After a few weeks of commuting, here are a few tips I have.

1. Get a bike with platform pedals (or cage or whatever they're called) and wear your steel toe boots (or other appropriate footwear). Why haul the extra weight of an extra pair of shoes?

2. Don't assume anything. Don't try to get a jump on the light and start out before it turns green even if you know your turn is next. Today I was turning left and I was tempted to do this, but since I was on bike and not in my car, the sensor didn't pick me up so I didn't get the turn arrow. If I had went I'd have been out in the intersection when traffic going the other way got the green.

3. When riding at night conserve headlight battery power by switching off your head lamp when you are in sections that are well lit by street lights.

The throw and beam width are better indicaters of whether the light will be good for riding conditions. Beam width can be narrower for mt bike trails etc.

The Throw is how far the light shines in front of you. You can calculate the number of feet/sec you need by your avg speed and reaction time.

So like at 15mph:
15* 5280/3600 (seconds in an hour) = 22' feet * 3 = 66' (your light should shine about 70' in front of you.

This is such a GREAT thread. I am so I happy I came across it. I will be starting work shortly (next few weeks) and I plan on riding my bike. I also will be working crazy hours (12:30am-9am) so it will be dark on my way in. Today I installed my bike with a headlight and a blinkie in the rear, lock,water cage w/bottle,replaced a flat tire and now have 2 spare tubes and fix it tools. I will be getting a pump shortly. I can not wait to meet all my new fellow co-workers when the "Yankee" pulls up on her bike to work the graveyard shift. ROTFL

IMHO, this is not good advice. The law here (CA) says you must have headlights ON when it is dark. Also, the point of headlights is to be more visible, regardless of surrounding light. From that point of view, I consider using the headlamp and tail lamp even when it is not yet dark... I also wear a white helmet, since my clothing may or may not be visible at dusk (I wear reflective clothing, but it only reflects if the other guy has his/her lights on...).

So at 40 mph on a downhill, I'd need an aircraft landing light? Right now I'm just using a $10 light and I pray a lot.

I just picked up one of these (16w) from Airbomb for $75, and it is VERY light compared to alot of the Nicad setups, and seems more than bright enough, even for the country roads where I live. Although, if you regularly go 40mph downhill at night, then a 25w would be better.

http://www.cygolite.com/light/produc...verNiMH6hr.htm

...Can't find any input on BASKETS. Sure, I have a spare rack and fenders for my beater bike, but anyone know of a hard-core front handlebar basket? By hardcore, I mean heavy enough to take a laptop bag thrown in there for a short pedal down to the metro...I had a bike in Germany with a front basket which sometimes bent under heavy loads. Panniers seem to take a lot of packing and unpacking, I liked having the basket to carry groceries or a backpack...

The problem with a front basket is that it affects your steering, especially if you throw something heavy in it. Rear panniers are better in that regard. As for ease of installation and removal, most modern panniers are fairly easy to install and remove. Just check before you buy.

Go to your LBS and ask for the big Wald basket. http://store.nycewheels.com/basket-delivery.html. I have the regular size on my cruiser but when I was visiting the LA garment district at lunchtime, I noticed that there were a bunch of bikes with these big, heavy duty baskets delivering lunches.

thanks for the suggestion. I'll keep an eye out for the big one. My LBS had some wald products, and also a topeak product. since the bike in question has racing handlebars, i was a bit restricted as to bottom clearance (and where it attaches on the handlebar). i got a pretty sturdy topeak wire mesh basket with a grocery handle. we'll see how it turns out in bumpy deecee. :)

I really appreciate all the great info in this thread. I plan to start commuting as soon as I sell my car. I'll be using my '04 Klein Aura V road bike.

I do have one question in regards to tire choice. What type of tire is best for commuting? I've heard puncture resistant tires are a must but what type of tread pattern/thickness and size should I look for?

I live in a suburb and will have an 8-10 mile commute one way. I'll be using roads only. There's a lot of new home construction in my area so the roads have a bit of debris and some can be a little bumpy. I've noticed the Bontrager Select road tires that came with my bike let me feel everything and aren't particularly "bullet proof" to say the least.

