Biking to work?

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I'm hoping the cyclist on the boards can help me out here. I'll be starting a new job 4.6 miles from my home and I want to try to commute via bicycle for many reasons that I won't bore you with. Thing is I haven't written a actual non-gym bike in years. Any tips on helmets, racks, equipment, how not to get killed? The path is entirely road and mostly sidewalk.

Here are a few things that come to mind:
-Do you have a secure place to put the bike at work?
-Do you have showers at work? That makes a huge difference if you can commute in the same outfit and then change at work.
-A bike with good fenders and a good rain coat will get you through a lot of wet rides. If you are able to shower in the am, then so much the better. If not, a pair of waterproof pants is also a plus.
-Buy a helmet you will wear. Whatever it costs.
-Find out if your city provides a bike map for routes/paths so you can avoid major streets until you feel comfortable.

#1 Rule of Riding on the Road:

Assume you are invisible to other drivers. You don't realize how bad at driving people really are until you ride a bike on the roads.

- Mucho ditto on the fenders, rain gear, and helmet.
- LED headlight and blinker tail lights (in case you work early or late).
- A good waterproof pannier for your gear and cloths.
- Air pump, spare tube

If you don't already have a bike, I'd recommend any decent mountain bike or hybrid. Heck, you'd be fine if you could pick up a decent beater off of Craigslist.

Bike Nashbar is good place for gear, though it never hurts to support your local bike shop (at least make friends with them for repairs and tune-ups).

Edwin wrote:

I'm hoping the cyclist on the boards can help me out here. I'll be starting a new job 4.6 miles from my home and I want to try to commute via bicycle for many reasons that I won't bore you with. Thing is I haven't written a actual non-gym bike in years. Any tips on helmets, racks, equipment, how not to get killed? The path is entirely road and mostly sidewalk.

How is the terrain? A mountain bike should do it if it's heavily trafficked, but a road bike could get you there faster because of the bigger wheels. Road bike frames are also usually weaker than those of mountain bikes.

Do you already have the bike?

I have a bike. It was bought years ago (2000) at Target and never used. It's a Magna XL2 21 speed bike.

IMAGE(http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/957/sl730463vs3.th.jpg)

  • We work in a office condo so I can bring it inside.
  • No showers at work. I can try and ask for some to be built but when I brought up the idea of me biking to work they thought I was insane.
  • My city won't provide anything. I know the route as I've lived in the area since I was in the third grade. Here is my route. The only part that worries me is when I hit Killian.
  • Terrain is as flat as flat can be. The highest point of all of south florida are the two county dumps. It's also all road and lots of sidewalk but not all sidewalk.

You have a sweet job if they'll build showers for you upon request.

All I can recommend is that you give yourself a lot of time and a contingency plan at first. Are you sure you can bike that far in Floriday heat, twice a day? What happens if you're feeling beat after work and don't have the energy?

Honestly, I think you might be biting off more than you can chew to just start this all of the sudden. It's a great way to get in shape and stay that way and you'll save a good deal on gas (and car insurance) but it's not worth it if you end up killing yourself. Maybe you could start biking after work until you're sure you can handle it?

I bike to work here in Chicago, about 3.5 miles from Wicker Park into the heart of the Loop. I have a bike lane for some of it, but have to do a fair amount of traffic acrobatics once I hit the busy downtown area.

The equipment lists so far are spot on - helmet, pump, lights, fenders, waterproof or resistant backpack or bag. Smoother tires will roll easier and make for a more pleasant ride. Bigger diameter tires/rims (29") are better when you get going (which is why most road bikes have them), but are harder to turn when you are starting - so a long stretch would be nicer on 29s, but 26s are better if you expect to start and stop a lot. Frankly, though, for the distances you're talking about either would work fine. I wouldn't worry too much about the tires, though ditching the knobbies would make for an easier go on the cheap if you expect a lot of pavement.

A good seat makes a world of difference. So do sunglasses when the weather calls for them.

I ride in padded bike shorts, light overshorts (like board shorts), a waterproof windbreaker and tennis shoes (plus helmet and gloves). I pack my work attire - ironed and in plastic bags - in my backpack.

