Beginning the bicycle commute Monday

[pegkerr]

Oh boy, oh boy, I'm nervous about it. But I'm really going to do it.

My commute is five miles one way. My beloved old bike (which had been sitting in the basement untouched for twenty some years) has been checked--the friendly people over at the Hub said that it is in really good shape, although I might want to think about someday replacing those steel wheels with aluminum ones. It has been tuned up/overhauled and is sitting in the garage waiting for the big day, which at this point I plan to be Monday. I have new brakes, lights, back rack, fenders, panniers, helmet, bungee cords, lock, pump, spare innertube, tire spanner and other tools and map of bike routes in the twin cities.

The thing I'm most nervous about is dealing with a flat. They showed me how to swap the innertube out at the Hub bike shop. I'm just going to hold my breath and hope I don't get one for awhile. I'll have to figure out what to wear for wet weather gear (the fenders will help. I hope). There is a shower at the office building if I arrive really mucked up. I figure I can wrap my bags in plastic garbage bags to keep them dry while the snow is still melting. And heck, if it's pouring outside, I can bail and take my bike on the light rail.

I've found the Paul Dorn website about bicycle commuting, and it has been very helpful (although he lives in San Francisco and so doesn't have nearly as many weather issues). Edited to add: I've just set up a syndicated feed for his blog, bikecommutetips.

Tell me this is going to work. Aaagh. Any advice/encouragement for the brand new baby bicycle commuter? Yes, friends list, I am actually asking for advice. *twitches*

Comments

[king-tirian.livejournal.com]

First off, good for you!

If swapping an innertube is making you nervous, you might do well to practice switching it out in your warm dry garage a few times. If it happens to you on the road and you're not ready for it, then just throw your bike on public transport or toss it in the back seat of someone's car. It's been twenty-some years since I've ridden myself, but back then they did sell thicker tubes that would be more puncture-resistant, if such things would bring you comfort.

In conclusion, good for you!

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

I've biked to work a couple of different times--once when I lived on 27thth & Garfield and more recently when I lived in Linden Hills & worked at the old Honeywell campus.

Have you figured out routes yet? (You work downtown, right? On Washington Ave., I believe...)

One thing I noticed about biking to work, I was an absolute bitch when I had to bus to work, but had a great deal more patience when I biked.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm going to start out using Park and Portland, which both have bike lanes.

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

This should work out fine, except when it doesn't. Most of the time will be excellent. 5 miles in essentially flat terrain is nothing even for a seriously out-of-shape guy like me (at least it wasn't last time I had my bike out, but that wasn't more than a decade ago). Fenders *do* help a lot in the rain; the other key thing is a *poncho*. And the next thing after that would be some kind of rain pants, if it's really serious. I'm sure you dress a lot fancier for the office than I ever do, so not sure how that will interact with biking.

Watch out for cars! Do you have rearview mirrors, on the bike or on your helmet?

In all the years of living with a bike as my main transport in Northfield, I had something like one flat tire. Walking a bike a mile isn't that big a deal, and with the bike racks on buses and light rail, I wouldn't think you'd have to walk it further than that, ever, to get it home to fix it conveniently.

I think it's too early to start -- right now, the streets are significantly narrowed by the snow, and the riding towards the edges is much worse than usual, so that'll make your interaction with cars rather more close than is really healthy. But maybe a lot will melt off this weekend.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I do have a rearview mirror for my helmet and a rain poncho. I may add rearview mirrors to the handlebars. I may be getting those Neoprene overshoes.

I'll be going down Park one way and Portland the other, and they both have bike lanes. They are both quite clear of snow now (and frankly, money being the issue it is, I want to start as soon as possible). I figure if something goes wrong with the bike and I don't have time to deal with it, I can always just mosey over to Chicago Avenue, which is a major transit artery, and put my bike on the bike rack for the bus.

