1st Commute Today!

SouthernDave

Hi all! Having now started my new job I had my first commute today. Folded the bike up and got lift in this morning, which went okay. I finished work and unfolded the bike, jumped on and pedalled home. Took me about an hour, just under, for about 8 miles at a guess (Eastbourne to Hailsham). Mainly cycle trail all the way. Bike worked a treat and wasn't anywhere near as puffed out as I thought I would be, so encouraging start!

nich

Excellent work!

Twisterboy

Nice one, keep up the good work.

David

ZoomZoom

Glad to hear it, keep it up, I'm six months into mine and enjoying it immensely.

SouthernDave

Cheers! I have been using advice on here about leaving wearing a layer less than you would normally when cycling, which seemed to work fine. However, I am now looking at decent waterproof and breathable jacket as my wind/rain jacket made my jumper soaking wet on the outside tonight, but I wasn't sweating or hot, so temp wise must have been about right inside...?

I am a bit of a tightwad though and some of the prices (£150 for a jacket???) are amazing. The best priced one I can see so far that seems to have a decent following are the £70 Altura Evo Night Vision ones, but still a lot of money...what do you lot wear?

EKE_38BPM

Well done!

Remember that you don't need to spend stupid amounts of money to get stuff to commute in. If you go for higher priced stuff, you do (generally) get better quality/features, but this isn't necessary. Check out Decathlon for good value stuff. My Decathlon windproof jacket is very good for the money. I'm sure that a Rapha windproof is better, but it had better be at the prices they charge.

The main things I would say are:
Dress for the temperature, don't worry unduly about the precipitation. I don't bother wearing waterproofs as they all (to a greater or lesser extent) lead to a 'boil in the bag' effect. In my experience, you get just as wet from sweat as you do from rain. Breathable just seems to be a word bandied around by marketing departments.
If you are thinking its too windy/rainy/cold to ride that day, have a bit of MTFU for breakfast. If you still don't think you should ride, don't beat yourself up for missing a day, but don't make a habit of it.
Speaking of breakfast, eat it. Porridge is your friend.
Cyclists wear lycra for a reason. Its very good at keeping you warm when its wet (unlike a cotton t-shirt) and because its tight, it flaps around less and is better for your aerodynamics (it means you can go faster for the same effort). Looking DAMNED good is a pleasant side effect.
Enjoy it. Get to work an bask in the awe of your workmates and lustful glances of your female colleages (and that bloke from accounts).

Now, what road bike will you be getting?

cyclingprop

EKE_38BPM wrote:

Looking DAMNED good is a pleasant side effect.

...

Now, what road bike will you be getting?

Two things:

1) Ignore your colleagues who moan about lycra, secretly they LOVE it.
2) Yes, what road bike will you be getting?!

Drfabulous0

EKE_38BPM wrote:

Well done!

Remember that you don't need to spend stupid amounts of money to get stuff to commute in. If you go for higher priced stuff, you do (generally) get better quality/features, but this isn't necessary. Check out Decathlon for good value stuff. My Decathlon windproof jacket is very good for the money. I'm sure that a Rapha windproof is better, but it had better be at the prices they charge.

The main things I would say are:
Dress for the temperature, don't worry unduly about the precipitation. I don't bother wearing waterproofs as they all (to a greater or lesser extent) lead to a 'boil in the bag' effect. In my experience, you get just as wet from sweat as you do from rain. Breathable just seems to be a word bandied around by marketing departments.

You are contradicting yourself, not all waterproofs are boil in the bag, just the cheap ones. Sure the Rapha rain jacket is expensive but it is completely waterproof and truly breathable, or at least has no thermal insulating properties, so you stay dry either way.

EKE_38BPM

Drfabulous0 wrote:

EKE_38BPM wrote:

Well done!

Remember that you don't need to spend stupid amounts of money to get stuff to commute in. If you go for higher priced stuff, you do (generally) get better quality/features, but this isn't necessary. Check out Decathlon for good value stuff. My Decathlon windproof jacket is very good for the money. I'm sure that a Rapha windproof is better, but it had better be at the prices they charge.

