforts of exercise, namely breathing hard and lungs hurting. Work is 10 miles one way with a lot of traffic most of the way no matter which route I take with two pretty tall bridges. I figure I could make it in an hour or so in my current physical condition.
I have a strong desire to ride it, but evidently not strong enough to overcome the psychological barriers I've erected. It's really depressing me lately.
I'm open to advice other than "just do it".

My advice as I had the same mental reservations about riding to work, I actually rode to work on a day that I did not have to be there just to see how long it would take and I did it at the time I normally would be going to see what the traffic is like. Doing that and all of the support from the guys who are veterans of commuting, and the drive to want to do it, will get you through it.

take the plunge, I did and feel great about it.

I'm 35+ lbs overweight, 47 years old, and have a long running aversion to the discomforts of exercise, namely breathing hard and lungs hurting. Work is 10 miles one way with a lot of traffic most of the way no matter which route I take with two pretty tall bridges. I figure I could make it in an hour or so in my current physical condition.
I have a strong desire to ride it, but evidently not strong enough to overcome the psychological barriers I've erected. It's really depressing me lately.
I'm open to advice other than "just do it".

One way to start is to drive in with your bike and ride home. Next morning ride in and drive home. Repeat until you are ready to go both ways. Do this on a friday.

also as noted ride the route(s) on a weekend to get a feel for time and route

10 miles in an hour, assuming a number of stops is around a 12 - 13 mph speed when riding.

google maps has a bike option for directionsn that may help .

just noted you location.....so not sure if drive is correct

I am wanting to ride to work but I work strange hours. I start work at 10:15 and get off anywhere from 20:30-00:00. The commute would be around 12 miles each way. My only real reservation is the ride home. Most of the miles will be on roads with very little to no light other than the moon and stars. What headlights and tail lights do people use? I've looked at Dinotte lights but they cost a fortune! Any suggestions on good bright lights that will enable crazy four wheelers to see me?

I pmed you so email me back and I will email you some stuff. Trust me, you will love the commute in the dark. So peaceful!

I'm 35+ lbs overweight, 47 years old, and have a long running aversion to the discomforts of exercise, namely breathing hard and lungs hurting. Work is 10 miles one way with a lot of traffic most of the way no matter which route I take with two pretty tall bridges. I figure I could make it in an hour or so in my current physical condition.
I have a strong desire to ride it, but evidently not strong enough to overcome the psychological barriers I've erected. It's really depressing me lately.
I'm open to advice other than "just do it".

KJ: I had the same thoughts before I started commuting. I made up all the excuses in the WORLD not to ride but at the end of the day I was fat. I hated going to the gym. I hated wasting the time but riding to and from work has been perfect.

No lie, the first couple of times will suck but it gets better. you get faster, stronger, wiser in riding and, if you eat right, you lose weight! I am living proof of that point when it comes to weight/eating right and commuting. I have lost 36 plus pounds since I started commuting in Jan. Plus no time needed in the gym. I get two "workouts" by riding. I love it.

You CAN do it. On a sunday (if you work mon-fri), ride to work and back. You can do it. Its the first couple of times that will be tough but trust me, coming from a 365 pound guy who started riding, you CAN DO THIS.

Drop me an email and I can help you further. clydesdalecyclist@gmail.com

Rolled into the office at 10:30 this morning.

It was one of the first absolutely beautiful days of not-quite-spring.

I had two excuses on hand.

First, that I detoured to take an extra long ride in this morning. I use this excuse a lot. Everybody understands.

Second, that the clock on my bike computer is still on standard time, and I didn't realize it was an hour later.

In the end, I used both. Not that it really matters - I work in an office with flex scheduling, and my boss is totally cool with me working a modified schedule based on weird things like temperature, precipitation, time of sunset, traffic patterns, and my desire to just 'get out and ride, man'.


A lot of my cow-orkers complain about the job since the company was bought out a few years ago. I smile and count my blessings.

I'm 35+ lbs overweight, 47 years old, and have a long running aversion to the discomforts of exercise, namely breathing hard and lungs hurting. Work is 10 miles one way with a lot of traffic most of the way no matter which route I take with two pretty tall bridges. I figure I could make it in an hour or so in my current physical condition.
I have a strong desire to ride it, but evidently not strong enough to overcome the psychological barriers I've erected. It's really depressing me lately.
I'm open to advice other than "just do it".

