Commute Curious
#26
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There are two things giving me pause. The first is sweat! I sweat a lot, even when I'm not doing anything. And I know after biking for 15 miles, I'll be a sweaty mess. How do you deal with the sweat when you bike? Do you just take a towel and a change of clothes? Do you take a shower when you get to work? Do you just not care?
On the other hand, my second concern is cold. I live in the Chicago area, and the snow will start to fall soon. I know there are people that still commute via bike during the winter, but I don't think I'm quite ready for that. Do you commute during the winter? Do you only bike to work half the year?
Some other things I would do are:
- Park and ride to a half way point. I park in a county park and then ride from there. This would help to break up riding 30 miles every day.
- If you feel crappy on Monday (even though you took the weekend off), then do an "easy week." Park and ride all week. Or take the train if bad weather, etc.
- Keep my backpack light. Only carry work clothes and bike tools needed. Try to leave out the shoes, laptop, tablet, unused tools, loose change, deoderant, bike lock, etc. Leave most of those items at home (or both home and work in the case of deoderant and shoes). If you use a computer, then try to get a desktop instead of a laptop at work.
Last edited by ptempel; 09-27-16 at 10:43 AM.
#27
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But, also expect that if you already have a car/bus/etc, that it will be OK to take some time off this winter, and resume in the Spring.
If you start now, you'll start learning what works and doesn't work for you early, and you'll be better prepared for next Spring/Summer. Also, by February/March, you may be ready to get back on the bike. If you put it off, maybe June?
#28
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Fifteen miles is way outside that sweet spot where you can ride comfortably (10-12 mph) to get to work in a reasonable amount of time (under 60 min) and not break much of a sweat.
Outside of this it's ideal if you have access to a shower and a bike that allows you to go faster and not have to worry about sweating.
Outside of this it's ideal if you have access to a shower and a bike that allows you to go faster and not have to worry about sweating.
Then start out by driving part way, and biking the rest. Say you drive ten miles, park at a Walmart or mall, unload the bike and go the last five miles to work and back.
Then as you get more comfortable, drive five miles and go ten more to work.
If you have a public transit route along the way, even easier, most Chicago buses have bike racks on front and the Metra allows bikes. I believe the CTA Ell does too, but maybe not during rush hour.
I was in Chicago for Bike the Drive in June and recall looking at those options to get down to Grant Park from the north suburbs where I have family, but the Metra didn't start running early enough for a 630 AM start from Grant Park from Glenview.
#29
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Commute now. Just ride your bike to work. Take stock of what did not work out well and do it a little differently next time.
#30
born again cyclist
CTA el: non-folding bikes are prohibited on ALL trains for both the morning and evening rush hours.
folding bikes are always permitted on all metra and CTA el trains at all times (provided they are bagged on metra rush hour trains).
Last edited by Steely Dan; 09-27-16 at 11:18 AM.
#31
aka Tom Reingold
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You're lucky you have that trail. I'm a very experienced road cyclist, and I used to think trails are useless to me, because I have good nerves in traffic. Well, I've changed my outlook a lot. I commute on the Hudson River Greenway which claims to be the most heavily used bike commuter route in the US. Parts of it are separated where there are a pedestrian portion and a bike portion, running in parallel. Parts of it are combined. There are very few intersections with motor traffic, so I ride the whole way without putting my foot down. My commute is 14 miles each way, and I ride it two days a week. The other three days, I take the subway.
We offer lots of advice on handling sweat and riding in the winter. There is even a Winter Cycling section here on bikeforums.
My approach to sweat: I basically don't care. In the summer, I wore cycling clothes which make being sweat-drenched less uncomfortable. In fact, it feels totally fine until I stop. Then when I stop, I find it uncomfortable. I change in a wiring closet. I wash my face and head and neck in the men's room sink. It makes me feel much better, and it might help to cool me down.
You can definitely make it in the winter, though you will probably not ride on the worst days this winter. As @cyccommute points out, there is a lot to work out, and it takes time. You can toughen up to inclement weather, but it takes time, because you need to know what equipment works, and you need to increase your tolerance for discomfort. By tolerance, I mean it stops feeling unpleasant.
