Biking: Catch-all

Aw, sounds like a great event.

On a more trivial note, does anyone have any recommendations for jeans/slacks that are good for bike commuting? I might traipse over to the Levis store in Times Square to check out their Commuter line.

Looks like I forgot to get a bike rack, but that is generally the sort of thing lots of folks have lying around in their garages.

I put out a broadcast email for the folks at work and got three responses in 10 minutes for folks selling their racks. I guess I will take a look at them on Monday.

Slumberland wrote:

Aw, sounds like a great event.

On a more trivial note, does anyone have any recommendations for jeans/slacks that are good for bike commuting? I might traipse over to the Levis store in Times Square to check out their Commuter line.

I'd be curious to know about this as well. I've always just worn my regular clothes ("regular" being whatever I want to be wearing when I get where I'm going) when riding around town, but my great experience with DZR shoes has kind of piqued my interest in other casual "stealth" cycling wear.

One thing I'm thinking about lately is rain gear. The stuff I use now is like 10 year old generic crap from REI, and it doesn't work so well. I was thinking of pants and jacket from Gore (great name, by the way!) but they cost an arm and a leg. Also, I'm not sure what size to get, since I weigh 215 but intend to get down to 185 by spring - worried that if I buy something now (which looks like it would be XL) it'll be too big when I reach my target weight.

I think this is one of those times where it's okay to recommend minutely examining your co-worker's rack before committing to anything.

Slumberland wrote:

Aw, sounds like a great event.

On a more trivial note, does anyone have any recommendations for jeans/slacks that are good for bike commuting? I might traipse over to the Levis store in Times Square to check out their Commuter line.

I'd say it depends on what kind of a commute you've got going on, and what kind of facilities you have at work.

- If you've got somewhere to shower/change there, then wear cycling gear even if it's a short commute.
- If you don't have that type of facility, and it's a short commute, then I'd wear work clothes.
- Longer bike commutes without being able to clean up a bit are where you're going to have issues; I'd eschew it in this case.

Personally, when I was bike commuting to work, I had the advantage of access to a shower at work coupled with being really close. So I'd wear whatever, show up a bit early, shower and change.

I LOVE THIS BIKE! Seems to be working out okay, especially considering I basically didn't get any sleep last night thanks to high winds and trees hammering on the house.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/d7sH0ls.png)

I snagged some Levis Commuter 511s in my size off Amazon at a good price. Will report back!

I love that I can go out with the whole family for a 25 mile ride and it's just another fun Saturday afternoon activity. Of course, there was ice cream involved. Today's choices: Peach Pie, Cinnamon Caramel Apple Pie, Birthday Cake and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (none of which sound like actual ice cream flavors).

Also spotted along the trail -- many brave or foolhardy ducks, 43 dogs, and numerous recumbents, including a tandem recumbent.

We're getting toward the end of the family weekend ride season, barring unseasonably warm weather. (Today was 72 and sunny, but next weekend is supposed to be 55 and rainy.)

So for the first time since April (felt much longer), I got on the road. The ride turned into a walk when I felt a rumble in the rear tire. I had just pumped the tires up for the first time in several months, and it's been sitting in garages, so maybe it developed a pinch flat?

Time to get the tire tended to but now that I'm not recovering from any breaks, the weather's wonderful, and I'm in the country, I can't wait.

Blast, I broke a spoke on the rear wheel of my touring bike. I've only had this bike for like 5 months! I really don't know what happened. I do put a good number of miles on it, though, and a lot of those are towing a trailer which can't be good for it.

Is it bad form to go into an LBS and just buy spokes? Wonder if it's worth my time to pay the gentlemen there to take care of it. I have a truing stand but I'm not exactly a master of the art.

So, back to the old beater tomorrow so I can sort this out.

Also: have you ever tried to transport a bike wheel... on a bike? It's surprisingly cumbersome. I think I'll use a trailer, but the other option I could think of was to rig up a shoulder strap and lug it on my back. I suspect that would hurt...

I bought a few spokes and wrenches and stuff to fix my old beater ('80s steel frame from Craigslist). If they have 'em for sale, I don't see an ethical problem.

It is only bad form if you sit around asking them how to do it for half an hour without paying them for their time.

gore wrote:

Blast, I broke a spoke on the rear wheel of my touring bike. I've only had this bike for like 5 months! I really don't know what happened. I do put a good number of miles on it, though, and a lot of those are towing a trailer which can't be good for it.

Is it bad form to go into an LBS and just buy spokes? Wonder if it's worth my time to pay the gentlemen there to take care of it. I have a truing stand but I'm not exactly a master of the art.

So, back to the old beater tomorrow so I can sort this out.

Also: have you ever tried to transport a bike wheel... on a bike? It's surprisingly cumbersome. I think I'll use a trailer, but the other option I could think of was to rig up a shoulder strap and lug it on my back. I suspect that would hurt...

Nope. At least, it's not where I am. I bought a few spokes and then paid the guy to respoke and true the wheel - his usual fee-for-time. Everyone was cool with it.

Also, do your own research and find out what size spokes you need.

Paleocon wrote:

Also, do your own research and find out what size spokes you need.

Think I'm going to just swing by LBS today and get them to do it for me this time, and while I'm there I'll see if I can pick up some spares for next time.

