Bike Forums - Commuting http://www.bikeforums.net/ en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:54:19 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.bikeforums.net/images/misc/rss.png Bike Forums - Commuting http://www.bikeforums.net/ NYC Commuter Question http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604190-NYC-Commuter-Question&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:55:01 GMT Hi All, My preferred route once i get out of Brooklyn and over the Manhattan Bridge is to head East on Canal and onto Allen/Pike and then North up the path next to the FDR all the way to 37th. Then i take 1st ave up to 47th and cross west over to Park Ave. On the way home i usually reverse... Hi All,

My preferred route once i get out of Brooklyn and over the Manhattan Bridge is to head East on Canal and onto Allen/Pike and then North up the path next to the FDR all the way to 37th. Then i take 1st ave up to 47th and cross west over to Park Ave.

On the way home i usually reverse this and all is great. BUT there is a good stretch of the path along the FDR that will make it a rough ride for a MTB with a suspension. Needless to say its a shaky ride on my road bike. That road gets miserable with HUGE puddles when it rains and it is poorly illuminated. So going home in the dark usually means 8mph or very unpredictable ride.

I plan on trying to take 2nd Avenue straight south today all the way to the bridge. But there is no bike lane, I am gonna have to go with traffic on the 5 or 6 lane avenue.

Coming from Park and 47th, does anyone have any nice routes to brooklyn/manhattan bridges that wont add too much time to the commute? ]]> Commuting ThePerchik http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604190-NYC-Commuter-Question saw 2 kids riding their bikes to school in the rain this morning http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604183-saw-2-kids-riding-their-bikes-to-school-in-the-rain-this-morning&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:26:43 GMT I love those kids! Yeah! One had a helmet and a jacket and a back pack the other was just wearing a t-shirt and not even wearing his hood. It was warm this morning but definitely raining. These two boys were elementary age to maybe middle school. I love those kids! Yeah! One had a helmet and a jacket and a back pack the other was just wearing a t-shirt and not even wearing his hood. It was warm this morning but definitely raining. These two boys were elementary age to maybe middle school. ]]> Commuting rumrunn6 http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604183-saw-2-kids-riding-their-bikes-to-school-in-the-rain-this-morning The terrible commuting product http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604174-The-terrible-commuting-product&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:14:52 GMT In the spirit of furlough fridays I suggest we list poor commuting products we have used and what gripes are. Here is my first candidate: Product name/type $5 Reflective Mesh and Stripe Vest Use: Vest worn for low-light conditions rain etc. Complaint: -Not very visible due to tiny... In the spirit of furlough fridays I suggest we list poor commuting products we have used and what gripes are. Here is my first candidate:

Product name/type
$5 Reflective Mesh and Stripe Vest

Use: Vest worn for low-light conditions rain etc.
Complaint:
-Not very visible due to tiny reflective strips and very small
-Poor fit
-Fragile
-Orange is not as visible as green
-Striping is not genuine 3M
-Too large to fit in a jersey pocket comfortably.

Breakage if any:
-Torn Mesh
-Reflective strips are becoming detached

Possible alternative applications if any:
It fits in a saddle bag as a spare... Though the entire thing is occupied

Product still in use?
NO

Alternatives:
-Blinky lights
-Green Castelli Cycling Jacket

Product Name/Type:
Avenir Wool Cycling Gloves

Complaints:
-Exposes the back of your hand
-Retains water and freezes your little hands off...

Breakage if any:
-Fingers have split

Possible alternative uses if any:
Cheap warm-weather glove

Product Still In Use?
YES

Possible Alternatives:
-Any synthetic glove ]]> Commuting PorscheCritter http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604174-The-terrible-commuting-product chain replacement http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604149-chain-replacement&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:11:34 GMT I saw where someone replaces their chain every 1200 miles.
Is that a lot?
I'm newish to commuting in all weather (its raining now) and have about 2500 commuting miles in the last year. My bike is 25 years old though and has maybe 3500 miles total on it.
Is my chain ready to go?
Ride it till it breaks?
What do you guys do? ]]> Commuting xiyangshen http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604149-chain-replacement My Legs Hurt http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604131-My-Legs-Hurt&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:39:16 GMT ...its just one of those weeks. Crazy Mon-Thurs winds & some late night drinking have left my Friday legs aching.

am i the only one? ]]> Commuting 2su http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604131-My-Legs-Hurt Consecutive days streak http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604123-Consecutive-days-streak&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:28:46 GMT I nust have jinxed myself the other day, when I said that the wheels on my bike were treating me well, because yesterday, I broke a spoke on the rear wheel. :mad: :notamused: It's non-drive side, so buying a spoke (and a couple spares for possible future needs) over the weekend from the LBS and replacing it myself and retruing should be easy enough.

