Are any of you guys & gals commuting on the "Giant Escape City" I'm going to start this week, will be a 12 mile round trip. I've been biking for sometime now, but never a full commuter. My ride will start out at 6:00 am, (dark) and return at 4:00 pm, and am traveling busy fast city streets. There are a few that take this route, see them every morning. But it looks like a lot of side walk travel, with not to many bike friendly streets. Can you point out some of the things, that I should be prepared for. I've done a good bit of night riding, but NEVER during morning rush hour. Feel confident that returning home will not be an issue, just that morning commute is worrying me some. Thanks for any advice



Tool kit & flat repair items are not a problem, busy traffic in the dark, and nasty weather (hard rain) I live in FL. Those are the things that mostly concern me, and maybe I'm missing something also. And was wondering if any of you had good or bad experience's with SRAM's VIA 24 speed drive train. So far I find it smooth, here is a link : https://www.sram.com/sram/urban/products/via-24 and no I don't work for Giant or Pepsi Just was my first trip to the store.

Congrats! What do you have for gear to wear that is brightly colored? Do you have a light yet? A lock? Life insurance(JK.....lol)

A contractors reflective red vest, the sidewalls on the tires are reflective also. Only have two cheap Bell headlights, bright light on my bike helmet, and 2 rear blinky's. But would love any suggestion's, as I do not feel they will be sufficient. I probably do not need a lock, but have a nice kryptonite flex already mounted on the bike. And do have some rain gear, but could use suggestions for better.

I like your choice of soda, BTW, drinking one myself right now(with lime juice, of course!)

For lights, I went here
https://reviews.mtbr.com/2013-bike-lights-shootout
and decided from there for my budget and light preferences. I ended up buying a Fluxient 1600 and it is amazing but then before, I had a late 90s Road Toad AA light, so really glow sticks are better than that thing!

Vest: great idea!

Rainwear/gear: I run every morning(I would commute and did for many years, but I work from home now) and have had good luck with Omnivent stuff by Columbia or North Face. Marmot and Patagonia make pretty nice rain wear as well, both jackets and pants. I do have a few things by Sugoi, but I have the SubZero line for winter weather(this morning was 11 degrees and snowy). You won't need that in FL! But Sugoi makes good appearal in general, FYI.

i have a friend who commutes on this bike and he hasnt had any complaints! the stock tires he didn't like so he switched to something skinnier.

I commute on the Escape RX. The only that that I'd suggest is that you swap the tires out. The stock tires SUCK.

What are you using for lighting? Better light will boost your confidence.

Other than that, difficult to say what you should be prepared for. If this is a multi-lane route, you should be prepared to keep in the middle of the right lane.

As is often recommended here, you might look at the Art of Urban Cycling which features a large number of suggestions, any one of which might save your bacon.