I won't go into my entire winter clothing approach, but I'll tell you one thing that helped a lot last winter was wearing a ski helmet on the coldest days. Bike helmets are designed for maximum cooling, and this is not an asset in the winter. The ski helmet helped more than I expected it to. It made me realize that my face got so cold that it hurt badly.
Try riding now, and see how far you get. Once it hits 30º or 20º, you may decide it's too much for you, and that's OK. Resume when the temperature is higher. Next year, you can increase your tolerance.
We offer lots of advice on handling sweat and riding in the winter. There is even a Winter Cycling section here on bikeforums.
My approach to sweat: I basically don't care. In the summer, I wore cycling clothes which make being sweat-drenched less uncomfortable. In fact, it feels totally fine until I stop. Then when I stop, I find it uncomfortable. I change in a wiring closet. I wash my face and head and neck in the men's room sink. It makes me feel much better, and it might help to cool me down.
You can definitely make it in the winter, though you will probably not ride on the worst days this winter. As @cyccommute points out, there is a lot to work out, and it takes time. You can toughen up to inclement weather, but it takes time, because you need to know what equipment works, and you need to increase your tolerance for discomfort. By tolerance, I mean it stops feeling unpleasant.
I won't go into my entire winter clothing approach, but I'll tell you one thing that helped a lot last winter was wearing a ski helmet on the coldest days. Bike helmets are designed for maximum cooling, and this is not an asset in the winter. The ski helmet helped more than I expected it to. It made me realize that my face got so cold that it hurt badly.
Try riding now, and see how far you get. Once it hits 30º or 20º, you may decide it's too much for you, and that's OK. Resume when the temperature is higher. Next year, you can increase your tolerance.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#32
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Even during the day time there are dark spots (often shade from trees on bright days) where a cyclist can disappear.
For those situations I installed Reelight blinkers on my bike. The light isn't as bright as I'd like but once installed you can forget about it. Hub generator of course would be nicer. I forced these lights upon my kids as well. So with a little luck these lights make a difference. For (potential) night riding I do recommend additional and brighter lights.
#33
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Start now while there is a bit of a last gasp of summer left, and before daylight savings time kicks in.
But, also expect that if you already have a car/bus/etc, that it will be OK to take some time off this winter, and resume in the Spring.
If you start now, you'll start learning what works and doesn't work for you early, and you'll be better prepared for next Spring/Summer. Also, by February/March, you may be ready to get back on the bike. If you put it off, maybe June?
But, also expect that if you already have a car/bus/etc, that it will be OK to take some time off this winter, and resume in the Spring.
If you start now, you'll start learning what works and doesn't work for you early, and you'll be better prepared for next Spring/Summer. Also, by February/March, you may be ready to get back on the bike. If you put it off, maybe June?
Edit: Oops. I'm off by an hour. Forgot about stupid daylight savings time.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Last edited by cyccommute; 09-28-16 at 11:05 AM.
#34
Senior Member
Not necessarily. If you want to look like a faux racer then yes, but otherwise the normal clothes that OP already has can very likely suffice just fine. I don't wear special clothes for walking or driving somewhere nor is there a need to do so for riding a bicycle. People in the US try to make bicycling way too complicated.
#35
Senior Member
Yes, I agree with @cyccommute in that this is a difficult time of year to start but since you're new to this, you'll only want to do some rides and not commit to daily commuting for the next 52 weeks. Therefore, you can pick and choose the days you want to ride and it will be a good opportunity to test out the route, your abilities while commuting in cooler fall temperatures.
Given that you'll be taking trails, you might be able to get away with less expensive front/rear lights, especially if the trail is lit overhead.
I say, take advantage of any nice day that comes along and give it a whirl, then prepare yourself through the winter for a spring start to regular commuting by bike.
Given that you'll be taking trails, you might be able to get away with less expensive front/rear lights, especially if the trail is lit overhead.
I say, take advantage of any nice day that comes along and give it a whirl, then prepare yourself through the winter for a spring start to regular commuting by bike.
#36
Senior Member
Fifteen miles is way outside that sweet spot where you can ride comfortably (10-12 mph) to get to work in a reasonable amount of time (under 60 min) and not break much of a sweat.
