hassle-free commute
jempi
Posts: 58
Since winter kicked in I did get a bit frustated by all the stuff I carry and the time I spent changing clothes.
I use a backpack and I carry everyday my lunch, repairkit, pump, wallet, phone, gloves for bad/normal weather, buff, 1 piece of fruit and keys.
I wear everyday colder than 15°C a fleece baselayer, a fleece jacket, a rain/windstopper, bikeshort, waterresistant bikepants, 1 pair of thermal socks, bikeshoes, winter overshoes, gloves for normal or bad weather and a helmet.
I go one day a week to work by car and then I try to take my work clothes, cookies or snacks and my lenses.
But sometimes i have to carry those to on the bike.
Experiences and tips & tricks for a lighter backpack and getting changed faster are more than welcome !
I use a backpack and I carry everyday my lunch, repairkit, pump, wallet, phone, gloves for bad/normal weather, buff, 1 piece of fruit and keys.
I wear everyday colder than 15°C a fleece baselayer, a fleece jacket, a rain/windstopper, bikeshort, waterresistant bikepants, 1 pair of thermal socks, bikeshoes, winter overshoes, gloves for normal or bad weather and a helmet.
I go one day a week to work by car and then I try to take my work clothes, cookies or snacks and my lenses.
But sometimes i have to carry those to on the bike.
Experiences and tips & tricks for a lighter backpack and getting changed faster are more than welcome !
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Probably down to 10°C I'm still in shorts and a short sleeve top, with normal shoes and wooly booly socks, below 10 and to about 3 then, it's 3/4 leggings a baselayer and a long sleeve top with winter boots and 2 pairs of socks, which are my normal winter wear regardless of temp.
Below 3 then it's time for longs, a baselayer and then a jersey, below -2 then the jersey changes for a windstopper version of the top.
Everyday Commuter
The bonus to the small lunch bag is that if it’s warmer on the way home (often the case) it’s now empty so I can stuff my jacket/gilet in it if needed.
If you need to carry more stuff then panniers would be a better solution but I find that for me, my way is perfect with no hassle at all.
Up to a certain distance / effort just ride in civvies.
The essentials just stay in the bike bag / rucksack and don't need thinking about.
Have a look out of the window in the morning to see what kit you'll be wearing (actually, I sort that out the night before).
If I get my clothing choice wrong, it's 20-30 minutes of wetter or colder than expected riding which just isn't a big deal. Get to work, dry out and warm up.
My commute is 35km/21mi in total (back and forth). With 14km/9mi offroad and country roads.
My average speed for the moment is 26kmh/16mph. I ride on a cyclocross bike.
So I realy need some kind of bikewear.
I want my bike as clean as possible. I have a bell, two frontlights (one extra for the offroad section) a rearlight and a censored -saver. Nothing more. I like to keep it that way.
I have a verry good rucksack fore cycling with a mesh so I dont have a sweaty back (vaude alpine 30). No problems there, its more the amount off things i have to think about than the weight realy.
I printed a list of the things i have to take with me and put that in my backpack so I can check easily.
For the clothes, i def. should reconsider things. Rain and budget are my biggest issues here.
And my aversion of bib's. Thats why I prefer MTB-clothing and cheap layering more than a castelli collection ;p
But I guess I can Wiggle around those issues ;p
Tool kit wise I carry 2 tubes, levers, 2 Co2 cannisters, a chain tool and a small spare back light. I carry my lunch in every day along with a small dry bag with my wallet/phone in. I bring a shirt and underwear in most days but on the odd occasion I drive I bring shed loads in and stock it up. Trousers and towel get changed weekly approx.
I wear bib-shorts and if it's under 7 degrees I put tights over the top (without a pad). I might choose to wear leg warmers now and then depending on how I feel. Top half is a short sleeve jersey and depending on the weather I will add a merino base layer, arm warmers, and a waterproof jacket...depending on temp.
Shorts/merino/ jersey are changed on a daily basis. Tights I wear for the week, they are not next to my skin. Jacket gets washed when it looks a bit grubby.
Fingerless gloves when it's above 7 degrees, Winter gloves below that. I carry fingerless with me in the Winter in case it's warmer going home.
Cyclocross bike with full guards when it's wet. Road bike when it's dry. Schwalbe Durano on both.
My rucksack feels light to be honest, I only really notice it when I add my laptop now and then. Perhaps look at another ruck sack, or play around with the adjustments on it to make sure it's sitting right. My sack is an Osprey Escapist 32, more than big enough for everything, I would probably buy the smaller one should it ever wear out.
