Cyclists.. help?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

This is mostly for the cycling commuters out there.

It’s been a few years since I rode my bike regularly, and even then it wasn’t that often. I was wondering if anyone had some tips for me? Anything about what I should carry (a repair kit?) or tips about biking along city streets.

You see, city transit is going to go on strike (okay, they haven’t voted yet but I’d say there is a very good chance of it happening within the next couple weeks) and I’m not sure if I can get a ride to work. The only person I know who lives remotely in my area of town also goes on out of town trips regularly… a couple of which are coming up, and a taxi… well, it would cost me almost as much as my take home pay to go to and from work (I have savings, but that’s for the car I want to buy… when I get my license which will take a year because of the laws here) even if I can get a taxi.

So I figure if I can’t get a ride somehow, my next best bet is cycling. So far I’ve found a couple of stores nearby that service bikes, which I am certain my bike needs by now, and I plan to buy a new helmet. I need to plot the best route to work, something that hopefully doesn’t take me along too many heavy traffic roadways (though that will be unavoidable at points I think, if I am reading the maps right… I plan to ask at the stores).

It’s a long trip. About 24kms, according to Google Earth and I know I’m out of shape (plus I just quit smoking before Easter).

Any tips would help. Either about what I might need, or how to get back in shape, or even about your own experiences commuting by bicycle.

Thanks.

2

That’s about 15 miles, right? That’s a pretty hefty ride for someone not used to cycling.

I’d start practicing and build up your miles. I have no advice about tools but good luck!
Your going to be in amazing shape plus you’ll save money!

3

I commute to work during the warmer months. I don’t consider myself a cyclist at all really, but my commute is not much shorter than yours - about 12 miles each way.

My tool kit is very basic - 2 spare tubes, a patch kit, a small multi-use tool (allen key, etc.), 3 tire levers, a small tube of lube, about 5 or 6 zip ties in various sizes, a pair of latex gloves, a pack of handi-wipes. I might be forgetting something, but I think that’s about it.

I keep a pump strapped to the bike and I have a computer mounted on it that gives me my average speed and stuff. I always carry my cell phone and at least 10 bucks cash/my debit card and my ID, even on small non-commute ‘just for the hell of it rides’.

See if there are any groups or clubs that offer cycling skills classes. I’m a member of our local cycling coalition and they offer some great courses - repairs, rules of the roads, tips, etc. All kinds of stuff.

4

Caridwen: Yup, that’s about right. One way. And I know it is a long way, but I know I can do it… once I get back into it. I used to do that (and more) in the summers as a tween/teen. I want to get back into biking, but this is sort of trial-by-fire if transit does go on strike. (Crossing my fingers that they don’t, but it won’t hurt to be prepared… and anyway I want to start biking again so it just gives me incentive to work at it).

psycat: I’ll see about classes. The laws haven’t changed much from when I was a teen (I looked them up when I was thinking I should start biking, and really the only new law is under 17 must have a helmet) and took classes back then, I was usually the one who fixed my own bike for basic stuff. I’m just out of practice.

5

Plot your route, then try it on a non-work day to figure out how long it will take. It will take longer at rush hour. 40-mile per hour winds will really add time

6

I’m a commuter. I do 5 miles each way.

A helmet is a must. You will quickly learn that motorists are actually intent on killing all of us. Even if they don’t realize it.

Quick, while you are motor commuting, bring in some deodorant, a spare shirt in case you forget to pack one, a wee bit of cologne, because when you get your core temp up that high, you’ll continue to sweat for quite a while. And bring in a floor pump. The bike mounted pipe is nice and all, but I am thrilled that I have a nice reliable pump at both home and work. You will learn this the first commute you make with a low tire. It feels like you’re dragging an anchor.

15 miles is no sweat, if you plot the route right. You can plot it downhill both ways, right? Honestly, that is a pretty long haul. I wear a ratty shirt on the way in, and bring a change of shirt. I keep my hair cut short, so no stylist is needed when I get to work, but helmet + biking = sweaty head. So if you have long hair, you may want to also include in your office biking stash a towel and a little shampoo. A little shower powder is nice too, since there are other ahem areas of the body that contine to sweat for a while.

This is a thin tire bike, right? If you are cruising 15 miles on a knobby tired heavy mountain bike, you are going to be really damn tired by the time you get in.

I’m still trying to figure out why psycat90 carries latex gloves. If psycat90 is a she, I think I want to bike with her sometime. Latex gloves, lube, and handiwipes? :smiley: And you only really need two tire levers.

7

Or decrease! :smiley:

8

conurepete: Planned to do that. I have an idea of which way would be best (ie crosses or runs along the least amount of heavy traffic or at least has a sidewalk I can ride on… I’ll tempt the ticket gods on this if I have to) but I also planned to stop at a couple of shops in town and ask them what would be a good way to go before I then attempt it.