I have a 10.5 mile commute each way. It takes about 45-60 min depending on wind and how I feel. Most of the roads are 2 lane 55+mph traffic, some with decent shoulders and some with none. I ride it enough to get a couple of thousand miles a year on my commuter. I just had to replace the chain,chainrings,and cassette this year with 10K miles on it. I have only had about 3 bad encounters over the last 5-6 years and they were really minor. I started by riding it a couple of times round trip on the weekends. Once I was comfortable with my time I added time for changing and in case I had a flat. I usually have 3 blinky lights on back and 1 headlight plus a helmet light. I work a rotating 12hr shift so at least half the ride is dark. I actually like the ride in the dark more because with my lights people tell me they see me sooner.
Good luck and get after it.

Rolled into the office at 10:30 this morning.

It was one of the first absolutely beautiful days of not-quite-spring.

I had two excuses on hand.

First, that I detoured to take an extra long ride in this morning. I use this excuse a lot. Everybody understands.

Second, that the clock on my bike computer is still on standard time, and I didn't realize it was an hour later.

In the end, I used both. Not that it really matters - I work in an office with flex scheduling, and my boss is totally cool with me working a modified schedule based on weird things like temperature, precipitation, time of sunset, traffic patterns, and my desire to just 'get out and ride, man'.


A lot of my cow-orkers complain about the job since the company was bought out a few years ago. I smile and count my blessings.

Cherish that job! Sounds great. I have a boss who wants me to stay late in the day. I get there and start working at 7 am. He gets there around 9 or ten and leaves at 5. Jeese.

I'd love to commute to work but I need you to work out this Kink for me Isaac. I get done my morning job at 8:15 am. And I need to be to my day job by 8:30 which is about Five Miles away. So go on and work your magic.

Thanks for all the encouraging words. I know many people have had to face more weight loss and health issues than me and I envy your accomplishments. At 250 lbs I feel like a whale and it's really affecting my knees and ankles, not to mention my self esteem. I also take meds for high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
The idea to drive 1/2 way is doable as I do have a car here and I've even scouted a place at the 1/2 way mark to park my car for the day. But I hate driving the car here. I ride my scooter almost every day.
The plan is to get up this Saturday morning at my usual time and ride the route to work. There's only slightly less traffic here on Saturdays than on weekday mornings. I figure I'll give it a run when there's no pressure of actually having to work once I get there, and I can take my time on the ride home. I plan on carrying my regular work stuff in my saddlebag panniers to get a true feel on the bike. I'll let you know how it goes.
Wish me luck.

Thanks for all the encouraging words. I know many people have had to face more weight loss and health issues than me and I envy your accomplishments. At 250 lbs I feel like a whale and it's really affecting my knees and ankles, not to mention my self esteem. I also take meds for high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
The idea to drive 1/2 way is doable as I do have a car here and I've even scouted a place at the 1/2 way mark to park my car for the day. But I hate driving the car here. I ride my scooter almost every day.
The plan is to get up this Saturday morning at my usual time and ride the route to work. There's only slightly less traffic here on Saturdays than on weekday mornings. I figure I'll give it a run when there's no pressure of actually having to work once I get there, and I can take my time on the ride home. I plan on carrying my regular work stuff in my saddlebag panniers to get a true feel on the bike. I'll let you know how it goes.
Wish me luck.


With a scooter, you can scout good bike routes better than in a car. Moving slower, have a view of traffic patterns much more like what they'll look like on a bike.

Also, maps.google.com is your friend.

I would really like to ride to work. I have to be there before 6 and I suspect it's an hour ride easy. It would be dark the majority of the time on the ride in and dark on the ride home in the short months.

First I am apprehensive about riding in the dark on city streets and second I don't want to get up an hour earlier :(

Maybe one day I will work up the gumption

I am wanting to ride to work but I work strange hours. I start work at 10:15 and get off anywhere from 20:30-00:00. The commute would be around 12 miles each way. My only real reservation is the ride home. Most of the miles will be on roads with very little to no light other than the moon and stars. What headlights and tail lights do people use? I've looked at Dinotte lights but they cost a fortune! Any suggestions on good bright lights that will enable crazy four wheelers to see me?

Get your hands on a straight, or nearly straight set of handlebars. Mountain bike style.

Using U-bolts mount it somewhere on the front of your bike. If you have a front rack, then right up front on it would be a good place.

You can mount half a dozen $10.00 headlights on that. I use four, actually. It lights up the road real well.

Don't forget a red light in the rear, too.

I'd love to commute to work but I need you to work out this Kink for me Isaac. I get done my morning job at 8:15 am. And I need to be to my day job by 8:30 which is about Five Miles away. So go on and work your magic.