The main things I would say are:
Dress for the temperature, don't worry unduly about the precipitation. I don't bother wearing waterproofs as they all (to a greater or lesser extent) lead to a 'boil in the bag' effect. In my experience, you get just as wet from sweat as you do from rain. Breathable just seems to be a word bandied around by marketing departments.

You are contradicting yourself, not all waterproofs are boil in the bag, just the cheap ones. Sure the Rapha rain jacket is expensive but it is completely waterproof and truly breathable, or at least has no thermal insulating properties, so you stay dry either way.

Where am I contradicting myself? Not having thermal insulation isn't the same as being breathable.
I find that 'breathable' materials don't breathe enough so you get just as wet from your own sweat as you do from the rain, and I know what I prefer. I don't think I'm alone in my opinion of breathable materials for cyclists.

I think that cyclists generate so much body heat (and sweat) that its difficult for the material to get the warm, moist air out whilst stopping the rain from coming in, so I just go for lycra to keep the wet material next to my skin warm and accepting that I'm getting wet (same principle as a wet suit).

I read (once upon a time, in a land far away) that breathable materials work by the gaps in the weave of the cloth being smaller than water molecules (so rain can't get in) but larger than the sweaty water vapour molecules (so the sweaty water vapour can get out).
When I said that Rapha probably better, I mainly meant in terms of fit, finish, design etc.

meanredspider

I'm with EKE_38PM on this breathability thing. I simply don't believe there's a waterproof jacket yet made that can cope with perspiration from any significant level of effort. I also don't believe that you can persuade moisture to go from the inside of a jacket to the very wet outside of the jacket when it's raining. When I started my current commute I bought the Montane Stormrider - an eVent fabric waterproof where eVent is meant to be one of the most breathable fabrics. It was boil-in-the-bag. I'm now very much a windproof convert - get wet but stay warm.

Where I'm less aligned to EKE is on the quality of commuting kit. Anything you're spending 2 hours a day wearing is worth getting the best quality you can afford

rick_chasey

With rain it's a trade off.

Get wet on the inside, or the outside.

Rich158

Price is always a trade of when it comes to technical (breathable) jackets. Sure people like Rapha and Castelli charge through the nose for their stuff but choose quality gear from a decent manufacturer and you won't go far wrong. There's a reason breathable stuff from Gore etc costs so much - it works. Personally I find it's not the jacket that's boil in the bag but the layers underneath it. I don't wear a jacket unless it's raining hard and find that even on a dry day I can get in to the office soaked purely because some of my older stuff doesn't wick moisture nearly as effectively as my newer kit. I find the best bet is to invest in some really good base layers to wick any moisture away from the skin so you feel dry, and then get the best jacket you can afford

davmaggs

SouthernDave wrote:

Cheers! I have been using advice on here about leaving wearing a layer less than you would normally when cycling, which seemed to work fine. However, I am now looking at decent waterproof and breathable jacket as my wind/rain jacket made my jumper soaking wet on the outside tonight, but I wasn't sweating or hot, so temp wise must have been about right inside...?

I am a bit of a tightwad though and some of the prices (£150 for a jacket???) are amazing. The best priced one I can see so far that seems to have a decent following are the £70 Altura Evo Night Vision ones, but still a lot of money...what do you lot wear?

For some gear it pays to buy stuff that isn't sold specifically through cycling retailers. The bike market seems to hype the price. That being said items like jackets that are cycling specific do have useful design features like zips under the arms or rear pockets so it pays to consider both options.

In terms of breathable jackets, you won't find a material that does the job. Some help, but none will be able to cope with your heat generation and I've tried all sorts of materials (going up mountains). Venting is the main thing to look for, so zips under the arms and the ability to open the front in stages really helps.

EKE_38BPM

meanredspider wrote:

I'm with EKE_38PM on this breathability thing. I simply don't believe there's a waterproof jacket yet made that can cope with perspiration from any significant level of effort. I also don't believe that you can persuade moisture to go from the inside of a jacket to the very wet outside of the jacket when it's raining. When I started my current commute I bought the Montane Stormrider - an eVent fabric waterproof where eVent is meant to be one of the most breathable fabrics. It was boil-in-the-bag. I'm now very much a windproof convert - get wet but stay warm.