Pace will play a significant role in how sweaty you get, so taking it at a medium pace and switching gears properly helps keep the exertion to a minimum. Not being late helps, too. That said, when the weather gets warmer you'll probably want to freshen up beyond just wiping your face off and re-applying deodorant, so you might look into a nearby club or gym you can sign up for and that might have showers. Also a great workout to bike from work to the gym, work out, then bike home.

Unfortunately, though, that's all the easy stuff.

The hard part is not getting hit by cagers (car drivers). Bicycles are, in the places I've lived, considered moving vehicles and are supposed to be operated on the streets, as sidewalks are for pedestrians. You have to obey the same traffic laws as cars, too. That said, I will occasionally and temporarily detour onto a sidewalk if the road conditions (car blocking a lane, messed up pavement, etc.) prove too dangerous. No one will really care if you're on the sidewalks unless you're running over children or something, but the street will be smoother and have fewer small obstacles.

Most accidents are the result of several otherwise harmless factors accumulating at a given moment - someone on a phone, someone in a hurry, someone adjusting the radio, some rain on the ground, etc. The best thing to do is just be aware of all of the activity in front of you (without fixating on any one thing), and stay vigilant about the facts that a) most are distracted while they drive b) they probably can't/don't see you and c) they will frequently do the dumbest thing possible.

Assuming those things should keep you safe because you'll be mitigating the erratic braker, cell phone guy and distracted mom by positioning yourself smartly before their actions could ever affect you - they might run into each other, of course. This isn't to say that you can't have a fun, pleasurable, nice ride - you just can't space out or get caught in your own head, and you have to pay attention to the traffic movement beyond just watching brake lights from the car in front of you.

Edit: A bit more...

Also, the most common bike accident is someone turning right in front of a cyclist (if the cyclist is riding up the rightmost lane), and the most common motorcycle accident is someone making a left turn (from facing the opposite direction) across the rider's path. It happens because the drivers don't see the riders. The lights and establishing yourself in a lane (that is, giving yourself enough room from the curb to take up space and be visible) will both help, but always be ready for the driver to make that boneheaded turn in front of you.

Finally I'll say that the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course taught me a lot about defensive riding, and although it's for motorcycles, it's applicable in everything from a bike to a car (so a defensive driving/riding course would always be helpful). It's all about managing the factors that build up to an incident. I fully support taking it slow to start (an off-street bike path is a great idea), getting comfortable at your own pace, and being accepting of the days when you are in too much of a rush, too tired, or the conditions are too crappy to ride the bike.

Let us know how it goes!

Take side streets, not the most heavily traveled automobile routes. I have never understood why bicyclists choose to ride on the busiest streets in town when there are beautiful side streets that are just as fast for a bike, assuming that the cyclist runs stops signs like 90% of riders I know do. Cyclists on busy streets add stress for everybody concerned.

Also, as I recall, you are a very tall guy. Get a bike that fits.

Edwin wrote:

Any tips on helmets, racks, equipment, how not to get killed? The path is entirely road and mostly sidewalk.

I've been commuting by bike for about a year. My city allows bikes on sidewalks, so I don't have to worry about getting hit from behind (just getting right-hooked!). Here's my gear:

Brooks Nightlife Jacket (link) : day-glow yellow with reflective patches. Looks much less dorky than other reflective jackets probably because it's a running jacket. Very lightweight so it's wearable as long as it's not too hot outside (not sure if FL weather might make it unbearable). Rear flow-through vent helps with this. Got mine at REI for ~$80. If the possibility exists that you'll be riding in anything but full sunlight, please get some kind of reflective clothing.

Blackburn Mars 2.0 blinkie (link) : I started out with a cheap blinkie, but it started randomly cutting out from all the bumps on my route. This one is very bright and feels very sturdy. I have it bolted to my rack, as I hear the plastic mount can be weak. I turn on mine even when it's bright outside, just in case it helps visibility (batteries are cheap).

Michelin Transworld City tires (link) : Get those knobby tires off as quickly as you can. A smooth-tread tire makes a noticeable difference in "road-ability" of a mountain bike. I like these because they have reflective sidewalls.

Freddy Fenders Hardcore (link) : Got these for Christmas. Unfortunately, my bike doesn't have mounts for a front fender, so I only use the rear one (which works well). For a front fender, I use a small down-tube fender (link). But I don't bike in the rain, so it's mainly to keep puddle splashes off my legs.