[sraun]

I asked johnridley to stop in and share his experience - he bicycle commutes something like 15-20 one-way in South Michigan, year-round.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[diatryma.livejournal.com]

I'm a nervous biker, which is strange because I really don't like helmets (I've had the lectures, but I haven't found one that can handle my hair). I have trouble going uphill (hooboy, hills) and any temperature below, oh, fifty. Just me being out of shape.
One thing I learned over the summer is that clear signalling helps tons. When I'm driving and come up behind a cyclist, I never know if I'm supposed to pass or not, but if they swing way over to give me room, I know I can. I try to do that when I'm biking. I also have bike bags that hook on the rack-- they're sized for grocery bags, which will be good once it warms up and I try to bike to the store.
A friend of mine went to the automotive section of the store and got a light for seeing rather than for being seen. It's a nine- or twelve-volt thing, looks rickety as anything on his handlebars, but it makes a huge difference in the number of holes he's biked into.

[bethynyc.livejournal.com]

You can do this! I'm so proud of you for doing this, and biking will not only be good for *you* but also good for the world and set a great example for your kids.

You can so do this!

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

No real advice, just some cheering. Go you! I think that's fantastic!

I actually used my bike to pick up Meg from preschool the other day. This area isn't really bike-commuter friendly, but I have to say it was MUCH less scary and problematic than I thought -- and it felt great.

For wet weather gear, look at hiking/outdoors shops. The breathable rain pants and jackets (though expensive...) might do well for biking.

[porphyrin.livejournal.com]

On your last day driving to work-- or this weekend--

Bring a spare change of clothes to the office. You would not BELIEVE how many times I messed up my good dress pants by brushing up against the side of my bike. As DDB said, a poncho/rain gear is essential, as is reflective tape for evenings.

[aome.livejournal.com]

Do you have Mr Tuffy liners for your tires? They help prevent flats.

I've asked my friend syntonic_comma to chime in if he has a moment - he's been bike commuting for years.

Good luck, and go you!

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Oooh, thanks for the tip about Mr. Tuffy liners. Hadn't heard of them, and I will check them out.

[jbru.livejournal.com]

My best advice would be to take some time on Sunday (after you're recovered from our outing!) and make the ride into work. Take your time, loop back and check out alternate routes. Remember that the most direct route may not be the easiest route in terms of hills to climb and such. If you add a bit of time/distance to your route by going around a hill instead of up and over you'll be glad of it, particularly when you're starting out. Also if a particular route has less traffic it might be a better choice than one with more traffic and a bike lane.

Other than that, have fun! When I was biking about 4 miles to work and back I was pretty happy and I even did it during 3rd shift hours! Adding this to your daily walks and you'll be really racking up the benefits of the exercise!

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

Commuting by bike is an excellent idea; if anything, give yourself a little extra time to start with. (I've had perhaps half-a-dozen flats on the road in twenty years, if that.)

[naomikritzer]

My suggestion is to plan on alternate-day cycling for the first two weeks, to ease into it. Because your butt is going to hurt. No matter how easy the terrain, if you're biking for more than ten to fifteen minutes it's going to take some time to get your butt used to the bike seat again, and you will probably be much less miserable if you don't have to force yourself right back on the next day. (Regardless, though, know that soreness where body hits bike seat is normal, does not necessarily mean you need a new seat, and will go away after a relatively small number of rides.)

In addition to bringing in a change of clothes (because you'll need them sooner or later) you might also bring in an extra cushion for your office chair for the week or two where you're breaking in your butt again.

bike seats

[syntonic-comma.livejournal.com]

One word: recumbents.
My bike seat is comfortable.

[naomikritzer]

Also, once you've gotten used to it physically, I think you will really enjoy bike commuting. You'll be able to enjoy the shift from winter to spring in a very tangible way. You'll be getting exercise and it will simply be part of your day (time you'd otherwise be spending in a car). You'll be able to feel environmentally virtuous. And biking is fun.

And there are some really fabulous, beautiful bike routes in Minneapolis, though my favorites are not terribly convenient to your commute. (The Greenway is amazing, the chain of lakes is amazing, the River Road is amazing....)

[kiwiria.livejournal.com]

I bike to and from work every day and have done so for the past... *thinks*... 8 years. The absolutely worst thing about biking is when it's windy and rainy. A good raincoat+pants is essential.

Don't push yourself. Let it take the time it takes. There's nothing worse than arriving to work out of breath and sweaty. I bike at an easy 15-20km/h. Doesn't get me anywhere fast, but I enjoy the ride.

Bring your ipod and listen to books or music on the way. All the books I've heard lately have been in 20 minute increments on my way to and from work.