NurseCarmen: A helmet is my first stop! I feel awkward if I don’t have one thanks to my Dad making us wear them before they were law. (Brother fell into a big mailbox and got a concussion… we both got helmets that day.) Making notes on the deoderant and spare shirt. I may work with guys, and see (and smell phew) a lot of truck drivers but I don’t want to smell like them myself. My hair isn’t that long, but I know it’ll get sweaty. No help for that, and no real place to wash it there, so I’ll just deal. Maybe I’ll take to looking like the girls on the line, wearing bandannas to cover it.

Actually, it’s going to be a bit hilly coming home. Near work is mostly flat, but I live at the top of a hill on the edge of downtown.

Aaand, no not a thin tire. It’s a mountain bike my Dad bought for me at Canadian tire 10+ years ago (I’ve always used it for city riding, don’t get to the mountains that often despite them being so close). Still in good shape, just needs a going over of the brakes/tires/chain.

I’d guess psycat carries gloves to keep her hands clean if she has to do something with the chain on the commute. No greasy hands at work then.

Mostly I’m hoping to not have to do the bike commute. I want to get out more, but not like this! I’m just preparing for the worst commute-wise.

9

I am a she. And we just happen to have a huge box of them at home, so I had thrown some in my car at one point in case I ever needed to do a tire change or something, I don’t know…greasy.

Anyway, I end up doing something greasy much more often on my bike than in my car, and I am a horribly messy and uncoordinated person by nature. (I still think it’s a miracle I can even stay upright on a bicycle.)

The first time I had to go to school with black fingernails and grease marks on my face, I decided to throw a couple of gloves in my saddle bag. Not really needed, but they hardly take up any space and keep my fingers clean.

Also, I can not believe it has never occurred to me to bring a floor pump to work. :smack: That is brilliant. I know we have a few other bike commuters in the office, it never even occurred to me that they might have a floor pump in their office. I’m totally buying one this week. I patched 2 flats last summer at the office (and 2 on the road), it definitely would have been much nicer to have a real pump while still in the office parking lot, that’s for sure.

I guess that’s another piece of good advice - I pump my tires once a week or more when I am riding regularly. Pretty much before every trip.

10

Whenever I ride I aways carry the following:
[ul]
[li]One tube[/li][li]patch kit[/li][li]C02 inflator with two cartridges[/li][li]A presta to shrader converter (You probably won’t need this)[/li][li]The world’s greatest tire lever* [/li][li]a multitool of some flavor like this this one [/li][li]at least one water bottle[/li][li]Money/ID/Credit cards[/li][/ul]

For a very long ass ride (50 miles+ road, or 3 hours+ mountain) I will add/change the following:
[ul]
[li]2nd extra tube[/li][li]Pump or additional C02 cartridges (probably pump)[/li][li]Lots more water[/li][li]Food[/li][li]A multitool like this one [/li][/ul]

If there is any chance I will be out either before full light in the AM or dusk in the evening, I will have at least one red flashing light on the back of my bike, and usually my headlight on my helmet.
*this lever ROCKS. Use it once and you will never use any other.

11

To add to others recommendations:

  • make sure tyres are fully inflated, otherwise you will be working much harder than you need do

  • buy a reasonably sized bag that clips onto the top of a matching rack (rather than a panier). Your work clothes can be folded up into this without becoming crumpled.
    There is one here that also has fold out panniers. A top packs that slide onto and clip into a rack with tracks is best.

  • wear a bright fluoro top, in addition to flashing front and back lights to keep the cars off

  • it will take a couple of months to develop the habit for riding to work, so stick at it

12

I keep a can of athlete’s foot/jock itch spray in my desk at work. When I arrive by bike, I always give the inside of my shorts a good, thorough spray, and squirt some on myself as well. This is purely preventive. Sitting all day in sweaty shorts (or keeping a pair of sweaty shorts in a gym bag all day and putting them on again to ride home) is a really good way to give yourself a truly nasty fungus attack, in my experience.

13

Like the others mention, I carry a spare tube, tire levers, valve converter to allow tubes to be inflated at a petrol station, multi-tool, mini pump and patch kit. I also have a set of instructions for fixing flats, just in case I forget - although the idea is to have a spare tube so I don’t need to worry about this.

I cycle 17km each way (with hills), and my kit includes a rack and panniers, blinking lights both fore and aft, a water bottle, bell and wing mirror, to handle surprise traffic. Helmet and gloves in the event of a fall as well. I am lucky that Melbourne is a real cycle city, and there are either bike lanes or bike paths the whole of my trip. It takes me about 38 min one way, 45 the other (more hills). I have 28mm tires on a hybrid bike, so I would expect that it’s going to be a long trip for you - if you are riding on road surface getting slick tires is, I believe, going to be safer and offer more traction, plus offer some speed benefits.

