AdamDZ

I've decided to start a bike commuter blog. It'll be targeted at people who are interested in serious commuting in NYC but don't know how to start. Although a lot of info will be general, not NYC specific. No hip stuff, just practical info how to get your stuff over safely and without getting it all wet and messed up. No rants, no complaining, no *****ing, no politics, just productive information presented in calm manner with some humor here and there.

https://nycbikecommuter.info/

I hope it'll serve several purposes:

- I'd offload my energy into something that can serve a purpose

- I made a lot of posts here and elsewhere, as well as helped people around me, so I want to combine all that into one organized, browsable resource

- It should let me rethink a lot of issues I face myself while biking, and find ways of dealing with them

- Perhaps I can make a little difference this way rather than getting frustrated? I plan to have some articles for drivers and pedestrians as well

I've just started a few days ago, there isn't much there yet, it'll take me several weeks to populate this with articles, but I have lots of ideas that I want to share and some people around me encouraged me to do this.

What do you think? Is it worth the effort? How's my intro to commuting? Does it make sense? Do you approve this angle?

Maybe I'm just wasting my time, but I'll be able to say that I've tried something

And, if um... anyone is interested in contributing some articles then you're more than welcome.

Adam

swwhite

Good luck. I tried this once, and after a month couldn't think of any more to say. I'll check it now and then.

AdamDZ

I can probably keep up with the ideas if I can keep my interest in it long enough and that will depend largely on getting some readership and feedback and maybe some contributing writers. I will need to make sure the site gets some exposure in Google which may take a while. I'll probably run a small Google AdWords campaign once I have a decent amount of material up there. We'll see.

exile

A lot of good stuff Adam. Some points I'll argue with, but that's normal for us BF'rs.

"Then I found the bike forums and started reading about bike mechanics, building your own bikes. That forum has plenty of info, it just requires some patience to sift through all the arguing to find what you need. Some really helpful people hang out there."

Or am I one of those "helpful people"?

Anyways good luck. If we have suggestions or anything how should people contact you?

whitecat

I have done some write ups - as tips for street riding - positioning in the lane, importance of use of the mirror, being assertive but not aggressive, how to avoid most of the beginners error when riding on public roads, etc. If you're interested I can send you a draft these days. And, you have a good site there, practical and concise. I like it, it's a level headed approach to the matter, useful stuff in the practice.

FunkyStickman

I'll definitely check it out, and as soon as I get my bike situated for commuting, I'll be itching to write about it...

AdamDZ

No seriously, this forum has been great. Yes, I found lots of help here and (hopefully) gave some too.

Thanks! Contact info at the end of this post. But would you consider contributing? I wouldn't want to use others work and ideas without a full credit.

Cool. I check my Private Messages as soon as I get a notification. So that's a good way to contact me. Also, I'm going to add contact info on the page soon (it was literally put up like last Friday) or you can email me at adam.anon at gmail.

FunkyStickman, that's actually a nifty idea: articles by actual commuters, stories, etc. That could be fun!

csimons

Thanks for sharing! I know I'm always looking for more bicycle resources to keep up on things. There's also a Blogger's Forum within BikeForums.net[1] where people post links to cycling blogs and so forth. They would be interested in this as well. I look forward to reading your articles!

[1] https://www.bikeforums.net/forumdispl...logger-s-Forum

ShinyBiker

Alright!

I have a blog myself:

https://utilitycyclist.blogspot.com/

If I would give you some advice, it would be to keep posting regularly. I've tried to post at least once per month; sometimes more. I see something interesting that I would like to do an entry on and I put it on a post it note. Then, I take out my trusty camera and start writing. My regular posts have enabled me to gain a good number of followers.

My blog's focus is also commuting. I have a kid and my only bike time is commuting. I've reviewed the bikes I've owned or borrowed. The blog covers my evolution as a commuter. The blog also serves as a memory aid i.e. when I busted my wrist. Reviewing bikes is great, but I don't have an unlimited budget to buy a bike every month, lol. A lot of my tips I've picked up on the BF and I've passed them on via my blog.

Anyway, good luck to you and keep blogging!

DX-MAN

Post the link when you're up, Adam. I'd read it.

gerv 

Nothing ventured... nothing gained!

Over the years, I've done a number of blog-type sites.

I'd recommend you set a style. For example, it is very personal and subjective. Is it just informative and possibly technical? Is it social?

My own feeling is that you should write about what you know best, express it from your point of view.

For my blog effort, I'm blogging around an organization trying to form a community.

Take a look at mine, then have a look at this one https://thebikenerd.com/. This guy is very personal, and quirky, but the material is very readable.

Also, include lots of photos and YouTube clips.

AdamDZ

It's supposed to be informative but with a personal perspective. Exactly, from my point of view. Not hip, though. I want to target people like me: average person, employed regularly, fulltime, who needs to carry a change of clothes and perhaps some other stuff and don't care about being trendy and about impressing anyone (well, maybe a bit!), just want to be comfortable and safe. I'm sure there will be a section for random thoughts but I want to stay away from ranting, politics, etc. That's what BkeForums are for

It won't be too technical. There will be some tips but for concrete tech info people will be pointed towards sites that do it better, such as BikeTutor. I don't want to duplicate too much information that already exists elsewhere and can be recommended to my readers. I want to focus on usability and utility of accessories that make commuting by bike safer and easier, not really bike mechanics. Although, I will underline the importance of knowing how to maintain your bike and do basic repairs. So I'll tell people what they should learn, and I'll keep reinforcing the idea, but I'll point them to already existing sources that I have used myself to learn stuff. I'll add some tips, comments and notes, of course.

Yeah, I know: photos and videos! Visuals work Since I have no experience at regular blogging I'm still not sure how this is going to work out. I should probably start taking notes, do some organization and planning.

One of my ideas, for example, is to photograph and shoot video of East River bridges and bridge approaches: how to get to them, what to expect, how to ride, where are the exits, ramps, etc. The media would be supported by maps: here is the intersection on the map, and here are the pictures so you know how it'll look like when you get there. Unfortunately, Google Street View is often outdated severely and inaccurate, so I want current pictures. I can pretty much cover all East River Bridges as I ride all of them depending on my mood and the weather. Actually, not Brooklyn Br. anymore, it's too crazy.

The same for avoidance of trouble spots: how to find detours around crazy traffic areas. Of course, I won't be able to cover the entire NYC so I'll have to start with areas around my routes and possibly venture around more or find contributors who live in other parts of the city. My focus will still remain on Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan for the time being unless I can find contributing writers from The Bronx and SI.

tligman

just now subscribed to both of the linked blogs -- thanks

CosmonautJordon

Great blogs in this thread!!
I'll be sure to follow these.