I've been doing this a lot of years, I just know what works for me. It's second nature.
In my case it's nearly 29miles return trip everyday. Terrain is on-road, ranging from quieter between-towns B road to busy central city A road.
These days, I wear cheapest waterproof trousers from Decathlon (the one with "semi-overshoes"), S/S or L/S polyester shirt from Decathlon (£5 or £7 running/cycling top), Hi-vis "breathable" waterproof jacket from Aldi, and Winter "700" gloves from Decathlon. I start rather chilly, but after 10min I'm toasty (thanks to poor breath-ability of "waterproof" trousers and jacket!). And I don't have to worry about getting rained on (I have full mudguards), which it seems 80% of my commute is wet.
I have a backpack and I've been experimenting this lately.
Before Autumn, I had ridiculous amount of stuff: heavy D-lock, hand pump, a pouch with repair kit, 1L water bottle (full), work stuff (like a book and a laptop), clothes to wear at work (everyday), etc.
I've come to realisation that I've been carrying way too much. This is what I did:
It's made a massive difference psychologically. Obviously I feel much lighter, but somehow my commute time on Strava hasn't changed much (maybe the waterproof garment is not aerodynamic).
Reading back on your usual load, Jempi, I think my current bag content is as light as yours.
Do you think you can shed some of your riding clothes a bit? But then communing off road is a different matter and you'd know best what to wear...
Hmm...
Can't imagine cycling in rain trousers with what- three layers on top ? Toasty hot....
My winter shoes have elastic laces in them and stay in the overshoes all winter. Just wipe down the overshoes when they get dirty.
Bibs are popular for a reason. It's the best kit for cycling.
CX bike with full guards.
And a (carbon) pannier which contains laptop, fresh underwear/Shirt, keys, change, phones, asthma spray etc. Tools and tube in a saddle bag.
Various combinations of clothes depending on the forecast. Big fan of Goretex!
Motorcycle winter gloves much below 6 degrees, with liners below 3 degrees.
Proper goretex cycle shoes when wet.
With a clean bike I mean a bike with only the bare necessities on it.
A clean bike as in dirtfree clean is a regulary washed bike. A frame can be clean but the drivetrain will always be a mess.
Can you share the brand & type off your winter shoes & overshoes please? Want to check them out.
Bibs are popular cause pro's wear them. I'm not a pro. I'm a silly commuter, and only doing 17km a ride.
Bibs look stupid, are fragile, and suck to put on. I don't like them. :evil:
Grts Jempi
In terms of overshoes I really prefer toe covers. Easy to put on, keep my feet warm and dry, and don't wear out if you decide to walk in them (although I take mine off whenever I can). I use DHB ones, cheap as chips, fantastic bit of kit that I wouldn't be without.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-toe-cover-o ... 1237617182
Underneath all the other layers of clothing you wear, no-one will see them.
Bibs are popular because they stop the draught getting in under your base layer. Easily the most comfortable thing to wear on a bike, any issues you have with them is down to peer pressure!
Can't say I've ever worn waterproof trousers. Can't you just let your legs get wet?
And they make you look slimmer
I wear cycling kit, again a bit more conservative with regard to temperatures than some above, below 10 I'm generally wearing bib longs, moving to 3/4 bibs up to about 16c, shorts above that. in Winter generally just a base layer with a jacket (the Wiggle Aeron Hybrid is really really good - lightweight, windproof but doesn't run hot) and a waterproof depending on forecast. Either SPD or SPD SL depending on the bike.
https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
Facebook? No. Just say no.
Personally I use a bottle for spares and a 6 litre carradice saddlebag for daily clothing. Outerwear and shoes are left at work. I probably also carry way more than necessary on my 20 mile round trip
Interesting remark ! Where did you found this information? Is there a study or paper you can share on this?
This is my bikepants :
https://www.vaude.com/nl-NL/Producten/Kleding/Broeken/Men-s-Virt-Softshell-Pants-II
If I would wear a soft shell instead of a second layer, then when its raining I still would need a rainjacket, am i right?
Then I have also 3 layers like I have now, even thicker layers?
Correct me if i'm wrong!
The last 2 weeks here in Belgium it was -8 °C in the morning so I did not try yet with only 2 layers
That reflects my experience. Ended up going to a pannier to stop my shoulder and back pain.