Where I'm less aligned to EKE is on the quality of commuting kit. Anything you're spending 2 hours a day wearing is worth getting the best quality you can afford

MRS, I agree that you should get the best kit you can afford. Rapha is better than Decathlon, Decathlon is better than a cotton t-shirt etc. You get what you pay for.

sketchley

Well done on first commute.

re jackets and rain stuff. When I started I used a waterproof jacket and trousers, far too hot and you got just as wet inside as out from sweat. After a while I changed to a softshell jacket. This one to be precise http://www.pro-bike.co.uk/jackets-/2362 ... acket.html. Very very happy with it and not to badly priced at £60ish. It's wind proof which keeps you from getting cold and is almost waterproof only when in torrential downpours for 40mins plus does it start to give in. I combined these with a pair of wind-proof Polaris vortex tights, which I wish I could recommend as highly as the BBB jacket but I cannot good though they are, and a pair of Altura Waterproof shorts over the top. The result was a perfect winter kit that keeps all but the most determined rain out. To be fair even the best waterproofs are going to struggle in those kind of conditions unless they are not breathable in which case you boil in the bag anyway. Other folks on here recommended the Gore Phantom softshells which were more expensive and very nice but the cut wasn't good for the larger bloke with shorter arms. In the summer I just wear lycra get wet then dry out again.

KonaMike

Congratulations on completing your first commute !!
Prepare to get immersed in a world of Average speeds,Personal best and kit upgrades .......... its great !!

SouthernDave

WOW! Thanks very much for the replies and encouragement, all appreciated.

Did my second ride back today, no stops and same time so the clock-stopping has already started, LOL!

I also boiled in the bag again tonight, so although the wind proof works well, I am getting wet...in the dry! Will take on board the advice above and think out the best and cost effective solution for me.

As for road bike, not sure but yes thinking about it! At the moment I get a ride in every day so the folder is working spot on as planned and I am really suprised but its comfort and ride for what it is. I am thinking though if I am going to start riding both ways then, yes, a road or city bike is the way forward. Given the good quality for money so far and the superb customer service, I will likely look for a Dawes first. My wife has a ladies city bike and loves it and it is doing more miles as we become less car-reliant.

SouthernDave

PS- LOL at the lycra descriptions above. I am not ready to turn up at work looking like Mr Potato Head in a condom just yet.......!! :-)

Initialised

SouthernDave wrote:

Cheers! I have been using advice on here about leaving wearing a layer less than you would normally when cycling, which seemed to work fine. However, I am now looking at decent waterproof and breathable jacket as my wind/rain jacket made my jumper soaking wet on the outside tonight, but I wasn't sweating or hot, so temp wise must have been about right inside...?

I am a bit of a tightwad though and some of the prices (£150 for a jacket???) are amazing. The best priced one I can see so far that seems to have a decent following are the £70 Altura Evo Night Vision ones, but still a lot of money...what do you lot wear?

I have one of these:



I find it's all I need on top on wet days. Not used it below that yet. It's pretty much water-proof and stood up the a torrential down pour last month. Not bad for £40.

They say use it under 15C, I'd say only use it in the rain at less than 10C.

cjcp

Tremendous.

Gore Phantom jacket. Awesome jacket. Has detachable sleeves, so can be worn as a gilet. You can also undo the zip if you want cooler. With winter approaching, the important thing is that you're warm. I sweat like a crazy man, but don't feel the cold with the Phantom.

richVSrich

Good effort Davo!

I currently miss commuting by bike so much that I go out in the morning once or twice a week before work

I cant afford all the fancy bike wear either so I've found these places:

Decathlon (quality is ok, but there is room for improvement)
Tenn Outdoor (google) - do decent quality bike clothing (but the small is pretty big)
Mountain Warehouse (again google) - good for baselayers / fleece stuff (but they have actual shops)
SportsDirect - the Muddyfox ELITE series bibs are good value (bought online)

* Always check the Size guide!

Torvid

welcome to the club,

Like most have said just go for good wind proofing to stay warm and get wet. Get a good base layer to keep your skin dry and you'll be comfy for the duration.