At this new job I started a month and change ago, they only let me ride to work once on Bike-To-Work-Day. To be precise, they're not letting my bike in the building due to "liability issues" (we've been down that path before here, eh?). Well, I finally got the folder and today was as glorious a day on a bike as I've ever had, knowing that there's nothing stopping me from getting a bagel and getting into work, all with my bike. The sun shines a little brighter today for me (but I hope not much hotter, doh!), the grass looks a little greener... and I'll be getting my weekly miles once more.

The new folder is really a bad-a55 commuter ride, too. The subtle suspension hub rules for city riding, and the thing is bleeping *fast* in Midtown traffic. Specifically this morning I was able to effortlessly zoom through a potentially dicecy situation involing a taxi pulling out from the curb. Plus I can't say how much I love the three speed hub -- combined with the seven speed cassette there's nothing I can't do. (including shifting that hub while stopped a light, ahhhh)

Liability..just redicilious..congratulations...management seems not to hold this against you...we all should be proud..
how does commuting effect you otherwise...work place ride compatable...cleaning up so you don't have to smell...is your bike secure...welcome to the club.

Won't they notice you pulling in all sweaty?

That's excellent. If I had a job that I couldn't ride to, I honestly think I'd quit and look for different work. Congratulations.

Awesome bike! I always wondered what a Dahon rode like. Too cool!

Yup, I also have a work place like that. Actually, I work 2 jobs. My day job allows me to bring my bike into work. I can park it in my cuble if I want. No problem. My night job won't allow me to bring it in so I have to lock it up out side.

Here's what sucks - It rained like crazy last night and I had to leave my bike outside (at work) locked up in the rain. Luckily, I got out there just in time to put my rain covers on my panniers!

Some employers just don't understand.

Way to go!


There isn't anywhere else to park, tho?

jharte..that stinks..what damage can a bike to to surroundings..we need a federal cyclists bill of rights to stop that kind of nonsense...I would get a rain poncho for the whole bike.?

That rocks. Your tag line should be "guerilla commuter". And I'm with bostontrevor: I'd be looking for another job.

Sounds like it is a NYC type problem... that many buildings don't allow bikes inside. Stupid for sure... but that is NYC for you.

bike looks real nice. Great to hear you're up and running - get some fenders and the weather won't stop you neither!

Yeah it's really a NYC problem. Some brave policitician is sorta backing a law to require indoor bike parking in commercial buildings... but it may never happen.

Anyhow, at least while we're in this building I have my own office (woohoo!) so the bike is pretty secure. You guys are so funny... "bike commute unfriendly? get a new job!". Riiiight... Guys, it was a great excuse to get a fancy folder, I'm not complaining!

As for arriving at work sweaty and gross... I'm usually here by 7AM so it's not really a problem. If the overnight guard wrinkles his nose, so be it. As much as I sweat, amazingly I tend not to stink after only a ~40 minute ride, so lack of a shower is not a really a problem. I think I'll be looking to get some fenders from a Dahon "mods" dealer I found online.

I still have to get some practice getting the bag around the bike. The bar ends and clipless pedals (as opposed to the wack stock removeables) add a bit of a challenge to the process. I managed to get it totally closed last night but it took a while. This morning I sort of threw it over the top of the bike and grasped the bike through the fabric to carry it in (rather than by the bag handle, which would only result in the bag coming with me!). I figure when it rains I'd better be able to seal the bag. Fortunately there's a very large covered area I can use for these daily shennanigans (sp?).

I think I'm going to change my title to "stealth commuter". When I start undermining something maybe I'll change it to "guerilla".

what website did you find for dahon mods? been thinking about getting drop bars on a dahon with a stem extension. could use the website perhaps . ..

It's not quite as exciting a site as that, unfortunately. Heck, for all I know you posted it at some point for me to find.

I think I have seen this before, but lo and behold, they have exactly the thing! (actually it is just advice.) According to them, a 1" threadless stem will fit right onto the handlebar post of a newer speed 8 (I saw one used for little $), so I could create any length extension I desire!! Of course modding to drops would mean shifters, brakes, etc., but perhaps I will just get extend the stock bar out a little further and put some bar ends to minimize my "modding."

They can't stop me, mwahahahah!

So oboe..where do you commute from ..what is the commute like...NYC's summers are pretty humid...no problems then...wet wipes and a bathroom stall can work fairly well....

I go from around the GWB to the East 40s. My route on the way to work:

Ft. Washington
165th
Riverside
W 120th
Morningside Drive
W 110th
Central Park
Broadway (@ Columbus Circle)
Bagel shop on W. 44th

That's my route to get to Central Park (the part up to the Park) for laps when it's not a work day and I don't feel like riding to NJ. Anyhow, from there I slither through traffic over to Madison Ave.

BTW, it's a big thrill (for me) to ride down B'way with relatively little traffic at 7 AM.

On the way back, I'm not quite sure what I'll do. Maybe Madison up to 59th+ then then Central Park. From there I'll probably go up the bike lane on 7th/St. Nicholas or reverse my to work plan from the Park. The St. Nick route is what I do on my way back from laps in the park (for the nice, long gradual climb).

