Bicycle commuters?

[Little Ricky]

Who does it? Where? How far? What rig do you ride?

I occassionally do a 12 mile each way ride to work on Trek 7300fx with my lunch in one pannier and change of clothes and tools in the other.
I feel great when I can start my day with a workout and I feel relaxed at the end of the day because I don't need to deal with traffic.

I need to tweak my set-up with some lights, etc.

[Arbiter]

Did it for seven years straight in the Bay Area, 15 miles per day. No car, let my driver's license expire. It was great.

My rig was a Softride, steel frame, 1.75" tires. San Francisco was not a city to use skinny roadie tires in. When the Softride finally broke (they all do, it's an incurable design flaw) I went to my 1995 all-steel Rockhopper (no shocks) which I'm still riding today.

Full XT component group on both bikes. XTR stuff is the lightest but breaks a little too easily - I'm not a small rider. The LX and XT stuff holds up great.

[Arbiter]

No panniers, everything went in my Timbuk bag (which I also still have). I lose stuff if it's not all in one place. I used VistaLite taillights, they're out of business now. I used to have a halogen helmet-mounted headlight, which I loved but mounting things on your helmet is just flat-out not safe. The state of lighting has improved beyond recognition since I stopped commuting a decade ago.

[waparker4]

I ride 4.0 miles each way through Center City Philadelphia on a single speed "partscoaster".... it's awful sometimes.

[uriah1]

I would be all sweaty and drippy and stinky at work..I don't think so..

I would be excommunicated by my fellow cubies.

WIsh I could.

[Toto'sDad]

I rode a bike to work and back about a ten mile round trip when I was first married. At the time it seemed like a good idea, learned to kick a chasing dog without falling off the bike (after a while.)

[Warm Gums]

I did when I was coaching at the rec center..
About a mile each way mostly thru a park w/ a dedicated path.
I would be leery of anything involving too much street time even in a bike lane, US drivers just don't watch for cyclists.
A student in Baltimore was recently hit while in a bike lane by a driver who simply decided the bike lane was a good place to get around slow moving traffic... Driver had no idea it was a bike lane even though it was clearly marked.
A lot of people do though, my grad school even offers discounted gym memberships for those who bike commute, so they can shower before class.

[superlightweigh]

I did for a while years ago when I lived in another city. Tried it here too but the traffic is just way too heavy along any of the direct routes. After many close calls I gave it up. I'm not criticizing the driving public here but the roads are just too congested and there are too many bus stops, turning lanes, construction zones, bad pavement, and Dunkin Donuts along the route (15 miles each way).

I still think about doing it again though.

[Freejack]

I ride a mountain bicycle 4.7 miles to and from work (9.4 miles). Laptop and ipad in one pannier and clothes in the other with lunch, phone, keys, badge, etc in the top bit.

Work has a gym so i bring my work jeans in on Monday and shower and change when i get in.

I bring plastic bags as well in case of rain.

Carl

[imwjl]

When I can, and often carry the bike on a hitch rack which is a good way to up your miles per gallon (gas) and personal gas (food, a beer or treat).

I upgraded my rig early this year and got a nice dedicated commuter and Burley Travoy trailer. Also upgraded from some crappy panniers to classic Ortliebs.

For lights I have simple Planet Bike LEDs for tail lights and front flasher. For the headlights I have a DiNotte system I use for trail riding too. I have pair of heads, batteries, cables and mounts. It really aids utility and safety to have lights brighter than the cars around you.

The Travoy is awesome for carrying much and short trips. For a 5 mile one way I do I put my briefcase/laptop on one pannier, change of clothes in the other. I also have a huge old Timbuk2 messenger bag that will fit my briefcase and other stuff.

I'll do a wash up in the bathroom where I'll change if sweat's an issue.

It's all much easier to put my briefcase with laptop in one of the other carriers.

My routines are too random to commute all the time but throughout the year I will replace 5 to almost 50 miles of driving a week with bike/ped. To those who say they can't I say it's a lifestyle change just like learning to play the guitar, controlling your weight, etc...

I hesitated to spend on a truly nice commuter but it helps keep at the lifestyle change. Belt drive is no mess on clothes, no maint, no open gears for water or care. I usually build by bikes up but the it is nice to have it ready made for the job.

The Travoy is awesome and worth considering even if you can only do your riding for errands after work and on weekends! I take it in the grocery store, and it folds to about nothing. Everybody overweight should make the same trip with the Travoy loaded with 25 - 50 pounds and then empty to get a quick lesson in why you should watch your weight!