Helmet: get whatever design looks cool to you and is comfortable. Learn to deal with helmet-hair.

Great forum: Bike Forums: Commuting. Anything you could possibly ask has probably already been discussed there.

Do you have to use the full-suspension bike? Since your route is "flat as flat can be", the extra weight of the suspension components is unnecessary. You could probably get an entry level road bike or hybrid on sale for $300. But if budget is a concern, just ride what you've got.

I hope your ride goes well. If you've never done it before, get up early on a weekend and try it out when traffic is really light and you don't have to worry about being late to work. When/if you ride on the sidewalk, only do it on the right-hand side of the road. Cars pulling out of parking lots and driveways only look left when pulling out. If you're coming from their right, they will never see you. From the map it looks like there are lots of small side-roads. Consider taking those, as the traffic will probably be lighter. Oh, and check out Florida's bike laws here.

I think the worst part of it all will be crossing US1. After that, 97th Ave isn't that bad, if you're passing around 9ish AM (at least until school starts up again). Once school starts, you're basically going straight up 97th, and the worst parts will be 136th, 128th, and then your cross onto 122nd. Killian in the morning is a school zone, so the cars "should" be obeying that (hopefully). Oh, and 104th is a lunatics' den (as you should already know).

4 miles does seem a bit much to start.

I just found out that we already have a shower but it's being considered for removal to make additional storage place for inventory and equipment. My contingency plan is bus with bike racks (31 local to Dadeland North station and then the 104 to my office) or two of my best friends already offered to take me home since we are neighbors. I'm physically able to bike the route since I normally do 18 miles on the gym bike for warm ups.

edit:

Finally I'll say that the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course taught me a lot about defensive riding, and although it's for motorcycles, it's applicable in everything from a bike to a car (so a defensive driving/riding course would always be helpful). It's all about managing the factors that build up to an incident. I fully support taking it slow to start (an off-street bike path is a great idea), getting comfortable at your own pace, and being accepting of the days when you are in too much of a rush, too tired, or the conditions are too crappy to ride the bike.

Let us know how it goes!

I actually already have my MSF endorsement since I also drive a motorcycle. Also 90% of my route on the Google Maps link I put in my first post is through quiet neighborhoods that no one uses the sidewalks so that shouldn't be a problem. It's when I hit Killian that the traffic builds up but even then I have sidewalks to use which is separated by almost twenty feet of grass from the road.

Whatever you do, do not listen to music while biking to and from work, or this could happen to you and everyone you love.

http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/39208

Hate to hijack, but I (6'3")outgrew my 15" Specialized Hard Rock and need a new bike next year at college. Haven't done real mountain biking in awhile so was thinking road bike. Suggestions? I like specialized.

You'll figure out what you need as you go. When I started bike commuting I went through a bunch of gear until I found what worked for me, I image this process is the same for most folks.

What I found was that a little bit of high quality gear was way more useful than lots of cheap stuff. Especially since the cheap stuff ain't cheap. My experience showed me (this is one of those do as I say, not as I did speeches) that you've got what you need now to be a bike commuter. Just ride with what you've got and get used to it. Your body will tell you when you need to upgrade some equipment. When you need to upgrade something, you'll know. There are a lot of bike shops who want to take you money, if you can, find out where the bike messengers hang out and use their shop. Messengers are poorly paid working folks who know how to get the most out of their equipment. Once your bike dies (and it will die within a year of hard use) you can use them as contacts to get a replacement. Not all bikes are equal, but by the time you wear out the one you've got, you'll know enough to pick a great replacement.

Good call on biking. I'm betting you will enjoy it. Let us know how it goes.

boogle wrote:

Hate to hijack, but I (6'3")outgrew my 15" Specialized Hard Rock and need a new bike next year at college. Haven't done real mountain biking in awhile so was thinking road bike. Suggestions? I like specialized.

If you have access to a decent bike store, you should go in and ask about taking some bikes for a test ride. Different frames have different shapes. Some are longer, some shorter, &c. The only way to really make sure you'll be comfortable on a bike is to actually ride it. I myself have a Specialized, and have been quite happy with it.