I would ask the 8:30 place if you can move it up slightly. It would only take you about 30 minutes to ride there. Be honest with theme and tell them you are trying to do the best thing for the enviroment and your body and tell them that it is one less car using gas on the road.

Will the above solve anything? May... maybe not but at least you tried. Never hurts to ask!

I would really like to ride to work. I have to be there before 6 and I suspect it's an hour ride easy. It would be dark the majority of the time on the ride in and dark on the ride home in the short months.

First I am apprehensive about riding in the dark on city streets and second I don't want to get up an hour earlier :(

Maybe one day I will work up the gumption


I had the same issue too but not until I got out there did I see that really, it is nothing to worry about. I am lit up like a christmas tree! Read the post below this one.

TO ALL: This is what I use when I commute. It works for me. The idea is to have what I need when I need it. Lights, etc.
_____________



My Bike Equipment
Note: This is only my opinion. Its not up to arguing about, its what I use. If you need any more help or links or anything, feel free to email me at clydesdalecyclist@gmail.com (clydesdalecyclist@gmail.com) ---Isaac
Lights:
Helmet Light: Magic Shine MJ808E 1000 Lumen: I bought this on ebay from a company called Brightstone Sports. Great light and I love the fact that it can light up on the back too which provides drives more visibility.

Handlebar Light: Stella 300. This light is great too. Has solid beans and a blinkie too.

Tail Light: Serfas TL 200: Great light. Has solid light and blinkie too.

Advice on Lights: To me, its important to have strong lights. You can get away with cheaper lights but for me, lights have to do two things (and they have to do both things well) 1) produce enough light that I can see with confidence and 2) make it so other people can see me. Some people will say to point the light straight into the dark but for me, it is better to point the handlebar light down. This is why I suggest getting a helmet light too. This provides me the ability to see wherever I need to and also helps me get drivers attention. For tail lights, I just have one now but I need another. I would like to have one that blinks and another that is at solid color. This allows drivers to tell distance to where the bike is.

Mirror: I use one called “Take a Look Mirror”. Bought it from Amazon and has been pretty good. This is a recent purchase for me so I am still learning how to use it. Regardless, a mirror is great to have. You still need to practice how to turn your head and look behind you without swerving but a mirror gives you another tool to use in addition to. This can fit on your helmet or your glasses.

Saddle (seat): I use a Brooks B-17 saddle. After trying a few saddles and after my butt hurting, this is the one for me. Made from leather which molds to your bum, it works wonders. Stay away from the cushion like saddles. They might be great for a couple of miles but for long distances, it will hurt.

Reflective Tape: This is some cool stuff I currently use on my spokes. Easy to install and looks good plus provides more visabiltiy. I got it from Lightweight Safety. The owners name is John. Wonderful guy!

Panniers (bags that fit on my rack): These are called Ortlieb panniers and the ones I have are the classic bags. I bought them at a place called “thetouringstore.com”. Call them and talk with Wayne, the owner. Very helpful. What I like about these are the fact that they are waterproof. So no need to worry about the rain! I can also pack a lot of gear in there too. They come in a set of two.

Floor pump: You will need one of these. Buy from a local bike shop on this one (I suggest D & Q in Cherry Hill). Stay away from cheapo ones. Get something that will last. I use a Bontrager.

Frame Pump: This is a must. I use a Road Morph. Its light, small and pumps a lot of air into the tire. Make sure the nozzle fits your valve. Most are interchangeable but its best to figure this out before you buy and before you really need it!

CO2 Head: Some people think that this is optional but not for me. It is much needed. Make sure it fits your valve.

CO2 Cartridges: You can buy these at the bike shop but to be honest, they are pretty expensive. There is a better place. I get there from: WWW.redrockminnesota.com (file:///C:/Users/frerici/AppData/Local/Temp/notesA41475/WWW.redrockminnesota.com) He buys them in bulk and sells in smaller bulk. Well worth it. I usually carry two with me at any given time.
Gloves: Its good to have summer gloves. Look for ones with padding as they will help support your hands. Winter gloves are needed too. These are harder to find because you don’t know if they will keep your hands warm when it is really cold. The ones I have now, which are Pro X-Pert WP and they protect me down to 16 degrees. With gloves it is all trial and error.

Goggles: I use them a few times so far. I originally bought tented ones but have never used them but my clear ones I use. It helps to protect your face and mainly your eyes and stops them from watering. Plus I have had no issues with fogging. I use Smith Cascade Classic Goggles (Clear, Silver). Bought them on Amazon.

