dygituljunky

My rear wheel went out of true on my way home on Christmas morning so I didn't get to commute by bike Xmas evening and back home on the 26th. Lack of time in the saddle was making me antsy by the time I finished work on the morning of the 26th so I planned on getting my established wheelset trued and my extra wheelsets trued and tyred. I didn't sleep well on the 26th or on the 27th because of the lack of exercise. By the time the evening of the 27th rolled around, I had so much extra energy to burn that I was barely restraining myself from bouncing up and down in whatever chair I happened to be in.

All of that made me decide to do my first grocery run by bike (which I got back from just a little while ago). Good gracious was it nice to just ride up the road. I noticed myself slipping into a zen state on the way to the grocery store but the mood was broken by my realization and by a yellow light.

This whole addiction to exercise thing is really a novelty to me and it's having such a huge impact on the way I live my life.

Oh darn, I forgot the cat food. I guess I'll have to go back. Or maybe I should save that for tomorrow night so I have a reason to ride (the cat has food but the extra supplies are running a wee bit low).

As a side-note, I wasn't able to remove my newish 26 x something street slicks from the established wheelset (which turned out to be damaged) because the bead wouldn't unseat. Instead I went and bought some Michelin City tires for one of my spare wheelsets (now the main set) and lemme tell ya, those things are much nicer than what I had before (20 psi higher pressure, reflective sidewall, and a smaller contact patch). I don't have a way of verifying it yet but I think my rolling resistance went down and my speed up.

Also, it's interesting how drivers are more polite when your bike is loaded down with stuff and when you blink like the ship from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Bill Kapaun

I've found that running my 26x1.5" Serfas Drifter 5 PSI over max made a noticeable difference than 5 PSI under.
I do tend to run them a bit softer in the cold weather, since my old bones don't handle the jolts as well with my body tensed up from the cold.

Drivers also seem to be polite when you look like a homeless old geezer! See pic-

Neil_B

Congratulations on your move into the world of 'bikes at work.'

dygituljunky

Thanks! The sad thing is that I bought the grocery pannier about a year ago. I rode with it on the bike once and had such bad heel strike that it prompted my to get the Jandd Expedition rack. Sadly, I never got around to actually using the grocery pannier until last night. I've been aiming to get to utility cycling or car-free for some time but I think I'm now actually getting close.

Bill Kapaun

I just use a back pack for most items. Stuff like chips & eggs, I'll hang a couple plastic bags between the bars and carry them there.
Planning can also reduce your trips.
If you just happen to be riding by a store on your way home, stop in and get a couple items. I carry a couple Safeway type plastic bags folded up in my back pocket, so I can always carry something on the spur of the moment.
Keep a grocery list if you're forgetful like me.

dygituljunky

Thanks, Bill, from another Bill. Actually, so far I've been the kind of person that needs a destination in order to motivate myself to ride. Furthermore, on my way to and from work, I carry a rather substantially loaded suit-bag-pannier which has a great deal of stuff in it. I pass three grocery stores within a short distance of my commute route. The first is less than a mile from work but doesn't open until after I pass it, the second is not quite 3 miles in to the ride (but is a miniature store so they have a smaller selection), and the third one (one steep hill and almost exactly one mile from my house) is a really sketchy low-budget grocery store (with steel mesh over the front windows in a super sketchy shopping center) where I just might have my trusty steed liberated from my possession were I to leave it unattended. Finally, since I work a twelve-hour shift between the rides, every minute of sleep is important.

But your point is certainly taken and that is the way I integrate the bike into my social schedule. I rode 5 miles to visit my best friends for the first time in two months (been busy), tonight, and I added an extra mile on the way back by swinging by the grocery store to pick up that cat food. Bike Journal now has me at 98.5 miles for December and I'll break 100 before I get 1/3 of the way to work tomorrow evening. That feels pretty good, indeed.