The somewhat new rig:

[Lunchie]

hmmm... I live about a half mile from my job, I used it as an excuse to buy a big bleeping truck... never crossed my mind about riding a bike ...

[Cat MacKinnon]

i quit driving a couple years ago (after some, um..."legal stuff".) i could get another car, but i've come to really like commuting by bike for the most part. my mountain bike does double-duty for trails and commuting. when i actually take it trail riding, i run about 25psi in my tires for maximum traction, but for commuting i'll bump it up to anpit 40psi for speed. the only real downside i've found is that i can't really use tires with aggressive tread, because the road noise is annoyingly loud (plus it would wear out the tread prematurely, and tires are freakin' expensive!) right now i've sort of split the difference between speed and traction, and i'm using GEAX Saguaro tires. they don't slow me down on pavement, but they work pretty well on trails (aside from really wet or really loose gravel.) most of the trails i ride are hardpack, and they're great for that.

my bike is a Specialized Rockhopper, although i've swapped a lot of parts out. i have an Easton EA70 handlebar, Ergon grips (which are TOTALLY worth the money!), Sette AMP saddle and some other stuff. i really want to get an X-Fusion Shox front fork (the ride and build quality of Fox Forks, but almost half the price and easier to maintain: they're an "enclosed" open-bath design, which is pretty awesome.) ah, if i only had the cash!

for commuting, i usually just use a backpack. i've got some nice Polar insulated water bottles (made right here in Colorado), and a frame-mounted pump. i've got a rear CatEye blinker, and a front Planet Bike headlight: the headlight works okay for short distances, especially if there are street lights, but i really want a Niterider MiNewt USB rechargeable headlight! oh, and a Timbuk2 under-saddle bag, with a spare tube, patch kit, a couple spare AAA batteries for my lights and a Topeak Hexus bicycle multitool.

my bike lock is an OnGuard Pitbull u-lock, and i also have an OnGuard 1/2"-thick braided steel cable. depending on the neighborhood i'm going to, i don't always bring the cable. also, depending on how far i'm riding, i usually just carry my lock in my backpack, but if i'm riding really far i'll attach the lock mount to my bike frame (it's kind of a pain to put on and take off, which is why i don't usually use it. but i don't like it bouncing around in my backpack on really long rides.)

i think weather is the biggest challenge, but it's just a matter of being prepared. the only time it really sucks is if it's snowed a lot, in which case i'll take the bus (our busses have bike racks on them.) very occasionally i'll have to ask a friend for a ride, but for the most part i get around on my bike just fine. plus, it's a good excuse to get some sunshine when i've been online far too much;)

[Colo Springs E]

I ride my new Specialized Stumpjumper to work maybe once every 2 weeks, sometimes twice. We have lockers at work, so I usually don't have to carry much on my bike... what I do is usually in a backpack, no panniers. LOVE riding my bike to work! Actually gives me something to look forward to, both the ride in and the ride home. Sometimes on the ride home I stop for some carbo-loading (BEER!). :) My ride is only about 14 miles round-trip, 99% on bike path.

[Mightyaxeman]

Originally Posted by Cat MacKinnon

i quit driving a couple years ago (after some, um..."legal stuff".) i could get another car, but i've come to really like commuting by bike for the most part. my mountain bike does double-duty for trails and commuting. when i actually take it trail riding, i run about 25psi in my tires for maximum traction, but for commuting i'll bump it up to anpit 40psi for speed. the only real downside i've found is that i can't really use tires with aggressive tread, because the road noise is annoyingly loud (plus it would wear out the tread prematurely, and tires are freakin' expensive!) right now i've sort of split the difference between speed and traction, and i'm using GEAX Saguaro tires. they don't slow me down on pavement, but they work pretty well on trails (aside from really wet or really loose gravel.) most of the trails i ride are hardpack, and they're great for that.

my bike is a Specialized Rockhopper, although i've swapped a lot of parts out. i have an Easton EA70 handlebar, Ergon grips (which are TOTALLY worth the money!), Sette AMP saddle and some other stuff. i really want to get an X-Fusion Shox front fork (the ride and build quality of Fox Forks, but almost half the price and easier to maintain: they're an "enclosed" open-bath design, which is pretty awesome.) ah, if i only had the cash!

