Re: [RBW] Re: Expert level bike commuting strategies?
Not sure I can add more here. I'm a daily commuter in new england, all weather, and my commute makes me happy each day. My commuter bikes are heavy, old and generally undesirable, but well-equipped for the job. Dyno lights are a must, as are studs in the winter (but not every day, hence two bikes). I have a front load for one bike and a rear load for the other, for variety. Every once in a while I have to drive. This reinforces how much better the ride is.Perhaps commuting in some other fashion might provide similar perspective for you - it's equally annoying AND you're not on a bike. Will On Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 5:58:16 PM UTC-4 kiziria...@gmail.com wrote: > I will provide two suggestions, the first, expected, the second, perhaps > not. > > 1) Bountiful suggestions to be made as far as equipment goes. Mine would > be to make all touch points on the bike, *luxurious. *Ever since I tried > Rene Herse/Compass tires, I don't run anything else. I have had very good > luck with flats, even with extralight casings. I am a very vigilant rider > though, always veering around debris piles along the way. They have > transformed both comfort and speed on my bicycles and anything else redacts > the cycling experience for me. If you have yet to find a saddle or grips > that make them disappear on the entirety of your commute, find what does. I > will also say, if you can manage what you fit in your pannier on a basket, > I find front loading makes the bike feel livelier. Not only is the weight > centered, but if you get out of the saddle for more spirited riding, the > weight stays isolated over the front wheel, shifting and swaying less than > the wider arc swinging left to right on the rear, as it would with a > pannier(s). > > 2) Change your mind, or rather, your perspective. Get creative and make a > list of fun games to play with your awareness on each commute. For today's > commute I willlisten to as many birds as possible...find the brightest > colorspay attention to at least a dozen trees I've never given a > moment's notice beforebreathe only through my nosewave to 5 > different people with a smile for no reason at allstep into a > storefront I've always been curious about... > > ...the list goes on and on. There is no such thing as the same commute, > even with an identical route, every day. Have fun. :) > On Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 2:01:46 PM UTC-7 Minh wrote: > >> Hi Michael, >> lots of great advice, i ride into Chelsea from Park Slope a few times a >> month, i think NYC is just a whole different commute. Have you connected >> with anyone that takes your approximate route? I know my stress levels >> went down many levels once i figured out a a better route. for me a >> better route is not what google maps suggests or even what makes the most >> 'sense', in some cases i take a neighborhood street instead of a bike >> lane. or i go oppoosite direction a few blocks to get to a less stressful >> street. >> >> start exploring and looking for little tweaks like this to lower your >> stress level! also if you are having to take the QBB, making that >> crossing in and of itself is a big accomplishment! >> >> >> On Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 4:56:27 PM UTC-4 Patrick Moore wrote: >> >>> Agree with the QR wheels and easy-off/on tires, but I found unplugging >>> and re-plugging dynohub connectors a very minor part of fixing a flat. >>> Sure, SON spade connectors are fussy, but they're not *that* fussy, and >>> Shimano's and SP's system -- a block plug that lines everything up -- is a >>> doddle. I made a plug around my SON spades using Sugru. >>> >>> And all of this from back when I went through most of 2 boxes (100 each) >>> of Remas a year. >>> >>> On Thu, Oct 26, 2023 at 11:25 AM Piaw Na wrote:... >>> (It also means no generator lights to make flat tire fixing easy ... >>> >> -- 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/6b6ca29a-8eac-4754-a64c-6c9cb6165977n%40googlegroups.com.
Re: [RBW] Re: Expert level bike commuting strategies?