I'm a little worried that I've broken a spoke already. I really don't think I did anything exceptionally rough to the wheel.

Slumberland wrote:

Aw, sounds like a great event.

On a more trivial note, does anyone have any recommendations for jeans/slacks that are good for bike commuting? I might traipse over to the Levis store in Times Square to check out their Commuter line.

Pricey, but nicey.

Jonman wrote:
Slumberland wrote:

Aw, sounds like a great event.

On a more trivial note, does anyone have any recommendations for jeans/slacks that are good for bike commuting? I might traipse over to the Levis store in Times Square to check out their Commuter line.

Pricey, but nicey.

This stupid thread... makes me want to spend so much money on things I didn't even know I needed...

Jonman wrote:
Slumberland wrote:

Aw, sounds like a great event.

On a more trivial note, does anyone have any recommendations for jeans/slacks that are good for bike commuting? I might traipse over to the Levis store in Times Square to check out their Commuter line.

Pricey, but nicey.

Me likey.

Passed the 5,000 road-bike-mile mark for 2013 yesterday. It was a cold, rainy one here. Winter is trying to come early and I am not so thrilled about it.

Still looking for a good bike rack.

Paleocon wrote:

Still looking for a good bike rack. :(

If you have the money and your car can handle it, I'd strongly recommend a roof rack by e.g. Thule or Yakima. Not cheap though...

gore wrote:
Paleocon wrote:

Still looking for a good bike rack. :(

If you have the money and your car can handle it, I'd strongly recommend a roof rack by e.g. Thule or Yakima. Not cheap though...

I was hoping to get buy on the cheap.

I've got a hatch mount that I paid forty bucks or so for, think it's a Bell. I grabbed it from Walmart, but it's hauled my bike from AL to Texas and back along with a few trips here in Dayton. No real complaints and it hasn't damaged any car I've had it on.

AnimeJ wrote:

I've got a hatch mount that I paid forty bucks or so for, think it's a Bell. I grabbed it from Walmart, but it's hauled my bike from AL to Texas and back along with a few trips here in Dayton. No real complaints and it hasn't damaged any car I've had it on.

I want a hatch mount, but it is important to get the right one.

My coworker had one for sale on the company distro and I looked at it, but it was designed around a trunk lid and, as a result, holds the bike a good 3 feet past the bumper on my Mini Cooper S. That and the fact that the top leg rests on the rear glass, to me, seemed problematic.

Mine's gone on a Ford Focus and a Mini Cooper, so I can vouch for it working well there. It's only a two bike rack, but there's more than enough room for both of em, and the only thing that really bumps the car at all is the tire.

AnimeJ wrote:

I've got a hatch mount that I paid forty bucks or so for, think it's a Bell. I grabbed it from Walmart, but it's hauled my bike from AL to Texas and back along with a few trips here in Dayton. No real complaints and it hasn't damaged any car I've had it on.

I want a hatch mount, but it is important to get the right one.

My coworker had one for sale on the company distro and I looked at it, but it was designed around a trunk lid and, as a result, holds the bike a good 3 feet past the bumper on my Mini Cooper S. That and the fact that the top leg rests on the rear glass, to me, seemed problematic.

What's the budget? I'd look at a Yakima Super Joe or a Sarus Bones rack. If you had a hitch already I'd highly recommend a hitch rack.

Paleocon wrote:
AnimeJ wrote:

I've got a hatch mount that I paid forty bucks or so for, think it's a Bell. I grabbed it from Walmart, but it's hauled my bike from AL to Texas and back along with a few trips here in Dayton. No real complaints and it hasn't damaged any car I've had it on.

I want a hatch mount, but it is important to get the right one.

My coworker had one for sale on the company distro and I looked at it, but it was designed around a trunk lid and, as a result, holds the bike a good 3 feet past the bumper on my Mini Cooper S. That and the fact that the top leg rests on the rear glass, to me, seemed problematic.

I'm not sure if this was intentional or not, but either way, it is the weirdest double post ever. If you want to see what mine looks like on my car with a bike on it I can do that though.

If you have a trailer hitch, I'd get something like this:

IMAGE(http://www.yetiarc.com/images/2008/10/22/saris_thelma_bike_rack_with_yeti.jpg)

There's also something like the Saris Solo if you want it close to the car and don't want to spend much, but I'd be worried about your paint job:

IMAGE(http://kozy.com/images/library/features/saris_solo_oncar_10_f.jpg)

Man, I have a shoe problem. I just ordered these Concubines on ebay, after ordering a pair of h2os last week.

IMAGE(http://www.dzrshoes.com/sites/default/files/H2O.jpg)

The h2o is because I wanted something warmer for nasty winter commuting weather. I've had my GMT-8's get soaked through recently and it's not fun, and the temps are still up in the 60s (nevermind those awful 30-something rain days we seem to get so many of in January - March). They dried out over night and seem to be no worse for it, but I figure the h2o's will fare a lot better (and will also be more effective wind stops).

IMAGE(http://www.dzrshoes.com/sites/default/files/Concubine%20SM1.jpg)

The Concubines were a pure impulse buy because the dude accepted my lowball offer. I kind of think they'll be handy spares to have around when my GMT-8's die, which I'm sure will eventually happen as much abuse as I put them through. In the interim maybe I'll wear them without the cleats like normal shoes.