I love biking. Honestly. No traffic jams to get caught in. You get exercise and fresh air on a regular basis. And you get to gloat over coworkers who think it's too wet or cold to bike ;-) Ok, so the last is just for fun, but still :-D

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

hehe. I don't like wind, but I LOVE riding in rain.
And IMHO there's nothing BETTER than arriving to work out of breath and sweaty. But I take a shower before getting to work.

[purplejavatroll.livejournal.com]

I don't see any reason cycling to work wouldn't work. I've done it for 20 years. :)

I live in a climate probably not too different from yours (Edmonton,AB, Can.) and I manage it 7-10 months of the year, depending on when there's ice on the road. It's good to have the right clothes for it, although they can be a bit expensive, because it allows you to ride on the days when you couldn't just ride into work in your nice clothes. I have Lycra shorts, waterproof pants, warm windproof gloves and a cycling jacket complete with armpit zippers and reflective tape. I've thought about investing in fancier shoes, but somehow I always return to sandals.

I carry my other clothes with me, usually in a pannier. Lining the pack/pannier with a large plastic bag means you don't have to worry about wet stuff, although you can get waterproof covers, too. Like you, I have a shower at work, and I do all my grooming there, rather than have to worry about touch-up when I get to work. This also lets me leave home a bit earlier and miss more traffic.

If you're riding in bike lanes, that's terrific, because you won't have to worry as much about visibility. That said, it's still better to have as many things as possible to enable drivers to see you. You can buy reflective tape and put it on packs and your bike, and a good investment is a bright orange or yellow mesh cycling vest that you can slip over anything you might be wearing. I always carry a small first aid kit with me, a small package of wipes and a cloth to clean up after repairs and the like. Two years ago I bought a trailer for doing shopping and the like and I love it. It allows me to do things I could never do otherwise. A good bike lock is necessary if you're parking outside. People will steal the damndest things.

I hope you enjoy it! My bike is in the shop for repairs, and I'm going to pick it up tonight. I'm hoping to ride Monday morning, despite the fact that I'll probably have to go through some too deep puddles and skid around a bit in the dark on the ice. But I miss it, and can't wait to get back.

Hope this was of help!

pjt

[purplejavatroll.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, and my commute around 9 km one way, so it's just about the same as yours. :)

pjt

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

Good for you for taking the plunge. I cycle year-round, I only have driven 2 days of the last year, so it's possible. My route is 10.5 miles one way but little of it is in urban areas so I won't try to give you much advice there.

I've gotten so that I'm practically depressed to be in the car when I could be on the bike. Every time a particularly out-of-tune car passes me, once my eyes stop stinging I think "that's why." Plus, after over a year of full-time commuting, IMHO I look better than I ever have, and I eat whatever the hell I like and still stay in shape. And you maintain a connection with nature, the changing of the seasons, and just little things that others don't even know they're missing.

http://bikeforums.net is good reading, particularly the commuter forum. There are people there that have commuted 5+ miles daily for decades in Manhattan. HOWEVER, don't be discouraged by some of the stories. Remember, some of these people are commuting in Miami, LA, or some other asshat-central (for bike commuters, no offense to residents). They have some very scary stories, but remember; these are the same people who talk about getting honked and screamed at and stuff thrown at them multiple times per day. I haven't had anyone so much as toot at me for over a year. Maybe 3 or 4 honks in the first year, but the regulars get used to seeing you and things calm down.

Don't be overwhelmed by the quantity of information you see from me or other sources. Just keep at it. Driving is hard too but eventually all this stuff becomes second nature.

First, do not assume that the route you drive is the best route to ride. Do not assume that the shortest route is the best one. Since a bike is traveling slower anyway, often riding one block over from the major roads will mean dealing with a fraction of the traffic and won't really slow you down much. Watch for hills, bad road, other things when planning your route.

It's a REALLY GOOD idea to ride to work on a weekend first. There's a lot less traffic (unless you're around a major shopping district or something) and it'll give you a lot of confidence. 5 miles is really not very far on a bike though people who have never tried it before seem to think it's a trip to the moon.

Second, and don't expect this to come quickly or naturally, remember that you have a right to be on the road. Do not allow yourself to be bullied into an unsafe situation. The law in almost all states (I don't know MN specifically) says that you need to ride as far to the right as "practicable" - this is different than as far right as possible. You are not required to put yourself in danger. You are not required to ride where the pavement is bad, or there's ice, or there's gravel/sand that could cause you to lose control.