Face Mask: This has been a wonderful piece of clothing. Keeps my head and my ears and if I need to, my nose warm. I got my from Under Armour. You can buy online or go to their shop in PA or DE (tax free in DE!). I bought their face mask (called balaclava). They also call it “UA Cold Gear Hood”. Takes the chill off for me. I might consider getting one that is as bit thicker for real cold weather (16 degrees or colder).

Clothes in General: This is a touchy subject for some so I can only tell you what works for me. On any given day, I usually wear cycling bibs, a cycling jersey and then depending on what the temps are, I sometimes wear a thicker wind breaker (I usually wear this all the time in the winter) and a pair of wind breaker pants. For colder temps, I start to layer more using products from Under Armour. They are base layers that really do help me. My advice is to buy stuff a little larger so you have less air hitting skin tight clothes. Layering is the key. If you get dressed and walk out of the house and you are warm, you have dressed up too much. You should feel slightly cold when you walk out of the house.

Horn: Some people use bells, whistles work great, airhorns work the best for me. I use Airzound Bike Horn. Easy to mount and use and runs off air. Loud! It works!

Bike Computer: Some people say you should have them and some people say who cares but for me, I love mine. Any computer will work. You want the basic functions: total miles, tripomiter, time, speed, etc.

Clipless Pedals: Great to have.

Shoes for Clipless Pedals: I have a summer pair and winter pair. Buy them at least one size bigger. It allows your feet to slightly swell in the heat and also allows your feet, in the winter time, to be layered with socks.

Wool socks: A must for winter!

Safety Vest: You can buy these online. I have a neon green on and it does the trick.

Glasses: Sun glasses are great and so are clear safety glasses. I use the clear safety glasses a lot in the winter time as it protects my eyes from the cold.

Tires: I use city slick tires which have no nobs on them. This decreases my rolling resistance which I want. I go with a brand called “Gatorskins”. Awesome tire and pretty puncture proof. For winter, you might get studded tires.

Ankle Neon Straps: Great to have on your right ankle. Keeps your pants out of the way from the chain and cogs.

Cycling clothes: I love areotechnology. They are based in PA I believe. I use the cycling bibs and the cycling jersey.

Tools: You will need to have tools for roadside repairs. I always carry and extra tube, patch kit, set of allen wrenches, truing tool, and tire levers. Also carry a little cash just in case along with some disposable gloves.

Bike Shops: We are blessed to have three great bike shops on rt 70 in Cherry Hill. First is Erlton bike shop. Locally owned and a wonderful guy to deal with. The second is Keswick. Nice shop. It’s a chain and but also have Park Tool Class which I hear is wonderful to take if you want to learn about maintenance. The third, and my favorite, is Danzenisen & Quigley (D & Q). This place is great. Locally owned and the mechanic, Stan, is a commuter that commutes from Philly to Cherry Hill every day. If you need your bike fixed in a jiffy, ask for Stan and tell him you are a commuter. He will help you out quick. He is also great with bike directions too.

Winter Socks: Yes, wool socks are great but what really works for me is gator socks. They are neoprene and wonderful. They make your feet sweat but they stay warm! Need something warmer? Add some wool socks on top of them.

Rain Booties: I love to ride in the rain but feet can get socked. I used the rain booties from Showers Pass in Oregon. I bought them online and they have been great. Most booties are too tight which cases the material to rip. Shower Pass Rain Booties are great. You simple cut out a piece on the bottom that will accommodate the size of your clips (if you are wearing them) and place them on. I like these because they have zippers. Solid product.

Fender: wonderful to have!

First, thanks for that list chefisaac. Good info there.
Second, my ride report from this morning:
-Got out of the house 1/2 hour late. I planned on 6:30, but after loading all my stuff on the bike and pumping up the tires it was 7:00. I need to plan the evening before and have everything ready to go out the door.
-Took me 35 minutes to make it to the half-way mark. I tried a more direct route for the first few kilometers than what what I do on my scooter and got lost for a few minutes. So I figure it wasn't bad considering it was my first time on this particular route.
-Once I got to this point I knew I was already getting tired and decided to take a short break then head back towards the house.
-Took me twice as long to get back home. Had to make another rest stop, and before I got back to the house I knew I had depleted almost every ounce of energy I had. I felt like I was barely moving.
Rundown:
I rode a total of 11.2 miles, which is slightly more than getting to work.
I need better padded or gel gloves.
I need to adjust my Ergo grips and bar ends. I have slight circulation problems in my hands.
I need a different seat. I'm going to measure my sit bones width and go shopping. I might be looking for a Brooks since that what I have on my bike in the USA.
I have let my fitness and diet habits go out the window for too long, and it really doesn't take long.
My dept. store computer is a total POS!
I'm going to try the work route again next Saturday.

