so, i'm very seriously considering riding my bike to work, about ten miles away, with some average hills. gonna be using a 19lb fixed gear bike with 73.9 gear inches. plus a bag on the handlebars containing a folding foot pump, tubes, tire levers, axle nut wrench, water bottles. thinking about wearing a wool jersey and wool shorts with a leather chamois, gloves, cap, sunglasses, and cycling shoes with the stiff soles and perforated leather. trying to figure out where im going to put my work boots/socks/shirt/shorts/hat/safety glasses/gloves/water/lunch, thinking just a backpack but i feel like that would be ****ty. going to be using a fake san marco concor saddle. gonna clip a mirror to my sunglasses and use a front and rear light.
wondering if i should just skip the wool/chamois shorts and go for some lycra ones with a padded crotch? or could i wear the lycra padded guys under the wool ones and not be too hot in the summer? i dont want my junk to be super accentuated anyway.
thinking i want a rear bag, but i dont have room for fenders or rack mounting holes, are there any ways to mount a bag on the seatpost somehow? maybe using something coming out of the rear brake mount for some kind of support instead of a fender? any quick-releasing/velcro/anything other than something that requires tools? and then where do i put my taillight? i really dont want to wear a backpack... and theres a bike i keep at work too just for riding from greenhouse to greenhouse and i want to be able to take the bag of my road bike and pop it on the coaster brake one for work.
whats ten miles like on a fixed gear in 85 degree weather? any suggestions? anything else i should have in case something happens? anything about the rear bag or how to stay comfortable? thankssssssssssssssss
*also posted in the commuter forum
10 miles in 85 degrees isn't bad at all if you're fit. However as someone who commuted to work for a time when it was possible - make sure you have a plan B or an understanding boss because as the saying goes "**** happens"(waking up late, flat tire, inclement weather, **** falling off your bike, etc).
It's awesome to do and I miss having the opportunity but don't go selling your car until you've done it for a year+