You especially are not required to ride within about 4 feet of parked cars. That's a good way to wind up in the ER with a car-door-shaped dent in your skull.

I am a nice guy and I ride in the shoulder and let people past me, but only if it's safe. If there's an obstacle on the side, I check the mirror and "take the lane" - remember, the lane is LEGALLY YOURS - you can CHOOSE to relinquish it, but you're not required to. DO NOT weave in and out of the lane. Get into the lane in plenty of time, if there's another obstacle ahead, stay in the lane.

If the lane is too narrow to share with a car, then don't ride too far to the right; it'll encourage drivers to try to squeeze by, and someday that won't end well for you. I'm very lucky in that almost all of the roads I ride on are pretty wide; a pickup can pass me with 3 feet to spare with me near the white line and they're still inside the yellow. But on corners and some other situations, I will swing as far to the left as I need to to tell overtaking drivers "DON'T BE AN ASSHOLE, YOU CAN WAIT 5 SECONDS TO GET A CLEAR LANE TO PASS IN." You can use the low hand signal to tell the drivers what you expect them to do. Also, you can see a lot farther than them, unless they're in a commercial truck or something; my eyes are as high as someone in an F350 and I have better visibility - so when you can see it's safe, wave them on, they'll appreciate it.

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

(continued)
If you're behaving predictably and within the law, drivers in general will respect that and will give you the room you need. Drivers may try to intimidate you, but they will not intentionally hit you. The best response to an intimidation attempt is to get even more in their way so they don't think they can keep pushing you. Don't be scared though, this is incredibly rare and you probably will not see a pushy driver for months at a time. They'll honk at you, but honks don't hurt. Getting bullied into hitting a curb or going down because you were bullied into the gutter does hurt.

Remember, drivers generally do not know what a bike needs, but you do. They see a bike on rare instances, but you see cars 1000 times an hour. YOU need to direct THEM. If you ride along 6 inches from the curb, drivers will take that to mean that you only need 6 inches of space. If you're riding 3 feet out, they'll generally give you 3 feet of space on your left.

Get a mirror. I like helmet mirrors because I can't forget them. Some people like bike mounted mirrors, but I don't because you have to look down and away from the situation to look in them, so situational awareness isn't as good, IMHO.

Get a nice bright set of shirts to wear. www.alertshirt.com - you won't win any style shows, but by god people WILL SEE YOU. At $8 each you can buy a few.

As for foul-weather stuff, suffice it to say that fenders+mudflaps are a gift from the gods and should just come on any commuter bike. Once you have those, most raingear will work fine though you'll be happier if it's vented; if not you'll get about as wet from your own sweat as from the rain. If it's warm out (summer) I actually don't even bother wearing raingear; riding in the rain is quite fun, and contrary to popular belief, people do not melt in the rain, and you don't catch cold by getting cold. Also you will not actually get cold because you're working hard.

5 miles can leave some people sweaty. I work in a casual environment, and I take a few sets of clothes in to work once every couple of weeks and rotate through them a couple of times. But any situation can be made to work. There are people on bikeforums that wear suits and have no showers. They keep the wet-wipes people in business and spend $200 on a garment carrier.

If you're ever going to have to ride in any sort of fog, rain, etc, I'd really highly recommend the Planet Bike SuperFlash. This thing will wake up drivers and it cuts through the fog. $20 or so. I don't know what kind of lights you have; there are good lights, awesome lights, and worthless lights. I ride daily including at night so I've spent probably $300 on lights, but that's not necessary for most people.

Carry a spare tube, a set of tire levers, and a multitool. I picked up a cheap $10 multitool at Meijer (wal-mart probably has them too). It's not a wonder of technology but it'll tighten a loose screw and get you home. Oh, and carry some nylon zip ties. Just do; I've seen people use them to hold together all kinds of crazy stuff on their bikes in a pinch.

You don't need all this junk at once, except for the spare tube and tire levers. You can just jump on your bike with your stuff in a backpack, and make that work for months. But this is just some stuff that will make life easier. If you keep it up you can treat yourself to some of this stuff as you wish.

Don't be scared by my above advice on tackling bad situations. They rarely happen. The correct response to all of them is to be assertive about your rights. Don't WORRY about things, but be prepared for them.