I will provide two suggestions, the first, expected, the second, perhaps not. 1) Bountiful suggestions to be made as far as equipment goes. Mine would be to make all touch points on the bike, *luxurious. *Ever since I tried Rene Herse/Compass tires, I don't run anything else. I have had very good luck with flats, even with extralight casings. I am a very vigilant rider though, always veering around debris piles along the way. They have transformed both comfort and speed on my bicycles and anything else redacts the cycling experience for me. If you have yet to find a saddle or grips that make them disappear on the entirety of your commute, find what does. I will also say, if you can manage what you fit in your pannier on a basket, I find front loading makes the bike feel livelier. Not only is the weight centered, but if you get out of the saddle for more spirited riding, the weight stays isolated over the front wheel, shifting and swaying less than the wider arc swinging left to right on the rear, as it would with a pannier(s). 2) Change your mind, or rather, your perspective. Get creative and make a list of fun games to play with your awareness on each commute. For today's commute I willlisten to as many birds as possible...find the brightest colorspay attention to at least a dozen trees I've never given a moment's notice beforebreathe only through my nosewave to 5 different people with a smile for no reason at allstep into a storefront I've always been curious about... ...the list goes on and on. There is no such thing as the same commute, even with an identical route, every day. Have fun. :) On Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 2:01:46 PM UTC-7 Minh wrote: > Hi Michael, > lots of great advice, i ride into Chelsea from Park Slope a few times a > month, i think NYC is just a whole different commute. Have you connected > with anyone that takes your approximate route? I know my stress levels > went down many levels once i figured out a a better route. for me a > better route is not what google maps suggests or even what makes the most > 'sense', in some cases i take a neighborhood street instead of a bike > lane. or i go oppoosite direction a few blocks to get to a less stressful > street. > > start exploring and looking for little tweaks like this to lower your > stress level! also if you are having to take the QBB, making that > crossing in and of itself is a big accomplishment! > > > On Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 4:56:27 PM UTC-4 Patrick Moore wrote: > >> Agree with the QR wheels and easy-off/on tires, but I found unplugging >> and re-plugging dynohub connectors a very minor part of fixing a flat. >> Sure, SON spade connectors are fussy, but they're not *that* fussy, and >> Shimano's and SP's system -- a block plug that lines everything up -- is a >> doddle. I made a plug around my SON spades using Sugru. >> >> And all of this from back when I went through most of 2 boxes (100 each) >> of Remas a year. >> >> On Thu, Oct 26, 2023 at 11:25 AM Piaw Na wrote:... (It >> also means no generator lights to make flat tire fixing easy ... >> > -- 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/356b04d1-5f84-4d86-8856-b52d4a259cf9n%40googlegroups.com.
Re: [RBW] Re: Expert level bike commuting strategies?
Hi Michael, lots of great advice, i ride into Chelsea from Park Slope a few times a month, i think NYC is just a whole different commute. Have you connected with anyone that takes your approximate route? I know my stress levels went down many levels once i figured out a a better route. for me a better route is not what google maps suggests or even what makes the most 'sense', in some cases i take a neighborhood street instead of a bike lane. or i go oppoosite direction a few blocks to get to a less stressful street. start exploring and looking for little tweaks like this to lower your stress level! also if you are having to take the QBB, making that crossing in and of itself is a big accomplishment! On Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 4:56:27 PM UTC-4 Patrick Moore wrote: > Agree with the QR wheels and easy-off/on tires, but I found unplugging and > re-plugging dynohub connectors a very minor part of fixing a flat. Sure, > SON spade connectors are fussy, but they're not *that* fussy, and > Shimano's and SP's system -- a block plug that lines everything up -- is a > doddle. I made a plug around my SON spades using Sugru. > > And all of this from back when I went through most of 2 boxes (100 each) > of Remas a year. > > On Thu, Oct 26, 2023 at 11:25 AM Piaw Na wrote:... (It > also means no generator lights to make flat tire fixing easy ... > -- 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/ebd02547-4313-4003-839b-421091629c29n%40googlegroups.com.
Re: [RBW] Re: Expert level bike commuting strategies?
Agree with the QR wheels and easy-off/on tires, but I found unplugging and re-plugging dynohub connectors a very minor part of fixing a flat. Sure, SON spade connectors are fussy, but they're not *that* fussy, and Shimano's and SP's system -- a block plug that lines everything up -- is a doddle. I made a plug around my SON spades using Sugru. And all of this from back when I went through most of 2 boxes (100 each) of Remas a year. On Thu, Oct 26, 2023 at 11:25 AM Piaw Na wrote:... (It also means no generator lights to make flat tire fixing easy ... -- 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/CALuTfgtnF9t2ZX02PJ21UrYVhw740UwUc8K314wrauJZe%2BNMpw%40mail.gmail.com.
Re: [RBW] Re: Expert level bike commuting strategies?