For my part, I ride to work nearly every day, but it is less than a mile and so doesn't really count.

It might depend a bit on the weather the amount of clothes you wear but once you get used to riding a bike, you can do 5 miles easy in under 20 minutes on any regular bike without breaking a sweat.

Is using the bike to go to work really that rare in the States?

Has anyone gotten one of the cruising road bikes that has the automatic gear changer built into the back wheel housing? It looks like a mountain bike frame but it has slightly raised and swayed handle bars and much more comfortable seat for actual sitting.

Tkyl wrote:

#1 Rule of Riding on the Road:

Assume you are invisible to other drivers. You don't realize how bad at driving people really are until you ride a bike on the roads.

Amen to that. Addendum: eye contact is vital. Direct, via the mirrors, ... No eye contact equals invisibility.

Alien13z wrote:

Take side streets, not the most heavily traveled automobile routes. I have never understood why bicyclists choose to ride on the busiest streets in town when there are beautiful side streets that are just as fast for a bike, assuming that the cyclist runs stops signs like 90% of riders I know do. Cyclists on busy streets add stress for everybody concerned.

I concur with this statement all of it. (Cyclist that blow through intersections like they own them drive me insane)

Lucan wrote:

It might depend a bit on the weather the amount of clothes you wear but once you get used to riding a bike, you can do 5 miles easy in under 20 minutes on any regular bike without breaking a sweat.

Is using the bike to go to work really that rare in the States?

Yes, and for two reasons: 1) as mentioned above, it's unbelievably dangerous, and 2) it's unbelievably dangerous.

I biked to work for two years when I worked at IBM (about five miles). Quite simply, there are zero provisions for bikes on almost all American roads. Most of my route was along narrow two-lane roads with no shoulder and no bike lane. I was in several almost-accidents where drivers basically didn't even realize I was there - I consider myself fortunate not to have been seriously hurt. I was run off the road several times and narrowly avoided an SUV turning left through me at night - despite a powerful headlamp and all sorts of blinkenlights.

There are efforts to make it better, and some cities are friendlier than others, but the basic thrust is that you take a serious risk when you bike for real on American roads.

Instead of carrying one of those dinky little portable pumps that will take a half hour of work to fill the tube, you might want to consider a CO2 inflater instead (something like this). They're smaller, and much faster. Only thing is, it's usually a one-shot deal... But really, if you get a flat, you should be changing the tube ASAP, and while you're there, you can pick up a refill cartridge. The one I linked above is a hybrid model that doubles as a hand pump, too, so if you use up the CO2, you can still pump.

Michael Bluejay's BicycleSafe site has great info for commuters, although a lot of it has been covered above. There's a lot of really good info in the posts above.

Bike commuting is a lot of fun but make sure your situational awareness is strong. I always wanted to get one of these air horns but never did. Somehow my IncrediBell wasn't much of an attention getter and mothers walking with their children didn't seem to much care for my method of shouting loud profanities for getting drivers' attentions.

[Edit] To build on a topic that was touched upon before, don't bike like you're driving a car. Roads that are the fastest route by car seldom are for bikes and they're usually the worst to be on. Ride through neighborhoods and on back roads. It's a great way to learn your town better, find new things, and make the ride much more enjoyable. Having to deal with multiple stop signs is no big deal a bike, especially if your bike is set up correctly and you're using your gears properly.

Along with the ride like you're invisible idea, the corollary is to make yourself as visible as possible, of course while assuming you're still not. Don't ride in and out of cars parked on the side of the road. If parked cars force you over, stay over. Riding unpredictably makes drivers nervous. When in doubt, take the lane. In Texas at least you're perfectly within your rights to take the lane if there are two or more lanes, the lane is >=14', or the shoulder is sketchy. Plenty of time there will be debris on the shoulder or pavement erosion. The last thing you want to do is take a spill and fall into traffic, so take the lane. Plus that forces cars to go around you rather than encouraging the asshats that take it as a challenge to see just how closely they can go by you.

Unless your route has an actual hike and bike trail, you're generally going to want to stay off the sidewalk. That makes you that much more invisible and likely to get right-hooked. Plus you add on the chance of getting hit by people backing up driveways or coming up cross-streets. When on a sidewalk you can't relax, you have to be at your most alert.