Neither my advice nor anyone elses is going to be the perfect advice for you; everyone has a different situation and a different approach. If you wanted to be like everyone else you'd keep crawling into your steel cage and sitting in traffic every morning. Adapt to your situation.

[kijjohnson.livejournal.com]

Be patient with yourself, be careful, and watch the cars, since they won't always see you. And wear a reflective vest or something.

I'm sorry I didn't call yesterday! I've had this headache for three days now, and it's affecting my remembering things.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I hope the headache is better now. Well, that you're better, and the headache is gone.

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

I liked another commenter's idea about planning to cycle on alternate days the first week. And the one about being flexible.

If it were me, I'd drive to the office on Sunday with a stash of supplies (several sets of socks and undies, Monday's clothes, a towel and shower stuff, a discreet way to stow all of the above in the office, and some of Monday's lunch).

Have you got water bottles?

I'm lucky enough to live about a kilometer from my office, so I walk, but I'll probably be recommissioning an old bike next spring. I was alarmed, last spring, to discover how wobbly and uncomfortable I felt on the bike after several years off. Despite being a big-city bike commuter several years ago, I'm now hesitant and careful about traffic. I hope I get back to feeling more comfortable taking my lane, and balanced enough to give extended signals.

[frozen-jelly.livejournal.com]

I know you've said you have a helmet and will be using bike lanes, but there has been research done (albeit in the Uk where road space is at a bit more of a premium) which concluded that cars give more space to cyclists who do not wear helmets, those who wear helmets lull teh cra drivers into a false sense of security so they drive closer :S Scary stuff. Not to mention potential neck injuries if you have a nasty fall while cycling with a helmet( something to do with angles and the extra bulk of the helmet throwing the neck out of alignment.) Good luck though, I'm sure you will be fine and not need it!

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

Back when I was a bicycle commuter (in Ottawa, a relatively bike-friendly city), my impression was that cars took me more seriously as a vehicle taking my lane when I wore a helmet. It might have helped that my helmet was bright yellow.

[eal.livejournal.com]

Oh good luck!!!

I know you can do it. You're in great shape and this is only going to make it better.

[katakanadian.livejournal.com]

Good for you!

I'll also mention how cycling really isn't as much slower as people think. I recently read that most people underestimate driving time by 26% and overestimate alternate transport time by 70%. I am much less likely to be late for work when I plan on riding my bike. Occasionally I will get held up and still have the chance to switch my car and get there on time but if I had started with the car and missed my planned departure time I don't have a helicopter to switch to. Traffic jams also have very little effect on my bicycle. I never waste five minutes hunting for a parking space and then having to walk from my car to my destination.

[sheryll.livejournal.com]

I'm not a bike commuter, but Andy has been for over a decade. He even used to bike home from his summer job every second week and that was 98 km each way!

You've already gotten great advice on bikewear, mirrors and the like. I'll add two things. :)

If you find it butt-numbing, invest in a gel seat cover. Much nicer to sit on.

Winter weather is hell on bike tires. Andy had 2 flats in the first 3 weeks of winter here. He asked for, and got, airless tires for his birthday. Says they're awesome. I don't have a weblink for them, he just picked them up at some local place that's not even a bike store. They were about $35 a piece and well worth the money.

I am Syntonic_comma's spouse

[anniemal.livejournal.com]

I've watched him commute 5-7.3mi. each way for 8.5 yrs. He's got it down enough to convince me he's mostly safe. (I'm a worrier.) Traffic around here is insane as it can get. He does it. Mostly he takes less-than-main roads, and his fondness for LEDs and halogens is reassuring. Reflective is good. Flashing is better. Make them think you're a motorcycle. Helps you avoid nasty obstacles in time to just fall over. Or gets you respect. S_C is modest. He'll never say he runs the roads he travels. Politely. Always politely. And sometimes he does get knocked over. Not that he tells me willingly.

All my best wishes fly you safe to your mark. May your flight be swift and safe. Bikes are not respected here. Double safe is good.

Re: I am Syntonic_comma's spouse

[anniemal.livejournal.com]

He gets knocked over mostly by vegetation. Fallen and low-hanging branches and leaves are common here. Not cars. Unless he hasn't told me.