Note that sealant (Orange Seal regular formula) works very well in tubes in road tires; a metaphorical 95%+ as well as sealant (OS Endurance formulas because it leaves far less residue) in low pressure fat tubeless tires. I ride 175 (digital!) gram 29 mm RH tires in goathead world and while I carry spare tubes and extra sealant I no longer carry patches. And you don't need to replenish sealant in tubes, IME, except every 18 or 24 months. Patrick Moore 29 mm Elk Pass with tubes at 50 to 60 psi + OS regular 42 mm Naches Pass with tubes at 30 to 40 psi + OS regular 50 mm Soma Supple Vitesse SL tubeless at 20 to 23 psi + OS Endurance 72 mm WTB Ranger tubeless at 13 to 15 psi + OS Endurance On Thu, Oct 26, 2023 at 10:56 AM Ted W wrote: > > One year, I tried tubeless and the piece of mind of not getting flats > was fabulous. My commuter got a flat once and I had to walk home in the > rain pushing the bike. I wasn't so happy. When I went tubeless on the > Appa, I changed the tires to Gravel King slicks and the entire ride changed > for the better, bringing back more fun. I couldn't wait to jump on it > every day, it was like a new bike. So, perhaps new fabulous tires for a > different feel? How about riding different bikes, perhaps for a week at a > time. I do that. > > This reminds me, being prepared for every (most?) eventualities is a huge > part that I think some people tend to overlook. Being stranded or having to > push your bike because of a mechanical failure is a quick way to ruin your > commuting experience. I run tubeless, knobby tires on my Appaloosa for the > same reason mentioned above: flat protection. Having knobby tires reduces > the changes of a flat in my experience and tubeless tires have a lower > likely hood of going flat due to the common, small punctures I experience > around town. In my experience, tubeless tires have added flat protection > compared to strictly tubed tires. You have sealant in the tire to > automatically seal any small punctures. In the case of punctures too big to > seal automatically, I carry tire plugs (also called "bacon strips"). If all > else fails, I also carry a spare tube and patch kit; you can always run a > tubeless tire with a tube if all else fails. I've also seen tire repair > kits that include a sewing kit for repairing sidewall tears, but I've never > seen a need to include that in my kit. > > To avoid getting stranded on the side of the road due to a mechanical > failure, I carry the following on my bike at all times: > * spare tube > * tire plugs (bacon strips, not darts) > * tire/tube patches > * frame pump > * bike-specific multi-tool > * Wolftooth (yes, branded) Pack Pliers > * Spare quicklinks > * Tire levers > * Spare tubeless valve and at least one spare valve core > * a couple of M4 bolts of various lengths > -- 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/CALuTfgsEu2OFX3kRGEEBtm4C_SwywcZ0TpZREfZo9y0X%3DuN0jA%40mail.gmail.com.
Re: [RBW] Re: Expert level bike commuting strategies?
I've been bike commuting since my roommate crashed my car in 1990. - Try not to carry stuff - I've gotten to the point where I have 2 computers for work, one at home and one in the office so I don't have to carry it between home and work. (In the old days it was easy to convince my employer to do this because hard drives can't take the hammering in a saddlebag and would die every few months) - Rather than bullet proof my bike (I'm the kind of person who can get flat tires no matter how bullet proof the tire is), I go for maximum repairability. That means quick release wheels, rims and tires that are compatible so removing an inner tube and patching a flat is easy, and I've unfortunately gotten good at repairing flats. That doesn't mean that fixing a flat by the side of the road with cold fingers while cars are splashing dirty water on you is fun, but cursing at a tire that won't come off no matter what is even more frustrating. (It also means no generator lights to make flat tire fixing easy) - Rain gear and fenders. Living in California I can get away with clip ons rather than full fenders, and good rain jacket and rain pants covers the rest. Needless to say, Kool-stop Salmon brake pads are a necessity. - Preventive maintenance and simplicity. That for me means I inspect the bike and replace chains and other consumables like brake pads on a regular basis. - Garmin radar. This is great for peace of mind as well as those ugly left turns. - Complain to the traffic engineering department in your city. I've had good luck writing city traffic engineering departments complaining about lights that don't respond to bicycles or even debris in the bike lane. One trick is to CC the local bike advocacy organization. When the city departments see that someone's been CC'd, they assume you're preparing for a lawsuit in the future and they will actually fix things. Recently they even swept the streets after I complained! -- 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/1bc2da44-bfb9-46d8-a591-0ed6250fbea5n%40googlegroups.com.
Re: [RBW] Re: Expert level bike commuting strategies?