Anyway, the broken spoke forced me not to ride my bike to work this morning for the first time in a long time. :cry: Metro for me this AM. I keep track of my miles ridden using a spreadsheet, so I was able to look back and see how many work days it's been since I last missed a day. It had been 28 days, my longest streak of consecutive days so far.

How about you? What's your longest consecutive commuting day streak, if you even keep track? ]]> Commuting EKW in DC http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604123-Consecutive-days-streak Careful, there are some nuts out there ... http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604099-Careful-there-are-some-nuts-out-there&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:21:40 GMT Man pleads guilty to shooting at cyclist

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ASHEVILLE
A former North Carolina firefighter pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill after shooting at a man riding a bicycle with his wife and 4-year-old son because he was concerned for the child's safety.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that 42-year-old Charles Alexander Diez was sentenced Thursday to 120 days in jail. Diez shot at cyclist Alan Ray Simons after stopping his car to confront Simons about the safety of riding his bike on a busy road with his child on the back.

Police say that when Simons turned to walk away, Diez fired at his bike helmet, narrowly missing his skull.

Diez served with the Asheville Fire Department for 17 years. ]]> Commuting tarwheel http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604099-Careful-there-are-some-nuts-out-there Two Flats. At Night. In Pouring Rain. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604091-Two-Flats-At-Night-In-Pouring-Rain&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:22:11 GMT I've been commuting since the Spring, so I'm fairly new to riding at night this Fall. Last night I had two miles to go and then I felt like I was bouncing after each pedal stroke. When I pulled over and started to change the rear, I hear hissing coming from the front. Then I remember I only have one spare tube and no more patches. Of course. My wife was out with the kids and couldn't pick me up so it was a nice walk home. At least it was a fairly cool night.

So, some thoughts on my 2-mile walk:

1- Always bring two spare tubes.

2- Consider new Tires? I have Conti Sport Contacts 700x32 and this is the 3rd flat...
or
2.1 Line the tires with Mr. Tuffys

3. Do they have any 'Fix a Flat' type cans for bike tires and if so, any good?

4. Learn how to do a wheelie all the way home.

Any thoughts on this or their own experiences are encouraged. Thanks. ]]> Commuting jigoro_71 http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604091-Two-Flats-At-Night-In-Pouring-Rain <![CDATA[Co-worker's hit and run accident]]> http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604082-Co-worker-s-hit-and-run-accident&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:59:30 GMT There is one other bike commuter at my job. He's not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, and I'm always on him to get a helmet and a mirror. When I first heard about his hit and run, I thought "That could have been me". It could happen to anyone, right? Then he told me what happened.

He said he was riding on a small residential sidestreet, when he heard a car coming up behind him. So, he tried to pull over to the left curb, to let the car go by (huh?). He said the driver "must have been on their cell phone or something", because they hit him anyway.

Obviously, there are several mistakes in his approach. I stopped short of telling him it was his fault, but what's a nice way to say "You were asking for it"? He's dim and stubborn (evidence my countless attempts to get him to wear a helmet, even bringing in a free helmet for him). I doubt he's learned from this. How far would you go to educate him, knowing he is so thick-headed, and resents any advice? I've always kept the advice friendly to this point, more teasing than lecturing, because I know he would resent it otherwise.

BTW, his injuries are not too serious, this time. He has road rash, and possibly some nerve damage in one arm. ]]> Commuting chewybrian http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604082-Co-worker-s-hit-and-run-accident Commuting Advice Needed http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604053-Commuting-Advice-Needed&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:57:48 GMT I've been a Junior Mens racer for nearly a year now but have been commuting for nearly a year and a half. My current bike is a 1972 Schwinn Sprint and my race bike is an upgraded Specialized Allez Elite. (I am the only person in my school who owns a road-bike) Next year I will be commuting to a different school. My current commute of 1 mile is not exactly difficult and primarily covers residential neighborhoods. However my commute will increase to 3.5 miles. This worries me for several reasons
1. I can't sustain more than 15 m.p.h. on this relatively short commute due to the weight of backpack and bike
2. I'm out-growing this bike
3. My back hurts like heck from the back-pack
4. Commute takes 3 minutes currently and I like arriving half an hour early. Arriving on a timely fashion would necessitate leaving at 7:00
5. This bike has had three serious mechanical failures thus far including loss of all brakes and 2 chain incidents one which caused me to crash and another leaving me stranded in traffic (I had to push amidst cars which was potentially dangerous)

I believe I need a quicker bike. Some constraints:
-Budget is $150
-Bike must be capable of 17 m.p.h. for the duration of the commute
-Must be a road bike
-Should Have provisions for rear panniers- about the panniers: Is it possible to purchase one which will accommadate a backpack and it contents as well as a change of clothes and the like (I'm fine transferring books back into pack if necessary)
-There is a fair sized hill; not a problem on my specialized but I'd prefer not to walk

Any recommendations for panniers and bike?

