another tip is fat low-pressure tires. i think the streets have gotten exponentially worse everyday for the past 2 weeks. in spite of the fact that my kogswell with the cyclocross tires rides slower than my other bikes and it's been pretty cold, i've been cadillacing the bumps and craters on it without complaints. if you don't know the texture of the streets well, rock some fat low pressure tires. you'll thank me later.