TIA!

i've been working on a '76 "kia star" bike, a brown korean 10-speed inherited from my mother. hopefully the thing is lame enough that DC folks won't look twice when they come along with bolt cutters.

new tires, fenders, rack, basket, i need some lights, but i know what a good commuter bike needs are some solid brakes. this one has caliper brakes, with a cute pulley under the saddle to wind the cable down to the rear one. i don't believe the cables are siezed in any way, but is there a rule on this? everything on the bike was original until a few weeks ago. I'm thinking better brake pads and a cable adjustment might be in order...any suggestions on whether to replace some components?

djgonzo,

since you have a road bike (I love Kleins) and ride on all roads, I'd stick with a 23mm road tire. I use Michelin Carbons on my commuter (Specialized Robaix) with great success. They're holding up very well after only about 500 miles or so.

MM

Thanks, for the advice.

Do a lot of you commute on a road bike?

I live in New Orleans so my advice will apply to other commuters in warm, humid places where a rain shower can pop up unexpectedly and the roads are of poor quality.

Cycling Attire
I ride with what I consider standard cycling attire:
Padded lycra cycling tights, bright colored highly breathable nylon shirt, helmet w/reflective tape & clip on mirror, padded gloves, sunglasses, reflective anklebands & packpack w/reflective tape.

Lighting
My bike has a dual bulb halogen lighting system powered by a 6 volt battery that hangs in a bag I velcro to the handlebars.

Equipment I Carry
Just a bright yellow cycling poncho. I got tired of flats & purchased airless tires. No more repair kits, pumps or tools to carry.

My Bike
I ride a Giatex retracting or folding bike (I've seen them sell on eBay for like $200). It's a 6 speed and has fenders and a bike bell. I love this bike; it folds up into a small space so I can actually hide it under my desk. In fact, I keep the bike in my car when I drive to work just in case I get the urge to ride immediately after work...

Washing Up @ Work
I keep baby wipes at work. Similarly, I also keep a set of clothes at work that I can change into; I bring the clothes on days when I drive to work.

Other Notes
Auto drivers in New Orleans can be dangerously unpredictive. My bike mirror has saved me numerous times. So far, the airless tires have worked well too.

How is the ride on the airless tires? I have been looking at them, and considering if it would make the ride rougher...

If you commute in rain be very careful with the airless. They tend to loose traction esp. on turns and ascents, decents....and when you fall, it's sudden without warning.

Youch...I know! :o

I never knew that! Wow...I'm finding that the Under Armour shirts beat out all other shirts for heat and sweat - even CoolMax. Can ride in 90F without overheating whereas last year with a regular jerseys, I was overheating at 75F.

They are tight looking but they don't feel tight. You can layer over or under them and they dry quickly.
My red and blue ones do not appear see-thru. But the white one is SEE TRU so I layer a very thin tank over it.

**Warning** The white ones are see thru so you'll need to layer over or under with these.

I haven't read this post in a while so I don't know if I'm repeating something already mentioned but...

A great way to keep your clothes from wrinkling too bad is to roll them in plastic wrap. The plastic forms a layer between the fabric when folded or rolled and has been great in preventing wrinkles. I work in an office where we dress business casual (slacks or kahkis and collard shirts).

hello
I would like to weigh in on the nessasary lighting for a commute. To save on the cost of lighting I went with a white blinky on the front of my bike. (My 6 mile commute is along lit streets). I also have two red ones for the rear, one on my knapsack, one on the bike. I have pieces of reflective tape on my knapsack, leg, glove, and bike.
I am facing a new delema this winter. My old mountain bike died. I would like to ride my road bike this winter. Both of them are the old 27" type. But where to get studded tires? I love these bikes. And can not afford a new road bike.
Steve

This is a great thread for those of us who are kinda new to bike commuting. I used to ride quite a bit, stopped for years, and am really excited about getting back into it at a higher level than before (for me, that means always using the bike unless I have to use my car). So, I have a few questions...

What about those pump + sealant combos for fixing flats on the go? Is there any reason not to use them? Just seems to me that it would be easier to use them and then fix the flat in the comfort of my garage.