I'll wear a cycling jersey and Cutter-tech shorts and change at school to avoid sweat issues... :(
Should I purchase lights, reflective gear etc? ]]> Commuting PorscheCritter http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604053-Commuting-Advice-Needed Salsa La Cruz Rear Racks and Fenders http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604038-Salsa-La-Cruz-Rear-Racks-and-Fenders&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:05:39 GMT Seems as though my last thread died in the conversion. :( Could those who posted up their set ups, do so again? Thanks. :thumb: Seems as though my last thread died in the conversion. :( Could those who posted up their set ups, do so again? Thanks. :thumb: ]]> Commuting JFlurett http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604038-Salsa-La-Cruz-Rear-Racks-and-Fenders <![CDATA["Your light is too bright" etc etc]]> http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604022-Your-light-is-too-bright-etc-etc&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:33:42 GMT I frequently see opinions that make lots of sense to the person they belong to, but they don't really fit well in my riding environment. So for those who think certain lights might be too bright, or that they need to be aimed down & to the right for fear of blinding/annoying someone, here's a glimpse into a busy section of my commute tonight. I cross this bridge both ways on my commute:

quick YouTube clip of my traffic scenario

If you want to stand out in this environment, it takes serious lights. As I was getting ready to film, a cyclist in a bright yellow jacket with a blinking "be-seen" headlight came up Monroe, and I only noticed him a moment before he was actually directly across the street from me. Dude, upgrade your lights already :)

For those of you without the bandwidth for YouTube, here's a couple still photos. I am typically being chased across this bridge by 30mph+/50kph+ traffic in either direction:





Bonus: a photo of automotive headlight cutoff FAIL at a humped intersection (I would be in the left-turn lane by all those waiting cars here). This is why I roll my eyes when people get going about the importance of beam cutoffs... even if they worked great on level ground, the motorists and I will still be blasting eachother full-strength across this intersection ;) At least *I* can point mine away from them until it's time to roll...



Welcome to my environment, hope that helps explain my thing for powerful lights and lots of reflectivity :) Anyone else have some photos of their heavy traffic? ]]> Commuting mechBgon http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604022-Your-light-is-too-bright-etc-etc Need help identifying this Bailey Works bag http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604021-Need-help-identifying-this-Bailey-Works-bag&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:32:56 GMT I purchased a Chrome Mini Metro then found that it was too small, and also the very thing I was attracted to I realize I don’t like so much, the heavy metal buckle. So I’m going to return the Chrome (nice bags though) and I’ve decided I want a Bailey Works bag. The only problem is I can’t... I purchased a Chrome Mini Metro then found that it was too small, and also the very thing I was attracted to I realize I don’t like so much, the heavy metal buckle.

So I’m going to return the Chrome (nice bags though) and I’ve decided I want a Bailey Works bag. The only problem is I can’t decide on the size, med or large. I found this photo and wondered if anyone here that knows Bailey bags could identify the size of this Super Pro bag.

]]> Commuting MulliganAl http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?604021-Need-help-identifying-this-Bailey-Works-bag My taillight assembly http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?603972-My-taillight-assembly&goto=newpost Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:43:46 GMT My brackets for my planet bike superflashes arrived yesterday. I was finally able to complete my taillight assembly for my rear rack. I still need to cut a piece off the plastic brackets to let the lights sit level, but this will make it easy to have one on constant and one on blink. Since it is... My brackets for my planet bike superflashes arrived yesterday. I was finally able to complete my taillight assembly for my rear rack. I still need to cut a piece off the plastic brackets to let the lights sit level, but this will make it easy to have one on constant and one on blink. Since it is on the rack, anything I set on top of the rack won't interfere as if it was on the seatpost. I hope this keeps me seen!

I made the main bracket out of a strip of 1.5" x 1/8" aluminum.

Attachment 126116Attachment 126117
Attached Images
]]> Commuting Sailguy http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?603972-My-taillight-assembly Got a new ( to me ) Bike!!! http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?603906-Got-a-new-to-me-Bike&goto=newpost Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:24:04 GMT MY new commuter. i love it! its also going to be a race bike... later on Its a 2005 Trek Pilot 2.1 ( stock) with a few extras Image: http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g283/zipfile333/P1040380.jpg What you guys think? i was looking at several bikes in the area and ended up getting... MY new commuter. i love it! its also going to be a race bike... later on


Its a 2005 Trek Pilot 2.1 ( stock) with a few extras





What you guys think? i was looking at several bikes in the area and ended up getting this one for $450 ! ]]> Commuting Razor From KC http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?603906-Got-a-new-to-me-Bike