Commuting questions from CP
UndercoverElephant
Posts: 5,796
Personally, I just wish that someone had told me how much fun it was - I'd have started ages ago.
Edit: OK, this just looks weird now, thanks for deleting the first post, Rob. For those who are looking at this and wondering; there was a post from Rob Spalding asking what you would have liked to know, or wish you'd known when you first started commuting...
Edit: OK, this just looks weird now, thanks for deleting the first post, Rob. For those who are looking at this and wondering; there was a post from Rob Spalding asking what you would have liked to know, or wish you'd known when you first started commuting...
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Posts
If a non-rider, or new rider, were to ask you for bike commuting advice what would you tell them? What do you wish you knew when you started commuting by bike.
And I know there's a whole thread dedicated to pics of your commuting bikes but I spend too much time on the internet as it is, so tell me about your expensive, bargain, quirky or downright inappropriate commuting bikes.
Cheers
Rob
Cycling Plus
Think of the money you are saving initially! I say initially because before long you will inherit the natural instinct to use the n+1 rule, with n being the number of bikes you have
Dont forget to stock up on washing tabs when you start commuting as you will find yourself washing clothes more than you could possibly believe!
FCN 4
if you use irrational measures to measure me, expect me to behave irrationally to measure up
To answer the question:
Learn to keep calm and let the mad things other people do go. Makes the commute much less stressful and more fun (it took me a couple of years to get this and I occasionally backslide).
Ride predictably. If that means you don't get that tiny gap or the commute takes a bit longer then so be it.
Enjoy it.
Planet-x Scott
Rides
Mostly about the gear, really.
Seems you beat me to that...
feel free to ask me questions though... or should I be asking questions?
Hybrids...why?
Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
Fixed Pista- FCN 5
Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
I wish I appreciated how much more efficient a road bike is than a hardtail MTB with slicks. You can't really get this across without real life experience of it though...
that one was told to me by a doctor while i was in intensive care in november after getting knocked off; best commuting advice ever.
FCN 5
All wrenching and no riding makes me frickin' angry...
If you must get a helmet camera, try and show the fun side of commuter cycling, its not all about getting nearly run over as youtube would have you believe:
http://www.vimeo.com/17864192
Chris
Genesis Equilibrium - FCN 3/4/5
Ignorance is bliss, never add up what you've spent on cycling :?
Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
Use the bike to carry the kit not eg a rucsac so a rackpack is good as are mudguards.
MTBs (no suspension) are good commuters esp. if used with 26 x 1 tyres
expect everyone in a car to be mad and to do exactly what you fear they will do.
Get reliable tyres fitted and carry disposable gloves and spare tubes with a spare tube at work. The tyres may be heavy but you need the puncture resistance more than fast cornering.
Carry a chain-tool and spare link.
1. Don't worry about holding up other traffic. You're safer being more visible and taking primary. Let people past when YOU feel safe.
2. Go clipless, flats are dangerous in the wet, and clips aren't as practical. I am definately a lot quicker with SPDs/clipless
3. Crazy filtering may the the norm for many people, but sometimes it just isn't worth the hassle, if you'll make the next phase of lights just take primary behind the last car. Your blood pressure will thank you. You won't actually lose any ground.
4. It IS worth cleaning your bike reguarly and investing in the correct tools for this.
5. Two bikes are helpful
6. Spare tube + puncture repair when home, it's not fun by the side of the road.
7. It's not worth getting into arguments with drivers, you're wasting your breath. If you must have a word be polite and calm to a fault, it will defuse any situation.
Strava
1) Up your food intake.
2) Love Lycra
3) Buy a bike with drops and 700c wheels but dont get too hung up on weight.
And above all else get a bike that is comfy you will have to, in most cases, spend an hour of your working day on it.
W
It is NOT as hard as you ever think it will be. Get the best bike you can afford Plan ahead and get organised Cycling in the pouring rain is GREAT fun. No really. It's a riot. The heaver the better. Forget being wet, just be warm.
2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
2011 Trek Madone 4.5
2012 Felt F65X
Proud CX Pervert and quiet roadie. 12 mile commuter
Rob
But possibly make-do with whatever you've got available until you know what kind of bike you *should* be buying. Too many people jump at whatever the bike shop recommends and in a couple of months wish they'd got something else.
Cycle training.