Along Ted's line of "be prepared" and my "peace of mind" I forgot to mention Dyno light. Bill, I you might have been able to find gems you wouldn't have know otherwise. On Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 12:56:14 PM UTC-4 ted.l...@gmail.com wrote: > > One year, I tried tubeless and the piece of mind of not getting flats > was fabulous. My commuter got a flat once and I had to walk home in the > rain pushing the bike. I wasn't so happy. When I went tubeless on the > Appa, I changed the tires to Gravel King slicks and the entire ride changed > for the better, bringing back more fun. I couldn't wait to jump on it > every day, it was like a new bike. So, perhaps new fabulous tires for a > different feel? How about riding different bikes, perhaps for a week at a > time. I do that. > > This reminds me, being prepared for every (most?) eventualities is a huge > part that I think some people tend to overlook. Being stranded or having to > push your bike because of a mechanical failure is a quick way to ruin your > commuting experience. I run tubeless, knobby tires on my Appaloosa for the > same reason mentioned above: flat protection. Having knobby tires reduces > the changes of a flat in my experience and tubeless tires have a lower > likely hood of going flat due to the common, small punctures I experience > around town. In my experience, tubeless tires have added flat protection > compared to strictly tubed tires. You have sealant in the tire to > automatically seal any small punctures. In the case of punctures too big to > seal automatically, I carry tire plugs (also called "bacon strips"). If all > else fails, I also carry a spare tube and patch kit; you can always run a > tubeless tire with a tube if all else fails. I've also seen tire repair > kits that include a sewing kit for repairing sidewall tears, but I've never > seen a need to include that in my kit. > > To avoid getting stranded on the side of the road due to a mechanical > failure, I carry the following on my bike at all times: > * spare tube > * tire plugs (bacon strips, not darts) > * tire/tube patches > * frame pump > * bike-specific multi-tool > * Wolftooth (yes, branded) Pack Pliers > * Spare quicklinks > * Tire levers > * Spare tubeless valve and at least one spare valve core > * a couple of M4 bolts of various lengths > > On Thu, Oct 26, 2023 at 12:06 PM Roberta wrote: > >> Hi, Michael. >> >> I'm a city girl and a newer commuter (< 2 years) and each way is 2 >> miles. The traffic and rudeness can really drain a person. The Brompton >> idea is pretty funny, but I had a similar thought at the beginning of my >> commute--ride a city bike to work and then walk home (or in your case, ride >> the subway to work and ride home). The one way trip options is why I >> subscribe to city bike. I love the freedom, but the bikes less so. >> >> I also had an Appaloosa (2016 version) and it was a fantastic bike, a >> perfect commuter, I think. One year, I tried tubeless and the piece of >> mind of not getting flats was fabulous. My commuter got a flat once and I >> had to walk home in the rain pushing the bike. I wasn't so happy. When I >> went tubeless on the Appa, I changed the tires to Gravel King slicks and >> the entire ride changed for the better, bringing back more fun. I couldn't >> wait to jump on it every day, it was like a new bike. So, perhaps new >> fabulous tires for a different feel? How about riding different bikes, >> perhaps for a week at a time. I do that. >> >> For me, sometimes (but not enough), I take the "long way" home, having >> the ride feel more like a bike ride than a commute. Or, I'll go on sightly >> different routes, even if they are only one block away from standard route, >> the scenery is different.Also, for me, I don't like riding in the rain >> or extreme cold, so I just don't, as I don't want to equate "ride bike" >> with "chore." I'll take a bus to work and walk home. Walking is still >> good exercise and it feels good to do something different. >> >> You'll find in my office a selection of shoes, socks and pants and I >> change at the office. I got over the pack up everything everyday pretty >> quickly. One of the best pieces of advice I got on this board. Pack >> everything into a big bag--in my case one of the $2 cheapie backpacks with >> the string-- and put THAT into the pannier or the saddle bag or basket of >> that day's ride. Pannier might get dirty, but that bag is always clean, >> big enough and easy enough to bring to my room or kitchen. >> >> Roberta >> Philadelphia >> >> On Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 10:26:25 AM UTC-4 Michael Morrissey >> wrote: >> >>> Lately I have been biking to work again, from my home in Queens to work >>> in Manhattan. Unfortunately, my commute is less than ideal. There are few >>> bike lanes in my neighborhood. I leave at 6:30, when it’s dark and cold >>> outside. There are lots of big trucks and
Re: [RBW] Re: Expert level bike commuting strategies?
