Poor "one-size-fits-all" commuting advice?
 

I fear that the advice at this link will be a turn-off to potential commuters who have easy/short commutes:

Betting against the odds of bike commuting | Bike Commuters

I have been commuting for many years (3 miles each way, lucky to have in-office parking) and I don't do ANY of the recommended things. (I do carry a mobile phone, but I always carry a phone, so I don't view that as related to bike commuting.)

Commute types, distances and office/job cultures are just too diverse for absolute advice like this to be very helpful or encouraging for newbies.

Pretty much. There's a young lady here who just started a 2 mile bike ride to work. Basically all she needs to do is keep her cuff out of the chain ring of her old MTB and roll down a hill to get to work. She thought it was going to be a big deal for which she needed to get a better bike, prepare, train... she's enjoying bike month, anyhow.

I thought I was going to see some ridiculous "you need a bike with full fenders and dyno lights" craziness.

But no...

Have a way to fix a flat? Have a way to fix a minor mechanical problem? Lock your bike so it's there when you come back? Have a phone so you can get help if you need it?

This is all basic and necessary advice. If you're bike commuting to work and don't have a plan for how to deal with a flat (whether that is fixing it or calling a friend/cab) you're not going to have to worry about bike commuting for very long.

Learn to enjoy flat fixen.

For 2 miles, you don't really need to bring a spare tube or repair kit. Just lock your bike up to something and walk the rest of the way - return to your bike and walk it home in the afternoon.

I agree.

I do not carry a tube. I have ridden even 5 miles away! I do not know how to change my tire. And I probably need more grip strength to deal with my Pinhead locking skewer. I think there is a really easy way to deal with mechanical issues:
1. Have a plan
2. Carry your lock

If I were to have an issue, I have my phone. Know how to get home via transit from most locations in my 5 mile radius. I know where many bike shops are in the 3-4 mile radius. And I know where the secure bike lockers are. That is more than enough backup for me!

I think this stuff is really convenient. Worthy upgrades once you have committed.

Agreed. Or in my case, walk the bike all the way to work, or walk it back home if that is closer.

Granted, if you have a hard-core "gotta be on time" culture at your job, then you need to approach things differently.

My original point is that a lot of "must-do, must-have" bike commuting advice doesn't acknowledge the diverse world we live in.

Great anecdote to illustrate the idea! Perfect for Bike Month, too!

Great example!

The farther I'm going, the more I carry, so for a ride of two or three miles, I might go with no repair kit at all. I can walk two or three miles without trouble.

Personally, I only think the hardcore repair kit is only needed when you aren't in an "urbanized area." It you are riding standard city streets with commercial districts and the like, it is really easy to have a mitigation plan.

I rode a "trail" last week. Worst case, this trail is about 1-2 mile from a commercial district at about every point. And at roughly every 1.5-2 miles there is a park served by transit. The section I was on was intersected by commercial stuff every mile. The section south of where I was is a little less connected to commercial districts, but is a mile or less from a main arterial so you could find the bus!

If I was touring the backroads of Cali I'd be sure to travel with repair stuff. And learn how to do it. ;)

It really depends how far you're willing to walk.

Thanks for replying!

My belief is that there is no single "Right Way™" to commute by bike and that experienced riders shouldn't do or say things that discourage newbies from giving it a try, especially over short distances.

The woman cited above in this thread is a great example -- would she have given commuting a try if someone had led her to believe that she had to be a fully competent flat fixer before attempting her first ride?

Is there a "Triple A" (AAA) for cyclists?

I worked at a place with a zero tolerance for lateness. I always commuted 15 minutes early in case I had a flat.

One time though, the bearing race for my crank broke open and the crank itself flopped sideways. I couldn't pedal. I realized however, I could treat the bike like a giant scooter and kick it along. Though I was several miles from work when the breakdown happened, I arrived on time. :thumb:

BCAA does offer cycling support with their higher membership levels - I would assume that AAA would have something similiar.

Just checked - AAA offers bicycle support with every level of membership.

In Oregon, the AAA Plus plan covers cyclists. I have it. (I would anyway. And haven't taken them up on it yet.)

Ben

"be prepared to use a belt loop to carry your lock".

- Andy