*Any more insults and I'm getting out my sharpened pitchfork :twisted:
Fixed is a really bad idea for a beginner, it's hard enough dealing with all these people trying to get past you as well as sorting out what the hell the bike is making your legs do.
Very Hairy Roadie - FCN 4
Fixed Pista- FCN 5
Beared Bromptonite - FCN 14
I think hybrids are only good as a 'gateway' bike. The bike that gives you a taste of how much better things could be. Like cannabis is a gateway drug that leads all users onto heroin and/or crack.
Got your road bike built yet CW?
Don't worry just wear pads on your lower legs and she can't hurt you!
FCN 4: Planet X Schmaffenschmack 2- workhorse
FCN 9: B Twin Vitamin - winter commuter/loan bike for trainees
I'm hungry. I'm always hungry!
You'd think that a bike is a bike is a bike initially, but truly the difference between hating the grind and looking forward to the ride is the bike (I did the full suss knoblies, full suss slicks, road bike, good roadbike, properly rapid fgss progression over the course of about six months. A path strewn with abandoned bikes).
It's also about the top layer of clothes. I ride in street clothes 99.5% of the time (lycra only for multi-hour leisure rides) but a good breathable waterproof jacket and a pair of overtrousers tucked in your bag mean that even if it absolutely sheets down I'm arriving at my destination with worst case wet feet (and you can hide that!
Finally, wear gloves. Even if you're just shooting to the shop wear gloves. That skin stuff is pretty useful and the growing-it-back process is tedious.
CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
Litespeed L3 for Strava bits
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
Buy a bike you think you'll ride. If that's a hybrid or MTB then you crack on.
If you riding further than 10 miles each way - YOU NEED A ROAD BIKE
If you are riding up hill - YOU NEED A ROAD BIKE
Stay away from Argos, JJB, Asda, Tesco Direct and your mum's catalogue.
Approach Halford's with caution, avoid their Apollo and Trax ranges.
You don't need full suspension
Always remember that there are 1000's of people cycling to school, to work and just to get around. They're not posting on here, they're not upgrading groupsets or investing in the latest carbon fibre Italian (Taiwanese) exotica.
They're all ages, shapes and sizes.
They're just riding their bikes
You can do it to.
True dat.
Buy a bike you like. Ride it around. Job done!
Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
So, how's the mixte? Did I miss anything?
Still wondering what's on the frame stickers... I am a sorry state of affairs...
Cheers,
W.
You're not the only one.
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition
Cheers,
W.
Buy Cyclecraft by John Franklin, and read it!
From that you'll learn about the primary position and:
You can filter down which ever side you feel safest
Don't go up the inside of any vehicle at traffic light unless you are 100% sure that the lights aren't going to change
Even if you are sure, NEVER go up the inside of a truck, bus lorry or van.
The rest is just like...um riding a bike
Oh and if you are cycling for the first time. cycle one day, give your self two days off, cycle again, and have one day off, then you can cycle, (and sit down) more comfortably. Also leave as much stuff as you can at work. Do you really need to carry your D lock an a pair of shoes in each day, or can you leave your lock at work stash your work shoes in your draw?
If I'm not riding I'm shooting http://grahamsnook.com
THE Game
Watch out for HGVs
I do :-) Although the fun parts of commuting are the 99.9% of the time on the bike, so 45 minutes of riding usually makes for boring viewing ;-) I have however posted a few clips of the fun riding and courteous drivers I've encountered :-)
The thing I wished I knew before I started cycle commuting is just how damn quickly you can get into London. This would have helped as I wouldn't have been 30 minutes early on that fateful virgin commute :-)
After that I think it's what's already been said, expect other road users to behave unpredictably - this includes other cyclists! Try and remain calm (I don't always manage this...) and most importantly don't read the Silly Commuter Racing thread if you value your sanity. After you do your commutes become a constant game of cat and mouse :-)
Twitter, Videos & Blog
Player of THE GAME
Giant SCR 3.0 - FCN 5
- trackstanding is for the velodrome
- 2 bikes is useful. one of which should have mudguards and rack.
- rubber gloves also very good
- concentrate. don't increase you chances of losing your concentration. For me that means no trip computer, no airzound. If you are sounding the airzound, you are not braking which is probably what you should be doing
- clean your chain
- wear glasses
- road bikes, always road bikes, unless you go off road!
Strava profile