matimeo

How long is your commute if you go the entire distance by bicycle?

Pobble.808

Hey, welcome to one of the better and more exclusive clubs!

As for loosening up the keyhole, a tube of graphite powder, available at hardware stores and the like, should do the job.

Bikeforumuser0019

Thanks! I'm making a list for the hardware store tomorrow, as long as I can put off making a special trip to buy expensive stuff from a bike shop, the better.
Jessica

Bikeforumuser0019

I'm seriously considering skipping the train part altogether. I might be able to do it.... 9.2 miles to work one way.

What do people do when they get injured, sick, or need recovery time between bike rides but still must get to work everyday? I'd prefer to be car free as soon as humanly possible.

Thanks

matimeo

If I'm too sick to ride, I'm too sick to go to work- at least that has been my policy and it seems to work well. 9.2 miles is a doable distance, but you'll definitely need to work up to it. That would be my long-term plan is to cut out the train entirely. I still have a car, but in reality I almost never drive it. In fact, in the last year I think I've driven once to go to the dentist before work. Luckily no serious injuries.

tsl

I've been car-free since 1999. My minimum commute is 4.5 miles each way. I use it only foul weather. I have a nice 9.6 mile hilly route I enjoy, but this time of year I primarily use a 17 mile route to work, shortening each end a bit for a 13 mile ride home.

I'm with matimeo. If I'm too sick to ride, I'm too sick to work. My job description requires that I can lift and carry 50 pound book totes, so the same applies if I'm injured.

As for rest, it's something you have to work out for yourself since everyone's needs are different.

I've learned to meter out my energy and to rest on weekends. My schedule is Monday-Thursday. Friday and Sunday are rest days. Saturday I do my weekly errands and also may do a ride with the club. If I sub somewhere on Saturday, I'll shift errands to Friday and skip the club ride. If I sub on Friday, I'll do only errands on Saturday. I've subbed a lot so far this year. I've missed only seven of the 22 weeks so far.

It's very rare that I'll do a club ride on Sunday. Not only does it interfere with resting for the coming week, that's also when I do household chores, the baking for the week, and Sunday dinner (where I go all 641.5).

cooker

That's probably too far for a newish commuter - you might be be exhausted after a the first few days and want to quit. I would suggest you work up to it.

pitbullfan

You still crushing your commute? 9 miles is definitely doable. But as already stated, you may want to work up to it. It won't take you long. My commute is almost 8 miles and I can just about do it without breaking a sweat in the morning. In the evening I don't care about sweat

I hope you stick with it, I know I love it. Are you planning on commuting through the winter? I would have a tough time with that in STL. Keep us posted on your progress.

Bikeforumuser0019

Thanks! I snagged some graphite powder.... now what? Squirt into the keyhole, I presume?

Pobble.808

Yes, just one puff should suffice. Sometimes it's a little slow coming out of the tube at first, so you can try squeezing it against your palm first just to make sure it's ready to go.

Bikeforumuser0019

All right everybody..... I didn't go on a ride today BUT! I did make these:



I used the tutorial found here (which I might have found on this forum in the first place):
Fend For Yourself

I have not been for a ride with them yet but they lined up just right and seem durable to me. I'm happy with the way the rear fender looks, but will trim excess from the front fender tomorrow.

One step closer to being a real commuter, rain or shine. My goal is still to get rid of my car, if these work as well as the tutorial says they will I'll be very pleased. It took me a long time to get them right, about two hours. However having done it once I'm sure I could repeat the process in half that time or less. And I have lots of coroplast left over.

Total cost $11 for a big sheet of coroplast and $4 for a bag of 100 zip ties.

Bikerdave222

I just noticed your bike. I have a 1995 Mongoose Alta and I love it. I put road tires on it.

RubeRad

That link is pretty cool, his fenders are FUGLY (yours in all-white look much better -- will look great when you trim the front). So you actually went out and paid money for coroplast? That seems to defeat the whole purpose.

I might do something like that some time. I think for the front I'd be interested in attaching it to the frame, not the wheel. Maybe a separate wheel fender for going over the top. Also, like you did, it's smart to make use the bottom of the rack, one less fender strut to build.

Bikeforumuser0019

Hah! Yes I did buy the coroplast, I decided I was not willing to steal campaign signs. But I will say that I am very glad I built these coroplast fenders because it made me think how easy it would be to make much better fenders down the road on my own out of a more permanent material. This project was very easy and I think I have enough craftiness to try a similar project with aluminum or maybe even wood. Future project ideas alone were worth the money I paid in supplies.

I'm going to take red and white reflector tape and adorn the rear fender.... I'll post another photo when I've got that done.

Bikeforumuser0019

Hey man thanks for sharing, so glad to hear you're enjoying an Alta. Mine was somewhat a frugal necessity, but in terms of getting started as quickly and affordably as possible I'm very happy with it! I'm sure once my finances are better I'll be upgrading a few components here and there.... but I have no plans at this time to "upgrade" to something else.

What do you like about road tires? I don't know much about such things except that road tires are the super skinny ones. Share your experience with them if you like, I'm interested.

RubeRad

I was surprised that the coroplast should always be cut 'with the grain'; it seemed to me that that would be good for rigidity of the struts, but for the fenders themselves, wouldn't against-the-grain make them curve better?

Bikeforumuser0019

I think it would be too prone to "buckle" if you cut against the grains. Yes, it would be more flexible in general but once the plastic is bent, it's bent (like cardboard). Some of the structural integrity is lost and can't be gotten back. Also, It needs to be fairly rigid overall b/c in some places the clearance between fender and tire is very narrow.

Finished fenders shown here, trimmed in the front and now with added bling:



Not too sexy... a little boxy but I like it. As long as it gets me to work alive and relatively clean.

Bikerdave222

I don't ride off road so knobby tires don't work for me. Road tires are more efficient and give a smother ride. If your bike is like mine it also has a rigid fork which also works well for commuting.

realityinabox

Those fenders are actually pretty awesome looking. The front one could be bent a bit more , but other than that, pretty slick. How sturdy are they?

BobbyG

9 miles...that's my commute. Originally 6 miles, upped to 9 15 years ago when we moved.

Robert C

Don't forget the other costs beyond petrol. Someone mentioned parking; but there are also other rolling costs: tyres cost about 8-10 cents per mile, oil is about a nickel per mile, generally belts and hoses are also about a nickel per mile. As some have mentioned, there are also ways to use the bike commuting to trim down the fixed expenses on the auto too.

And biking is, generally, more relaxing.