When I lived on Park Slope in Brooklyn and worked in Downtown Brooklyn, I commuted on my speedskates. The distance door to door was 2.5 miles. It took me 20 min on subway and same 20 min on skates. That was the golden age.

MightyMooquack wrote:
boogle wrote:

Hate to hijack, but I (6'3")outgrew my 15" Specialized Hard Rock and need a new bike next year at college. Haven't done real mountain biking in awhile so was thinking road bike. Suggestions? I like specialized.

If you have access to a decent bike store, you should go in and ask about taking some bikes for a test ride. Different frames have different shapes. Some are longer, some shorter, &c. The only way to really make sure you'll be comfortable on a bike is to actually ride it. I myself have a Specialized, and have been quite happy with it.

For my part, I ride to work nearly every day, but it is less than a mile and so doesn't really count. :-)

Good thing that I live near the two competing bike shops in town. And know the owner of one. That should pay off well.

I've been looking for a good used bike to ride to work for a few weeks now. Since I have a new roommate with a bike, and now all this new advice, I think I may start riding next week after a few test rides to and from work.

boogle wrote:
MightyMooquack wrote:
boogle wrote:

Hate to hijack, but I (6'3")outgrew my 15" Specialized Hard Rock and need a new bike next year at college. Haven't done real mountain biking in awhile so was thinking road bike. Suggestions? I like specialized.

If you have access to a decent bike store, you should go in and ask about taking some bikes for a test ride. Different frames have different shapes. Some are longer, some shorter, &c. The only way to really make sure you'll be comfortable on a bike is to actually ride it. I myself have a Specialized, and have been quite happy with it.

For my part, I ride to work nearly every day, but it is less than a mile and so doesn't really count. :-)

Good thing that I live near the two competing bike shops in town. And know the owner of one. That should pay off well.

I've got a 3 year old specialized sequoia which I've put about 6500 miles on. It's not a top of the line bike, but it's held up very well to the abuse I've put it through. It's been through rain, snow, mud and gravel, and it's been knocked over time and again, but has required very little maintenance. Of course, like any vehicle, the better you take care of it, the longer it will last, and I definitely make sure to give the girl a once-over after every ride. I believe the sequoia runs about $850 or so brand new, though you could probably find a much better deal on eBay. Not sure if that's in your budget or not.

Oso wrote:

You'll figure out what you need as you go. When I started bike commuting I went through a bunch of gear until I found what worked for me, I image this process is the same for most folks.

What I found was that a little bit of high quality gear was way more useful than lots of cheap stuff. Especially since the cheap stuff ain't cheap. My experience showed me (this is one of those do as I say, not as I did speeches) that you've got what you need now to be a bike commuter. Just ride with what you've got and get used to it. Your body will tell you when you need to upgrade some equipment. When you need to upgrade something, you'll know. There are a lot of bike shops who want to take you money, if you can, find out where the bike messengers hang out and use their shop. Messengers are poorly paid working folks who know how to get the most out of their equipment. Once your bike dies (and it will die within a year of hard use) you can use them as contacts to get a replacement. Not all bikes are equal, but by the time you wear out the one you've got, you'll know enough to pick a great replacement.

Good call on biking. I'm betting you will enjoy it. Let us know how it goes.

We don't have bike messengers here as the county is nothing but suburban sprawl.

Lucan wrote:

It might depend a bit on the weather the amount of clothes you wear but once you get used to riding a bike, you can do 5 miles easy in under 20 minutes on any regular bike without breaking a sweat.

Is using the bike to go to work really that rare in the States?

It's especially rare down here. It's just something only poor people or insane ones like me would do. Like riding the bus or using the Metrorail. People treat it as a taboo stigma.

Edwin wrote:

It's especially rare down here. It's just something only poor people or insane ones like me would do. Like riding the bus or using the Metrorail. People treat it as a taboo stigma.

This is something that I hate about the US. I would KILL to have a system as complete and useful as the London Underground over here, but public transit is looked down upon so much in the states because you HAVE to have your status-symbol gas guzzling SUV. Give me a break.

Agreed mike.

IMAGE(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/40/110160826_5c2a410452.jpg?v=0)

This is what our downtown streets should look like. Compact, connected by transit, and very pedestrian accessible.

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