I'm pretty used to riding in traffic and such so it's no big deal. Plus, as I mentioned above, for a relatively short ride like this (7-8 miles) early in the morning I don't really stink. I'm sure on the way back it's another story (hotter!), as it has been for commutes to previous jobs (see the thread on how people got started commuting -- I give my commuting history).

Does NYC have bike lanes or are you out there with the taxi's etc...Once I was on assignment to NYC area..we had a company home in Ft. Lee...At the time,running round trip across the GWB was pretty thrilling...You do not commute from Jersey?

Congrates on riding again. Since often employers get bashed I'm going to give mine a big salute. They allow me to park my bike in my cubicle, no fuss at all. After I had a bike stolen out front of our building my bosses where adament I park inside the office to avoid that kind of loss again. I am very grateful to work here because of that supportive attitude.

There are some bike lanes, but they are more suggestions than anything. Double parking in a bike lane is basically never ticketed. Forget for a minute to move your car for alternate side parking? Bang! ticket. Leave it in a bike lane a half hour? Nothing. Bassackwards, IMO.

On the route I listed there is a formal bike lane on about a half mile of Ft. Wash, and in Central Park. The Park is, in theory, though, car-free until 7AM. The part through the Park is about 2.5 miles. So I'd say less than half is bike-laned or car-free. The rest is funfunfun! Actually the route is pretty safe until the Broadway stretch which is a little crazy early in the AM if only for the pavement (insanity during the day, I would think). Getting crosstown after the bagel is probably the worst part.

I used to commute to NJ, and, to be honest, I thought it was more dangerous because the speeds on the open roads were far higher, with fewer stop lights. I must admit, though, it was inspiring every day to ride across the GWB.

Congrats, and welcome to the folding bike community!

Koffee

Seeing as it's my first day (again) of commuting, I will relate the adventures of my way back here. Henceforth this stuff goes in the daily commute thread.

Where to begin? Ah yes. About .75 miles from work, my Dahon bag, which was lashed to my backpack with those mini-bungees fell off! Fortunately I noticed and was able to collect it from the flow of traffic before it sufferred any damage.

Next, on my way up St. Nicholas Ave (having gone through Central Park), I was almost hit, twice. St. Nick is a diagonal street so there are a few danger zones as it crosses "straight" avenues. (It bends from right to left, BTW.) On one of them, a car coming up from behind me decided to ignore the fact that I was crossing the intersection and would easily have destroyed me and my bike had I not looked back a second time. The funny part (haha, yeah) is that a car coming the other way who should have seen what was going on didn't care to slow down so I almost got killed again while recovering from my saving maneuver. Crazy.

But that's just half the fun. Maybe a mile and half after that, on a straight section, I was nailed in the side of the head (right on the ear) with a water baloon tossed at point-blank range by a kid hiding between two cars. I'd like to hear what y'all would have done before I tell you my reaction.

Finally, and this actually made me laugh out loud, while crossing an intesection blocks from home, with a blazing green light and the right of way in my favor, a big, bad truck going the opposite direciton tries to make a left turn in front of me. I squeezed through and couldn't resist the temptation to yell into his open window to get off the cellphone (yeah, he was on it while driving a 20-ton murder weapon). I got back a rude "get ouf ot the way a55hole" which I thoroughly enjoyed. I waved back in a friendly fashion, and laughed all the rest of the brief way home.

What a commute home it was!

I would have personally confronted the little brat. You know, really let him have it. I *will not* be intimidated by such miscreants.

My cubicle is barely big enough for the guest chair, let alone a bike. Fortunately, my company is actually installing a 4-bike rack soon, and it's not a high crime area.

Guess you do not need a helmet for a water filled baloon..Could have hit you in the spokes.. ? how does that work out..I would not take that as a joke, unless it was 114..

Sounds like you had quite the adventure. My guess is the more you do the route, the more you will be alert to these danger zones (like St Nicholas) and either avoid them or be prepared for the unexpected.

That said, the water balloon is kinda tough. It's not as bad as getting knocked off your bike by a huge water hydrant blast, but also not as refreshing! I remember riding back from Nyack last summer and up in that same neighborhood a bunch of hydrants were open. I think I was on Broadway, but any street would have been the same. Anyway, as I am coming down, I see this kid get a wicked glimmer in his eye - and I realize he wants to give me a "car wash" (this is where the kids divert the massive water flow from a hydrant with a bottomless cup or other implement to spray oncoming traffic.) Anyway, I was burning hot and thought - "why fight it" and kinda gave him a "go ahead" wave. (I think he would have done it even if I had told him he was a miscreant or some other word he wouldn't understand.) Turned out to be very refreshing (like a junior mint!) and so I went back for more, only the second time it was a direct hit and not only was I drenched (which was good) I was also laying on the pavement (which was not as good.) I hope the balloon cooled you down, but I realize all unwelcome (and unexpected) projectiles are cause for concern. That kid probably didn't have harm on his mind, but it's still potentially hazardous I suppose.