> One year, I tried tubeless and the piece of mind of not getting flats was fabulous. My commuter got a flat once and I had to walk home in the rain pushing the bike. I wasn't so happy. When I went tubeless on the Appa, I changed the tires to Gravel King slicks and the entire ride changed for the better, bringing back more fun. I couldn't wait to jump on it every day, it was like a new bike. So, perhaps new fabulous tires for a different feel? How about riding different bikes, perhaps for a week at a time. I do that. This reminds me, being prepared for every (most?) eventualities is a huge part that I think some people tend to overlook. Being stranded or having to push your bike because of a mechanical failure is a quick way to ruin your commuting experience. I run tubeless, knobby tires on my Appaloosa for the same reason mentioned above: flat protection. Having knobby tires reduces the changes of a flat in my experience and tubeless tires have a lower likely hood of going flat due to the common, small punctures I experience around town. In my experience, tubeless tires have added flat protection compared to strictly tubed tires. You have sealant in the tire to automatically seal any small punctures. In the case of punctures too big to seal automatically, I carry tire plugs (also called "bacon strips"). If all else fails, I also carry a spare tube and patch kit; you can always run a tubeless tire with a tube if all else fails. I've also seen tire repair kits that include a sewing kit for repairing sidewall tears, but I've never seen a need to include that in my kit. To avoid getting stranded on the side of the road due to a mechanical failure, I carry the following on my bike at all times: * spare tube * tire plugs (bacon strips, not darts) * tire/tube patches * frame pump * bike-specific multi-tool * Wolftooth (yes, branded) Pack Pliers * Spare quicklinks * Tire levers * Spare tubeless valve and at least one spare valve core * a couple of M4 bolts of various lengths On Thu, Oct 26, 2023 at 12:06 PM Roberta wrote: > Hi, Michael. > > I'm a city girl and a newer commuter (< 2 years) and each way is 2 miles. > The traffic and rudeness can really drain a person. The Brompton idea is > pretty funny, but I had a similar thought at the beginning of my > commute--ride a city bike to work and then walk home (or in your case, ride > the subway to work and ride home). The one way trip options is why I > subscribe to city bike. I love the freedom, but the bikes less so. > > I also had an Appaloosa (2016 version) and it was a fantastic bike, a > perfect commuter, I think. One year, I tried tubeless and the piece of > mind of not getting flats was fabulous. My commuter got a flat once and I > had to walk home in the rain pushing the bike. I wasn't so happy. When I > went tubeless on the Appa, I changed the tires to Gravel King slicks and > the entire ride changed for the better, bringing back more fun. I couldn't > wait to jump on it every day, it was like a new bike. So, perhaps new > fabulous tires for a different feel? How about riding different bikes, > perhaps for a week at a time. I do that. > > For me, sometimes (but not enough), I take the "long way" home, having the > ride feel more like a bike ride than a commute. Or, I'll go on sightly > different routes, even if they are only one block away from standard route, > the scenery is different.Also, for me, I don't like riding in the rain > or extreme cold, so I just don't, as I don't want to equate "ride bike" > with "chore." I'll take a bus to work and walk home. Walking is still > good exercise and it feels good to do something different. > > You'll find in my office a selection of shoes, socks and pants and I > change at the office. I got over the pack up everything everyday pretty > quickly. One of the best pieces of advice I got on this board. Pack > everything into a big bag--in my case one of the $2 cheapie backpacks with > the string-- and put THAT into the pannier or the saddle bag or basket of > that day's ride. Pannier might get dirty, but that bag is always clean, > big enough and easy enough to bring to my room or kitchen. > > Roberta > Philadelphia > > On Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 10:26:25 AM UTC-4 Michael Morrissey wrote: > >> Lately I have been biking to work again, from my home in Queens to work >> in Manhattan. Unfortunately, my commute is less than ideal. There are few >> bike lanes in my neighborhood. I leave at 6:30, when it’s dark and cold >> outside. There are lots of big trucks and fast drivers. It’s hilly. Then, >> when I get to the bike lane section of the ride, it’s crowded with electric >> bikes, deliveristas, and stand-up electric scooters. >> >> My commute is 7.8 miles point to point, and I make it in about 53 >> minutes. I started keeping track of my times on Strava. I like looking at >> my records (eastbound across Central Park in 1:40!) but I feel Strava is >> mostly a record of how long I get
