New Biker/Commuter
08-31-09, 01:52 PM
#1
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New Biker/Commuter
Ok so I'm not really "new" to biking as I've been doing it all my life (it was how I got to and from school in high school..) and especially more since I started living in the city. But I just recently got my first road bike and I'm not use to competing with cars on the road. I have some general questions about commuting basically.
Is it better to try and stay all the way on the right side of the lane so cars can pass you?
What do you guys do about commuting in the rain? Will it make parts rust up?
Do you use clipless pedals? My bike came with pedals with toe clips, and I'm wondering if it's worth it to buy clipless pedals and shoes because it seems rather pricey...
Is it better to try and stay all the way on the right side of the lane so cars can pass you?
What do you guys do about commuting in the rain? Will it make parts rust up?
Do you use clipless pedals? My bike came with pedals with toe clips, and I'm wondering if it's worth it to buy clipless pedals and shoes because it seems rather pricey...
It answers my questions.
08-31-09, 02:11 PM
#3
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Congratulations and welcome!
You'll hear people talk about "taking the lane", which is advisable to an extent. You'll learn when to take it and when to get out of the way. If you ride on the right all the time, cars will crowd you. If there is a local bike shop, they might offer a commuting safety class and you can always do a search here to find a plethora of good info.
There are a ton a good sites out there to browse as well.
www.bikeleague.org
You'll hear people talk about "taking the lane", which is advisable to an extent. You'll learn when to take it and when to get out of the way. If you ride on the right all the time, cars will crowd you. If there is a local bike shop, they might offer a commuting safety class and you can always do a search here to find a plethora of good info.
There are a ton a good sites out there to browse as well.
www.bikeleague.org
08-31-09, 07:41 PM
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(not that there's a problem with asking, really, but the stickies do tend to have it all in one place)
08-31-09, 08:20 PM
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Welcome to commuting! As Brian says, there is a time to take the lane and a time to keep far right. Use the best judgement you can.
I've ridden in rain a few times over this Summer, and no rust problems on my bike. I do keep the bike cleaned and lubed, especially the chain and sprockets.
I've ridden in rain a few times over this Summer, and no rust problems on my bike. I do keep the bike cleaned and lubed, especially the chain and sprockets.
09-01-09, 08:30 AM
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For lube, do I just use something like WD-40? Or do I need to buy some machine oil and use that for the gears/chain?
09-01-09, 01:14 PM
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Tri-Flow is pretty good stuff. If you can find Spray-a-way makes a degreaser called "C-60". It's great for cassettes, chainrings, RD's, FD's, anywhere you get gunk accumulated.