Outside of this it's ideal if you have access to a shower and a bike that allows you to go faster and not have to worry about sweating.
Outside of this it's ideal if you have access to a shower and a bike that allows you to go faster and not have to worry about sweating.
If the ride is enjoyable and providing a bit of healthy physical activity then how much of a problem is 60, 75, or 90 minutes each way? How much time would be spent in transit each way otherwise? How much time would be spent going to a gym?
#37
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You've probably got a couple of weeks or even a month where you can just treat this as an experiment for next spring.
#38
born again cyclist
some people clearly have no idea what it's like to be afflicted with ESS (excessive sweating syndrome).
i've never been able to ride a bicycle (at any speed), or even walk down the street on a summer day, without sweating.
hell, just sitting motionless in a chair in a 78 degree room can cause me to start sweating. it's ridiculous.
i have EXTREME tolerance (even affinity) for all things cold, but heat/warmth has always been my #1 enemy.
sweating has been my way of life for my entire life. it's really annoying, but it is what it is. and there doesn't seem to be a damn thing i can do about it.
Last edited by Steely Dan; 09-27-16 at 01:26 PM.
#39
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Yes, I agree with @cyccommute in that this is a difficult time of year to start but since you're new to this, you'll only want to do some rides and not commit to daily commuting for the next 52 weeks. Therefore, you can pick and choose the days you want to ride and it will be a good opportunity to test out the route, your abilities while commuting in cooler fall temperatures.
Given that you'll be taking trails, you might be able to get away with less expensive front/rear lights, especially if the trail is lit overhead.
I say, take advantage of any nice day that comes along and give it a whirl, then prepare yourself through the winter for a spring start to regular commuting by bike.
Given that you'll be taking trails, you might be able to get away with less expensive front/rear lights, especially if the trail is lit overhead.
I say, take advantage of any nice day that comes along and give it a whirl, then prepare yourself through the winter for a spring start to regular commuting by bike.
#40
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Not necessarily. I know a number of people who commute this kind of distance in complete comfort and without sweating and I've done it myself. Yes, it takes longer than bicycling 5 miles but that's a different issue. Distance has little to nothing to do with breaking a sweat. Sweat is easily managed. @Stadjer gave some excellent advice.
If the ride is enjoyable and providing a bit of healthy physical activity then how much of a problem is 60, 75, or 90 minutes each way? How much time would be spent in transit each way otherwise? How much time would be spent going to a gym?
If the ride is enjoyable and providing a bit of healthy physical activity then how much of a problem is 60, 75, or 90 minutes each way? How much time would be spent in transit each way otherwise? How much time would be spent going to a gym?
#41
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Not necessarily. I know a number of people who commute this kind of distance in complete comfort and without sweating and I've done it myself. Yes, it takes longer than bicycling 5 miles but that's a different issue. Distance has little to nothing to do with breaking a sweat. Sweat is easily managed. @Stadjer gave some excellent advice.
If the ride is enjoyable and providing a bit of healthy physical activity then how much of a problem is 60, 75, or 90 minutes each way? How much time would be spent in transit each way otherwise? How much time would be spent going to a gym?
If the ride is enjoyable and providing a bit of healthy physical activity then how much of a problem is 60, 75, or 90 minutes each way? How much time would be spent in transit each way otherwise? How much time would be spent going to a gym?
And no, distance has nothing to do with with how hard you need to work, but if you have a time limit it is directly proportional to it.
Yeah, what @Walter S said.
#42
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If you are pushing yourself to get a good workout, you are most likely going to be sweaty, cycling generates a ton of heat.
#43
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IMHO, the only way to arrive at work without sweat is if you take it pretty easy on the ride and generally that means slower, unless you live somewhere where the ride to work is all downhill.
If you are pushing yourself to get a good workout, you are most likely going to be sweaty, cycling generates a ton of heat.
If you are pushing yourself to get a good workout, you are most likely going to be sweaty, cycling generates a ton of heat.
#44
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I've tried riding slow enough to not sweat. I don't believe that speed exists. Heck, in the summer just standing outside motionless will cause me to sweat.
I don't feel that I'm an unusually profuse sweater either. Probably average.