Great report!

- Packing the night before is KEY. In the winter time, I lay out my clothes in order of how I put them on the night before. Pack the panniers, recharge lights, pump up tires and air horn.... all the night before so there is no real thinking involved! :)

- Brooks has bee nice to my bum!

- Remember to eat a little too.... oatmeal is great. But you will see overtime, you will have more and more energy. Right now, you are waking your body up.

- The hand issue could be a number of things. If you have a place to go get a bike fit, that might help. Remember bike fitting is tweaking a lot of things. Could be saddle adjustment, stem adjustment, etc. Best to get a really good fit (not the in and out 5 minute fit either!).

- For a computer, look at Cateye. Great company.

You are on the right path my friend. Growing pains and you will get past those!

TO ALL: This is what I use when I commute. It works for me. The idea is to have what I need when I need it. Lights, etc.
_____________



My Bike Equipment
Note: This is only my opinion. Its not up to arguing about, its what I use. If you need any more help or links or anything, feel free to email me at clydesdalecyclist@gmail.com (clydesdalecyclist@gmail.com) ---Isaac
Lights:
Helmet Light: Magic Shine MJ808E 1000 Lumen: I bought this on ebay from a company called Brightstone Sports. Great light and I love the fact that it can light up on the back too which provides drives more visibility.

Handlebar Light: Stella 300. This light is great too. Has solid beans and a blinkie too.

Tail Light: Serfas TL 200: Great light. Has solid light and blinkie too.

Advice on Lights: To me, its important to have strong lights. You can get away with cheaper lights but for me, lights have to do two things (and they have to do both things well) 1) produce enough light that I can see with confidence and 2) make it so other people can see me. Some people will say to point the light straight into the dark but for me, it is better to point the handlebar light down. This is why I suggest getting a helmet light too. This provides me the ability to see wherever I need to and also helps me get drivers attention. For tail lights, I just have one now but I need another. I would like to have one that blinks and another that is at solid color. This allows drivers to tell distance to where the bike is.

Mirror: I use one called “Take a Look Mirror”. Bought it from Amazon and has been pretty good. This is a recent purchase for me so I am still learning how to use it. Regardless, a mirror is great to have. You still need to practice how to turn your head and look behind you without swerving but a mirror gives you another tool to use in addition to. This can fit on your helmet or your glasses.

Saddle (seat): I use a Brooks B-17 saddle. After trying a few saddles and after my butt hurting, this is the one for me. Made from leather which molds to your bum, it works wonders. Stay away from the cushion like saddles. They might be great for a couple of miles but for long distances, it will hurt.

Reflective Tape: This is some cool stuff I currently use on my spokes. Easy to install and looks good plus provides more visabiltiy. I got it from Lightweight Safety. The owners name is John. Wonderful guy!

Panniers (bags that fit on my rack): These are called Ortlieb panniers and the ones I have are the classic bags. I bought them at a place called “thetouringstore.com”. Call them and talk with Wayne, the owner. Very helpful. What I like about these are the fact that they are waterproof. So no need to worry about the rain! I can also pack a lot of gear in there too. They come in a set of two.

Floor pump: You will need one of these. Buy from a local bike shop on this one (I suggest D & Q in Cherry Hill). Stay away from cheapo ones. Get something that will last. I use a Bontrager.

Frame Pump: This is a must. I use a Road Morph. Its light, small and pumps a lot of air into the tire. Make sure the nozzle fits your valve. Most are interchangeable but its best to figure this out before you buy and before you really need it!

CO2 Head: Some people think that this is optional but not for me. It is much needed. Make sure it fits your valve.

CO2 Cartridges: You can buy these at the bike shop but to be honest, they are pretty expensive. There is a better place. I get there from: WWW.redrockminnesota.com (file:///C:/Users/frerici/AppData/Local/Temp/notesA41475/WWW.redrockminnesota.com) He buys them in bulk and sells in smaller bulk. Well worth it. I usually carry two with me at any given time.
Gloves: Its good to have summer gloves. Look for ones with padding as they will help support your hands. Winter gloves are needed too. These are harder to find because you don’t know if they will keep your hands warm when it is really cold. The ones I have now, which are Pro X-Pert WP and they protect me down to 16 degrees. With gloves it is all trial and error.