How many years? I've been doing that for at least 12 now. And on and off before that. Mind you I don't often actual use the drops..
I'm not a fan of chiropractors - remember them suing Simon Singh for stating facts? Science isn't decided in the law courts...I could go on, but will spare everyone my ranting on this subject!
What i have changed:
- clothes: i visited a local cycling clothing store, did get good information what i need for belgian weather and for my parcours. later i found the outlet webshop at the official Vermarc website: http://www.vermarcsport.com/nl/outlet [url]
it's F**** awesome, pro gear at 70% discount !! so i invested in a good rainjacket, summer & mid-season vests. I only need a technical vest for when its get extreme. Next week i order some high quality underlayers also (brynje thermo).
- i bought all my additionals and accessories double (mostly rain gear) so i have one set at home and one at work so i don't have to carry them with me and don't have to think about it.
-i have days for provisioning, rather then bring stuff (snacks, workclothes, ...) in now and then, i bring everything in for 3 weeks on one day so i don't have to think about my stuff in weeks.
-i still use a rucksack, have a really good vaude alpine and no problems with my back (and i ride a caad
I'm verry charmed by the sadlepacks but they are hard to find in belgium. They look a bit wobbly and i never did see a commuter using it. I guess it's a thing you love or hate.
They cost around 100 Euro what's a lot for a gamble, so i'm looking to find a store where i can testride it. Espascially the smaller versions i like (about 10l). I would use it on the days i only have to carry my lunch and repair kit. Can't find them second hand either.
Big thanks for time & advice,
Jempi.[/url]
https://www.carradice.co.uk/bags/saddle ... saddlepack
The one I use is £25 and I have had mine in operation for a couple of years, does the trick fine.
In answer to how long have I been commuting, over 20 years. I doubt you will find any specific studies on cycling with rucksacks but you are unlikely to find physio's who will tell you it is a good idea. Up to you how you do it and whether you wish to heed the warnings of others in the end
So after using it almost daily for 10 weeks on two different bikes, I must say it's a bot of a love / hate relationship I have with the thing. Packing the sack is delllicat, the form of the saddlerails, the angle between seatpost and saddle, what you pack, how you pack, the tension you put on the straps... it's all very important with a lot off influence on swinging, stability and ride comfort. Keep in mind you can't put everything in a saddle pack, a laptop is a no go. I use it for repair kit, pump, food and snacks, clothing, wallet, agenda, smartphone and keys.
In a nuttshell:
Pro's:
- no more backpain or stiffness in that area, realy super! Less neckpain to. I never had real issues there but now I'm backpack free I feel what it does with your lowerback.
- super aero commute
- easier to move and look around, whats nice in busy traffic
- when packed and strapped right it's stable
- with the air valve you make it super compact, but if its get to compact you can't strap it perfectly. I use an extra strap then.
- 1000% weatherproof, build and finishing quality is super
Cons:
- hard to pack it right, you really have to learn it and think about it.
- when packed and strapped badly, a reel pain in the censored . It can swing and it can give a overal very unstable feeling to your bike
- when you are packed but forgot something you have to start the packing and strapping all over again, really frustrating.
- hard to detach, you still need a backpack at work when you work outside the office and load thins over.
So in conclusion its more hassle, more planning and more time consuming but for that you get a more free feeling on the bike (when you mastered the packing) and a huge ergonomic improvement. So I would recomended it to all fellow commuters.
Jempi.
Personally, I think a small bag on the top of the rack is the way to go
Built for comfort... Not for speed
Clothes I used to take in a load once per week. I am a revolting specimen of humanity and used to wear each of my shirts twice before washing and as I have lots of shirts (10) , that could mean a month for each turnaround. Sheos I left at work, obviously.
Everything else I take in on a daily basis in little waterproof bags and stick in my jersey pocket (phone, wallet, pants and socks - as i would sweat through my back into them otherwise). For wallet, I used to just leave a credit card in my desk drawer after a while as I rarely use them.
Not sure what an agenda is, but I assume it's big?
I love the Topeak Quicklink MTX or RDX bags for this purpose - yes, it leaves the weight higher over the wheel than a pannier bag, but the simplicilty over a pannier bag just work for me.
And if have the need to move a laptop or A4 paper around the place, then the packs with the drop down pannier bags give you the added functionality - although I recommend having a large ziplock bag for them in the topbag, as the pannier waterproof covers aren't perfect in really heavy downpours, especially if you've not got mudguards on.
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