1st time commuter
05-03-11 | 10:17 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
1st time commuter
with gas prices on the rise and my paycheck on the decline i decided to try my hand on riding my bike into work...so i came up with a route that was pretty much direct 18 miles one way...8 of those miles run thru a park system that travels thru 4 towns...so i left at 5:45 this morning and around half way thru my ride i thought to myself "why did it take so long for me to this" i really had a blast, powering thru some long hills and just enjoying the ride in general...like i said i am a 1st timer and any advice is welcomed...thanks and enjoy the ride!!!!
05-03-11 | 12:00 PM
#3
Middle-Aged Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,276
Likes: 1
From: Mesa, AZ
Bikes: Bianchi Infinito CV 2014, TREK HIFI 2011, Argon18 E-116 2013
remember all the good things about that ride and block out any bad things! The bad things make powerful excuses not to ride when you have a hangover or went to bed too late.
05-03-11 | 02:46 PM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 4
From: central ohio
Bikes: 96 gary fisher 'utopia' : 99 Softride 'Norwester'(for sale), 1972 Raleigh Twenty. Surly 1x1 converted to 1x8, 96 Turner Burner
I would recommend reading Bicycling Street Smarts. Good info for anyone riding in traffic. https://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm
Everything I learned about commuting all year long I learned here on BF.
One more thing, I'd suggest a mirror. I rode without a mirror for 20 yrs. I would'nt do without
it now.
Everything I learned about commuting all year long I learned here on BF.
One more thing, I'd suggest a mirror. I rode without a mirror for 20 yrs. I would'nt do without
it now.
05-03-11 | 03:03 PM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
From: Miami, FL
Bikes: Raleigh Record Ace, Windsor The Hour
Awesome ! Some general tips. Always have a spare tube or two with you, along with: A tire lever, manual pump, Co2 cartridges with the adapter, a set of hex keys and an adjustable wrench. When it comes to lights I have a PlanetBike Superflash in the back and a Blackburn Flea in the front. The cool thing about the flea is that it is USB rechargeable. And I am a big supporter of tire liner which help with avoiding flats =) Mr tuffys are what I use on my commuter as well as my road bike =) Post a pic of your bike and welcome to BF ! 
05-03-11 | 03:44 PM
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 1
From: Warwick, UK
Bikes: 2000-something 3 speed commuter, 1990-something Raleigh Scorpion
Seconded. When you're several miles from home, a minor fault which could be easily corrected can result in a long walk unless you carry some basic tools. A spare tube means a quicker and easier puncture repair on the side of the road. You can patch the other tube at work out of the wind/rain.
05-03-11 | 04:44 PM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Long Island NY
Bikes: A Raleigh detour 3
Oh thanks guys You give me good advice. Going to get a little bag and have some of those emergency things ready. My daily commute is 12 miles round trip. Mirrors are good ...a must have for me since I'm almost deaf!! Tire liner? Now thats new. I never heard of that but I'll look into it.
Duh ...Not the thread I started LOL the title looked like mine. But interesting thread none the less.
Duh ...Not the thread I started LOL the title looked like mine. But interesting thread none the less.
Last edited by she; 05-03-11 at 05:35 PM.