How about locking up? My destinations will include trips to the grocery store, the library, stuff like that so my bike won't be unattended for long periods of time. However, my new 7200 has a suspension seat post with quick release. So how do I protect it and what sort of lock (for the whole bike) do ya'll recommend? Oh, and I'm not sure if this is important but I live in a medium size town in South Carolina; Not a huge crime rate but we get our share of thieves, etc. Oh, and I'd prefer not to have to remove the seat/post and carry it around with me.

This question is about hygiene and more for my husband than me as I work from home; a quick shower is no problem for me but it is for him. He would like to get into commuting to work on his bike too but he has a unique problem... He sweats quite a bit and it takes a long time for his body to stop sweating once he is done exercising. Also, he can't use antiperspirant because it makes him break out - only deodorant. So, do ya'll have any suggestions that I can pass on to him?

Lots of questions, I know. I hope ya'll know how much I appreciate your help and thanks for all the great advice I've already found on this thread!

Be safe all :D

Thanks.


I've never used them, so take this with a big grain of salt. Some say the sealant is just messy goo. It's probably easier long-term to carry an extra tube, a pump, and a patch kit.


Don't keep detatchable stuff on when you know you will have to lock your bike outside. When I know I'll be running errands, I leave my computer and (if possible) headlight at home, and I put the seatbag in my panniers. A cable lock should secure your seat for long enough to go shopping in a "normal" neighborhood. But if you want to be safe, take it with you.


Baby wipes. If practical, get a fan for his office. It will help him cool down more quickly. A wicking shirt will help keep him dry. At a minimum, he should wear one shirt on the commute, and change when he gets to the office. Also, don't push too hard (this works when it's 70F, but not 90F).

Enjoy!

Have him try holding the inside of his wrist under cold running water. It cools me off in no time.

I use a long cable and attach to any tree, signpost taller than I am or metal attached to the building that I can...

And in reply to the other issue.. Maybe scheduling enough time for cool down into the commute is possible.. If you have 20 minutes for coffee or whatever, then wipe up and change clothes... since I decided to not be in a hurry whenever possible, I ride farther and more often. Go figure!

Thanks for the suggestions, ya'll! I will pass them on to him too :)

I'm happy to report that he is on day two of his bike commute and he seems to be enjoying it. Since he leaves early in the morning, he has been pleasantly surprised to find that he's not nearly as 'gross' as he was worried about being. To further inspire him, I got him a some of those 'coolmax' shirts and a sexy new helmet.

My son and I have been biking to school since last Thursday and still going strong - Yee Haa!

But here's something sad... his is the ONLY bike in the rack.

im new to biking and im curious what does a tire lever do exactly?

The levers help you get the tire off the rim when you get a flat. It takes a little practice. The first couple of times, it took me a whole hour to patch and re-inflate the tire. I actually would bring the tire in and set it on a towel to work on it while watching TV.

Short levers (3)
1. Slide the flat part between the tire and rim
2. put the notched end on a spoke
3. Slide another in the same way and attach it to the next spoke
4. Slide the 3rd next to the 2nd spoke and push - the tire should lift off the rim


Long Lever (1)
1. Slide the flat part between the tire and rim
2. Put the notched end on the axle
3.With the heel of your hand push the lever along the wheel (slowly) until it lifts off.

thanks for the response!

I've been commuting for all of three weeks on my ancient Schwinn Varsity. My Schwinn seems trusty, but it seems to think 12 miles per hour is a pretty good clip (or I pedal too slowly.) Also, the roads here are murderous, and it transmits every bump. Also, the frame is too big for me. As a male, I could see this causing problems some day if I am not careful.

I am wondering if I should get a new bike before investing money and time in a bike rack, panniers, lights, etc. Am I being too picky? After all, my commute is only five miles. Also, I work at a college campus, so I need to consider the fact that an expensive replacement might get stolen.

So, what do you think? Should I embrace my Schwinn Varsity and outfit it with all the commuting necessities? Or should I buy something new even though my commute is very short?

If I do buy new, should it be a cheap mountain bike? (If so, what would you recommend as having easy attachments for fenders or panniers?)

Should I get a touring bike? Or will that get stolen?

Oh, or I could get a folding bike!