for commuting, i usually just use a backpack. i've got some nice Polar insulated water bottles (made right here in Colorado), and a frame-mounted pump. i've got a rear CatEye blinker, and a front Planet Bike headlight: the headlight works okay for short distances, especially if there are street lights, but i really want a Niterider MiNewt USB rechargeable headlight! oh, and a Timbuk2 under-saddle bag, with a spare tube, patch kit, a couple spare AAA batteries for my lights and a Topeak Hexus bicycle multitool.

my bike lock is an OnGuard Pitbull u-lock, and i also have an OnGuard 1/2"-thick braided steel cable. depending on the neighborhood i'm going to, i don't always bring the cable. also, depending on how far i'm riding, i usually just carry my lock in my backpack, but if i'm riding really far i'll attach the lock mount to my bike frame (it's kind of a pain to put on and take off, which is why i don't usually use it. but i don't like it bouncing around in my backpack on really long rides.)

i think weather is the biggest challenge, but it's just a matter of being prepared. the only time it really sucks is if it's snowed a lot, in which case i'll take the bus (our busses have bike racks on them.) very occasionally i'll have to ask a friend for a ride, but for the most part i get around on my bike just fine. plus, it's a good excuse to get some sunshine when i've been online far too much;)

At 25psi don't you get lots of pinch flats? Seems like you would. I love my rockhopper. Mine has to be 20+ years old now and has been repainted and had many parts swapped out but the frame keeps going. A friend gave me another rockhopper frame and fork recently which I'm making into a single speed just for fun.

[Jimclarke100]

Most often I drive half way then cycle the rest - which gives me a ride of 8 miles each way. All country roads or cycle paths with a little off road thrown in...
And the company is kind enough to provide showers so I'm not offensive to the other guys in the office.
I do occasionally cycle the full distance but generally find that with two young girls to get up in the morning, it is not politically prudent to leave as early as I need to.

[Colo Springs E]

Originally Posted by Mightyaxeman

At 25psi don't you get lots of pinch flats? Seems like you would.

Go toobless. I run mine ridiculously low, everyone tells me my tires are flat. Granted, I only weigh 150, but you can run really low with tubeless and even do jumps, drop-offs etc... no flats for me so far.

When I use it to commute, I bump up to mid-30s.

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by Colo Springs E

Go toobless. I run mine ridiculously low, everyone tells me my tires are flat. Granted, I only weigh 150, but you can run really low with tubeless and even do jumps, drop-offs etc... no flats for me so far.

When I use it to commute, I bump up to mid-30s.

+1 to tubeless!!!!!

That said, my commuter has commuter tires with reflector sidewalls.

I think I better order a replacement back for my tubeless setup. I see Stan's seeping where knobs are torn and at one big puncture.

I hesitated on tubeless and all I can say is you will probably not go back once you try it. My favorite trail area is known as pinch flat and sharp greased rock hell. No flats in 14 months of tubeless in same riding that would have been 1 - 3 of them. Take no flats and add more traction - should be enough said to want to try it.

My main advice for tubeless is do it with actual UST or "tubeless ready" tires. Those in my posse who did it with tires made for it have not had reliability problems others will complain about.

I might replace that rear with seeping Stans with harder version. The sticky rubber is amazing but cannot stand up to big sharp rocks. OTOH, one exotic tire lasting a little more than a year is a better bargain than spending same for one night on the town.

It's really simple folks. You have to try modern mountain bike tech (sticky tires, disk brakes, suspension) before you're too old to do it.

:)

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by Mightyaxeman

At 25psi don't you get lots of pinch flats? Seems like you would. I love my rockhopper. Mine has to be 20+ years old now and has been repainted and had many parts swapped out but the frame keeps going. A friend gave me another rockhopper frame and fork recently which I'm making into a single speed just for fun.

I'm running as low as 25 psi but tubeless tires that I doubt could fit on an older bike.

Last summer I took a spill not because my tires lost traction but because the berm I was on gave out first.

I have my 20+ year old mtb, but the modern stuff is just bad a$$ ear to ear grin that everybody needs to try on flow trails and play spots before they die.

[GMAN715]

Have to agree with some others here, too dangerous. Too many distracted drivers texting these days. Several people have been killed or injured here by hit & run.

[Mike Bruce]

I used to ride to work. It was only a few blocks (small town, residential), and I found it was usually faster on 2 wheels than on four, and there was never any traffic. I miss the physicality of the ride and the job...I work at home now where the danger of the commute is the stroll past the fridge. Initially I used my late '70s Sekine but after that was stolen I used a cheap "mountain bike" that actually was a good ride.