I switched to panniers quite recently, and while I prefer the freedom of not having a backpack, it has made the bike heavier, which is a consideration when you have hills to face.

Also consider your insurance position - make sure your health insurance and contents insurance will cover your bike while you are riding as well as stored at work - in Australia at least many policies won’t cover the bike while in use, which is slightly rediculous (would you take out car insurance that wouldn’t cover you while driving?!)

Stay aware, and obey all the road rules. Drivers won’t always see you, but you stand a better chance if you are as predictable as you can be. But be defensive - you may be in the right, but in a collision with a car, you will always come off worse. Also make sure you are super aware when passing parked cars. Most of the serious injuries I have heard of here are from people riding into opening doors, rather than being hit from behind. Be more cautious and patient than you think is necessary, and you should be OK.

It’s great though - I arrive at work hot and sweaty, and in a great mood after my lovely ride in along the river. Much better than public transport, and better for the environment!

14

Please don’t. Riding on the sidewalk isn’t a good plan, it’s not safer then riding on the street for you or the pedestrians. Once you get used to it, riding on the streets is a lot safer, legal, and faster. I ride on Cambridge MA streets, and the sidewalks would be a deathwish.

15

Very, very true. A helmet is a must no matter how long or short your ride, but even more so for longer rides. I’m a strong proponent of bike helmets since a few of my friends have had them save their lives.

16

Also agreed, biking on a sidewalk full of pedestrians is not a good idea. Just like motorists are all out to kill you, every pedestrian is secretly trying to get you to hit them. I’ve had people step in front of my bike and just stop walking, and that was in the middle of the street. It’s a thousand times worse if you try to bike on a sidewalk.

17

Last year I commuted about once a week. 10 miles one way. Luckily there were bike trails, wide shoulders, or untravelled roads for most of the ride.

I used two panniers. I had a change of clothes in one and lunch, tools, lock, deodarant etc in another. I wore bike clothes when biking (mountain bike shorts and a jersey. Wind pants and/or top as needed. gloves and of coruse helmet).

Luckily it was very casual dress at work. No shower so I’d wash up as best I could and changed clothes and applied deodarant.

I had a spare tube (never needed it) and a tool kit which has:
chain tool
tire irons
screwdriver (reversable shaft with straight/ phillips)
adjustable crescent wrench
spoke tool
two fixed thin crescnet wrenches
pliers
third hand (which is useless for the V brakes I have)
set of allen/hex wrenches

Also water bottle

Brian

18

I thought of something on my way in this morning. Whether you go the messenger bag route or the back pack, make sure it’s waterproof. Also, purchase a few velcro straps at the bike store so you can strap your pant legs, so they don’t get caught in the chain. I’ve always considered bringing in a spare pair of pants and undies to work, just in case, but I never have. It might be worth considering, since when it’s dumping down rain, I motor in. You won’t really have that choice.

hey neat, I never thought of using Google Earth to measure my commute. 5.34 miles each way, from my front door to work’s front door!

19

re the biking on the sidewalk

I’m not planning on doing that in the busiest areas of town. I have to cut through downtown (or alongside it) and plan to stick to the roads. I’ll have no problem with the road going down 17th or anywhere near my place and the downtown core. Where I plan to stick to a sidewalk is the area where I work, an industrial park with lots of big semis pulling trailers, sometimes 2 or even 3, and I regularly see people on bikes on the sidewalk here as there are very few pedestrians.

I also have to work out a path that goes by either where Blackfoot becomes 17th ave SE (which seems to be the most direct route, and flattest at least by work) or along Glenmore (up a big hill), which are big multi-lane roads where the traffic moves fast. They aren’t specifically verboten to cyclists like the Deerfoot is, but I don’t want to be on the side of them if I can help it.

That’s why I am picking up a cycling map (easier to read than the one they have online) and going to ask at the stores what might be the best route. Unfortunately, for a city with over 200km of bike paths, near as I can tell there are none that go along where I have to go.

20

A 24km commute demands saddle bags and slick (road) tires on any bike, even if it is an old Cdn Tire special.
Trust me, you don’t want to be slogging some messenger bag or backpack around, especially if you haven’t been riding that distance in a while.
You must stop right now and get a headlight and taillight for your bike – make sure you get headlights that take rechargeable batteries. Yes the sun is staying up later and later, but you could be on the road for a long time.

If it’s raining (it’s going to happen) you’ll want goretex. Make sure you get a jacket with armpit zippers. You’ll want goretex pants with a zipper up the side too.

Padded shorts and gloves are a must!