Hello all, Big thing for me was getting the luggage right. Commuted with a large backpack for a year or so, which was not good for my back. Switched to panniers when I got a different job and bought a more rack-friendly bike, but then went off panniers after another job change that involved carrying panniers off the bike for longer distances. Now I have a large front basket that holds a roll top backpack (UPSO, made by Carradice), plus a saddlebag if I need the extra room.
Post-Covid, I only have to be in the office twice a week, so I do a longer route. I find myself less inclined (or perhaps unable) to ride it as fast as possible compared to the shorter routes I used to do. This makes it a bit more leisurely. Finding a nice route is important. It's often worth adding a bit to the journey to avoid busy roads. My current route goes over the recent World Championship course, and you can still see 'Sonny Colbrelli' painted over and over on one of the climbs. Cheers, Johnny in Belgium On Friday, 29 April 2022 at 15:44:29 UTC+2 Bill Schairer wrote: > Retired now but bike commuted off and on for years in different > cities/jobs etc. It wasn’t until I retired that I learned how to ride > recreationally. My approach was this: > > > > 1. Figure out what route I would be riding and then ride it a few > times on off days and refine if possible/necessary. Get comfortable with > where the bike will be during the day. > 2. My jobs were generally suit and tie. I kept as much as possible of > my work outfit at work. If riding say 4 days per week, use day 5 for > swapping out supplies as necessary. > 3. Only one job had a shower. Others, got there early (also allowed > for rare mechanical, flat), cooled down at desk then sponge bathed and > changed in bathroom stall. > 4. My experience was that anything under about 10 miles each way was > ideal in that it really didn’t add that much time to my commute and any > that it did counted as recreation/exercise so all was good. > 5. Took me about two weeks to adapt. First two weeks were a chore > adapting to traffic (and it adapting to you), getting my routine down, > body > adjusting, getting in the mental mode that the bike is how I get to and > from work, no choice - within certain parameters,. After that break in > period, the routine was easy and the commute a joy. I started each day as > a > kid and didn't have to convert to adult mode until I was at work. It gets > easier and easier. > 6. A positive I don’t see mentioned often is how predictable the > commute is. I knew how long it would take me and very little could change > that. With a bike it is so much easier to adapt to construction, traffic > situations etc. > 7. The more regular I was on what time I rode and where I rode, the > more considerate my fellow commuters were of me. They were used to seeing > me and willing to accomodate me. They knew I wasn’t a recreational rider > getting in their way but just another person getting to work. Vary my > departure time by as little as 5 or 10 minutes and the new set of > commuters > might be a little less forgiving. I strongly believe considering myself > as > any other vehicle and asserting my right to the road as well as obeying > all > the traffic laws are important in gaining the respect of one’s fellow > commuters. > 8. I suppose it can vary from commute to commute but I sometimes > preferred heavier traffic. Speed differential is smaller, more protection > in intersections, and riding by bumper to bumper traffic is always a joy! > 9. Fellow workers/friends/family may think you are weird but have > grudging respect. > 10. Having a backup bike is nice. > > Bill S > San Diego > (commutes have been in LA, El Cerrito-Oakland, Concord-Walnut Creek, St > Louis, San Diego) > > On Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 7:09:42 AM UTC-7 Roberta wrote: > >> Hi, Doug. >> >> My three month bike commute is two miles each way and it's the best way >> to start the day and to clear my mind at the end of the day. I was so >> frazzled driving on the highway to our former office. >> >> I want my commute to be pleasant no matter the method, so I'm not 100% >> riding, but it's close. If it's below 30* or raining, I'll walk or >> walk/bus. I also watch the weather, so if it's going to rain about the time >> I leave, I'll leave early or late. Or, I'll leave my bike at the office >> and walk/bus home. I'm lucky that I have options. I'm also lucky that I >> can bring my bike into my office. I leave work pants and shoes at the >> office during the week and change them at work. Also, although no route is >> 100% safe for me, I try to ride on roads with bike lanes or on less >> traveled roads if no bike specific lanes are available. There are a lot of >> reflectors and lights on my bike and me (I wear a good reflector vest). I >> need to start taking a lock, too, so if I want to stop somewhere on the way >> home, I can. >> >> I settled on a single pannier. It's plenty big for everything I carry. >> Even though it does take up more space, I put my container-ed lunch in an >> insulated sealable lunch bag, protecting my other items in case of a >> container leak. >> >> Now that days are longer and warmer after work, my plan (haven't done it >> yet) is to ride right to the MUP after work for another 10 miles. >> >> No matter biking, walking or walking/bus combo, it's all better than >> driving in traffic. I also feel better and am sleeping a bit better. >> >> Keep us informed! >> >> Roberta >> >> On Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 9:41:39 PM UTC-4 Doug H. wrote: >> >>> I rode today and noticed the quietness of my Clem. The friction shifting >>> is almost noiseless and the Silver2 shifter is perfect. The front shifter >>> is the clickety Sun Race that works just fine but does make noise. After a >>> somewhat stressful day at work the ride was just what I needed. I have >>> considered commuting but haven't taken the plunge yet. My commute would be >>> 50 minutes and about 9 miles each way I think, which isn't bad and would >>> help clear my mind. I know Roberta has started bicycle commuting and I'd >>> love to hear hers and others experiences, challenges and benefits. >>> Doug >>> Athens, Ga >>> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/6921254b-333f-4b4f-a9aa-a31392c01e5bn%40googlegroups.com.