Goggles: I use them a few times so far. I originally bought tented ones but have never used them but my clear ones I use. It helps to protect your face and mainly your eyes and stops them from watering. Plus I have had no issues with fogging. I use Smith Cascade Classic Goggles (Clear, Silver). Bought them on Amazon.

Face Mask: This has been a wonderful piece of clothing. Keeps my head and my ears and if I need to, my nose warm. I got my from Under Armour. You can buy online or go to their shop in PA or DE (tax free in DE!). I bought their face mask (called balaclava). They also call it “UA Cold Gear Hood”. Takes the chill off for me. I might consider getting one that is as bit thicker for real cold weather (16 degrees or colder).

Clothes in General: This is a touchy subject for some so I can only tell you what works for me. On any given day, I usually wear cycling bibs, a cycling jersey and then depending on what the temps are, I sometimes wear a thicker wind breaker (I usually wear this all the time in the winter) and a pair of wind breaker pants. For colder temps, I start to layer more using products from Under Armour. They are base layers that really do help me. My advice is to buy stuff a little larger so you have less air hitting skin tight clothes. Layering is the key. If you get dressed and walk out of the house and you are warm, you have dressed up too much. You should feel slightly cold when you walk out of the house.

Horn: Some people use bells, whistles work great, airhorns work the best for me. I use Airzound Bike Horn. Easy to mount and use and runs off air. Loud! It works!

Bike Computer: Some people say you should have them and some people say who cares but for me, I love mine. Any computer will work. You want the basic functions: total miles, tripomiter, time, speed, etc.

Clipless Pedals: Great to have.

Shoes for Clipless Pedals: I have a summer pair and winter pair. Buy them at least one size bigger. It allows your feet to slightly swell in the heat and also allows your feet, in the winter time, to be layered with socks.

Wool socks: A must for winter!

Safety Vest: You can buy these online. I have a neon green on and it does the trick.

Glasses: Sun glasses are great and so are clear safety glasses. I use the clear safety glasses a lot in the winter time as it protects my eyes from the cold.

Tires: I use city slick tires which have no nobs on them. This decreases my rolling resistance which I want. I go with a brand called “Gatorskins”. Awesome tire and pretty puncture proof. For winter, you might get studded tires.

Ankle Neon Straps: Great to have on your right ankle. Keeps your pants out of the way from the chain and cogs.

Cycling clothes: I love areotechnology. They are based in PA I believe. I use the cycling bibs and the cycling jersey.

Tools: You will need to have tools for roadside repairs. I always carry and extra tube, patch kit, set of allen wrenches, truing tool, and tire levers. Also carry a little cash just in case along with some disposable gloves.

Bike Shops: We are blessed to have three great bike shops on rt 70 in Cherry Hill. First is Erlton bike shop. Locally owned and a wonderful guy to deal with. The second is Keswick. Nice shop. It’s a chain and but also have Park Tool Class which I hear is wonderful to take if you want to learn about maintenance. The third, and my favorite, is Danzenisen & Quigley (D & Q). This place is great. Locally owned and the mechanic, Stan, is a commuter that commutes from Philly to Cherry Hill every day. If you need your bike fixed in a jiffy, ask for Stan and tell him you are a commuter. He will help you out quick. He is also great with bike directions too.

Winter Socks: Yes, wool socks are great but what really works for me is gator socks. They are neoprene and wonderful. They make your feet sweat but they stay warm! Need something warmer? Add some wool socks on top of them.

Rain Booties: I love to ride in the rain but feet can get socked. I used the rain booties from Showers Pass in Oregon. I bought them online and they have been great. Most booties are too tight which cases the material to rip. Shower Pass Rain Booties are great. You simple cut out a piece on the bottom that will accommodate the size of your clips (if you are wearing them) and place them on. I like these because they have zippers. Solid product.

Fender: wonderful to have!

Good info going to look into panniers since i hate my back getting all sweaty with my back pack on...

Rec: Take a look at thetouringstore.com The website is not the best but good info on Ortliebs. Call and talk with the owner. His name is Wayne and very nice guy. I got the classic panniers. If you need pics, let me know.

I LOVE THEM. Love the fact that you can put a lot of stuff in it and also the fact the are rain proof is wonderful. Just a little tip... you can order them with the outside pockets. Get those. Thats the mistake I made and it sucks because I have a hard time finding my keys!

Rec: Before you buy, let me check something. I might be able to get you a great used pair.