I don't feel that I'm an unusually profuse sweater either. Probably average.
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#45
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This morning's temperature was around 12*C. It felt downright cold when I left the house and I never really warmed up. Forty eight minutes later I was at work and barely broke a sweat. In fact, I actually contemplated not showering. But then thought better.
So it is possible.
On the homeward ride it's a different story. I always tell myself to take it easy, but it invariably turns into a sweatfest.
So it is possible.
On the homeward ride it's a different story. I always tell myself to take it easy, but it invariably turns into a sweatfest.
#46
Senior Member
I ride routinely without sweating. Just about the whole of The Netherlands does so, half of them every day. A huge chunk of Danes, Germans, Swedes, Swiss, Finns, Italians, and Spanish do so. There might even be a Brit or two. I rode around Birmingham AL on Zyp bikes last week in 90f weather (low humidity) without sweating
There's a difference in getting a hard workout and riding somewhere for transportation. Most of us sweat quite a bit when riding for a workout. That need not be the case for transportation though—unless you choose to make your transportation also a workout. We don't usually make driving to work a workout nor do we often make walking to lunch a workout so there is no requirement to make riding to work a workout. If someone wants to make it a workout then that's fine but it is not a requirement.
There's a difference in getting a hard workout and riding somewhere for transportation. Most of us sweat quite a bit when riding for a workout. That need not be the case for transportation though—unless you choose to make your transportation also a workout. We don't usually make driving to work a workout nor do we often make walking to lunch a workout so there is no requirement to make riding to work a workout. If someone wants to make it a workout then that's fine but it is not a requirement.
#47
Senior Member
A 90-minute commute is fine if you have no other commitments. When your time is at a premium, spending that much on riding to and and from work takes away from family and other important commitments.
And no, distance has nothing to do with with how hard you need to work, but if you have a time limit it is directly proportional to it.
And no, distance has nothing to do with with how hard you need to work, but if you have a time limit it is directly proportional to it.
My quibble is people making assumptions that everyone who rides a bike to work must become Bicycle Driving MAMILs, ride road or mountain bikes, get a workout, wear hi-viz & gloves & lycra & helmets & cleated shoes & ..., sweat, shower when they get to work, and hang their smelly clothes in their cube or office to offend everyone around them. And we wonder why bicycle sales have been sinking every year for the past decade.
#48
Two H's!!! TWO!!!!!
I'm seriously considering commuting via bicycle. I have to drive about an hour every day, and I recently noticed that there is a 15 mile bike trail that runs right from my house to my work. I always knew the trail was there, but I never thought it would be bikeable. I think I could definitely do 30 miles a day, at least two or three days a week.
There are two things giving me pause. The first is sweat! I sweat a lot, even when I'm not doing anything. And I know after biking for 15 miles, I'll be a sweaty mess. How do you deal with the sweat when you bike? Do you just take a towel and a change of clothes? Do you take a shower when you get to work? Do you just not care?
On the other hand, my second concern is cold. I live in the Chicago area, and the snow will start to fall soon. I know there are people that still commute via bike during the winter, but I don't think I'm quite ready for that. Do you commute during the winter? Do you only bike to work half the year?
In your case, you'll be riding on a trail, though, so find out whether the city clears it in the winter or not. If it doesn't get plowed, you only have till the first snowfall to ride, basically. If it does get cleared, just see how you feel about winter riding. It's not that different from skiing, actually, and can be quite enjoyable.
#49
Senior Member
Got to start somewhere, though I think spring is much easier time to start and get into it. Having a bike trail right to work sound pretty nice.
Your body will start handling temperature changes much better as you keep biking. I didn't feel nearly as cold last winter as i have in years past because I was biking a longer distance and my circulation and muscles improved.
Your body will start handling temperature changes much better as you keep biking. I didn't feel nearly as cold last winter as i have in years past because I was biking a longer distance and my circulation and muscles improved.
#50
Senior Member
Not necessarily. If you want to look like a faux racer then yes, but otherwise the normal clothes that OP already has can very likely suffice just fine. I don't wear special clothes for walking or driving somewhere nor is there a need to do so for riding a bicycle. People in the US try to make bicycling way too complicated.