Riding to and from work. Other cycling primarily for transportation. Carrying stuff. Picking a bike. Related issues.
4
votes
1answer
157 views
What to get for my second saddle?
I am a 16mi/day commuter and have been for the last two years. When I bought my bike the first thing I replaced was the warn stock saddle with one of those "couch on a stick" models. Say what you ...
3
votes
1answer
315 views
Will a road brake lever work with a v-brake?
I'm planning on changing my commuter handlebar to a drop handlebar. As the diameters are different, I need to know if the new brake lever will work with the existing v-brakes.
(My intention is to ...
30
votes
3answers
1k views
Periodic Maintenance Task for Bike Commuters
What are the periodic maintenance tasks (weekly, monthly, annual, every X miles) that anyone who relies on a bike for transportation (typically in urban/semi-urban environments) should be performing? ...
4
votes
6answers
1k views
What type of shoes should a commuter/road biker use?
I have a hybrid bike that I use for commuting (8k round trip to work). Currently, I wear low-backed converse shoes when biking.
I've been biking for about 5 months. After the first 2 months, I ...
15
votes
1answer
644 views
Relative efficiency of different commute bike setups
My interest is in long distance commuting (e.g. more than 50 km a day) and the relative efficiencies of different commute bike setups (e.g. drop bars vs flat bars, fenders vs no fenders, panniers vs ...
4
votes
2answers
569 views
What electric bikes are for sale in the US, and how good are they?
I am interested in purchasing an electric bike but am puzzled as to what brand is best. It seems as though most companies are importing their products from China, which is great because they are low ...
6
votes
3answers
228 views
Saddle bag for food container
I have a ~2 mile/~20min cycle to work and currently take a rucksack with me that generally only contains my food for the day in a standard take-away container measuring about 17cm x 12cm x 4cm give or ...
10
votes
4answers
1k views
Is it legal to pass a car on the right when that car is turning?
So I've been poring over the bikes SE, and as a recreational biker and an automobile commuter, I'm naturally most interested in topics addressing how bikes interact with automotive traffic.
In one ...
-2
votes
1answer
165 views
Buying a bicycle [closed]
I'm looking for a bicycle to commute to work (<2 miles), do groceries (~2-3 miles), go to school (~8 miles). Would this be a good bike for that? (one of the cheapest bikes on bikesdirect.com)
5
votes
7answers
258 views
Is conserving energy something to do on a day-to-day basis, or over the week?
I'm about a month into using my bicycle to commute to work, and one thing I've definitely gotten better at is pacing myself to conserve energy, both for the rest of the commute to work, and for the ...
1
vote
9answers
341 views
Is it possible to perform tricks with 100% safety during commuting?
When commuting in the city, i encounter many transitions between road and sidewalk. It's easy to jump from the sidewalk down to the road (~20 cm vertical) if you have enough speed, but to get back ...
7
votes
5answers
480 views
Which side should I pass other cyclists on a UK cycle path?
I'm new to using cycle paths and seem to get dirty looks for riding on the left.
When driving along my usual commute this morning I saw others riding on the right and therefore passing to the left of ...
8
votes
5answers
533 views
Protocol for slipstreaming another cyclist?
I have a nice 12 km commute where lots of different bicyclers travel. The entire stretch is only for pedestrians&bicycles, no cars to worry about.
I ride a regular old 5-speed bike (not a ...
3
votes
4answers
362 views
Is a sprung saddle the answer to the saddle problems on my commuter bike?
The current saddle on my bike is getting past it use-by date, so I will shopping around for a new one. I use my bike for commuting to work, about 40-45 mins, 50% on seal roads and the rest on forest ...
13
votes
6answers
689 views
Avoiding being wiped out after work commute?
I work ~15 miles from home and have made the decision to make the commute via bike. This is for a couple reasons. First of which being I don't actually have my license yet, second being that taking ...
10
votes
8answers
6k views
Looking for Techniques for Riding Uphill on a Single Speed
I commute on a Single Speed (SS) bike about 13mi round trip. Going home is not a problem as the gradients are low and I can climb them. However, going in to work the gradients are much steeper and I ...
16
votes
9answers
2k views
Why Do I Need a Better/Lighter Road Bicycle to Train For 'Fitness'?
I'm about to purchase a bicycle in the very near future and have been shopping around at different bike shops to see what I like and what they offer.
My primary goal here is to commute to work. It's ...
14
votes
2answers
959 views
How much motor do I need for my electric-assist bike?
I take my twins to preschool by car, and I'd like to switch to doing it by bike.
There's a hill, and we're heavy, and I'm not in great shape, so it's hard. I've done it a few times, but I always ...
28
votes
5answers
2k views
Are slick tires worth it for commuting?
I commute to work on a Marin San Rafael on roads over a mix of flat to steep roads. My bike came with "700 x 35c with Puncture Protection" semi-slick tires:
In the bike shed at work I noticed ...
14
votes
8answers
2k views
How much maintenance?
How much maintenance does a bike need?
Specifically, in this question (with this answer) I asked about a commuter bike, which is to be ridden 40 km every weekday, in the city. And apparently for this ...
4
votes
4answers
2k views
Should I feel self-conscious wearing cycling shorts to school?
I cycle to school and intend to wear my new Lycra shorts for my commute as they are much more comfortable. But I want to know if I will look dumb wearing the tight shorts, as my legs are only average ...
6
votes
3answers
742 views
What are the most effective exercises to improve stamina and speed on my cycle to/from work?
I have just turned 40 and despite running many marathons in my younger days I'm finding it hard to get fitter again after too many years at a desk. I have a reasonable racing bike which I use for my ...
5
votes
4answers
449 views
Road Tire Performance in Rain and Snow
How well do road tires perform in rain and the snow? I've heard narrow tires are better because they actually can put more weight/pressure on the road through the wet/ice.
I just bought Continental ...
0
votes
0answers
61 views
How to carry small-medium sized personal stuff on my bike? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Recommendation for panniers used off the bike a lot
I have a rack and I have panniers, but I find them to be too large and cumbersome to bring with me once the bike is ...
40
votes
33answers
2k views
What do you wish someone had told you before your first commute?
Four times a year I teach a workshop called "Be a Bike Commuter" for the local university's community education program. It's mostly based on my experience and information from the League of American ...
3
votes
1answer
446 views
Transitioning mountain bike into city commuter bike
In effort to transition my mountain bike to a city commuter- can I replace the mountain tires with thinner city tires without changing the bike wheels?
2
votes
3answers
6k views
Are fixed or floating SPD-SL cleats most suitable for a long commute?
After much procrastination, I've finally jumped in and bought myself a road bike, under the cycle2work scheme we have here in the UK.
I opted for a Boardman Road Race, as it seems to be the most ...
12
votes
5answers
1k views
What should I look for in choosing wheels for a road bike?
I have a commuting/touring bike and my riding is a good bit of commuting mixed with weekend rides of up to 50 miles.
In my lame knowledge, I'll assume that lighter wheels can be had when you spend ...
22
votes
6answers
2k views
What headset/radio products exist for bike-to-bike communication?
I commute to work by bike, sometimes I share the journey with a co-worker. The problem is because of the wind and distance between the bikes, it's very hard to hear what the other person says.
It ...
29
votes
21answers
3k views
How can I make my bike (and myself) visible at night?
By winter I will be commuting on my bike at night. How can I make my bike as visible as possible to all car drivers?
0
votes
2answers
308 views
If not Kona Asphalt Commuter then what?
Recetly I spotted Kona Asphalt Commuter, one of this series here:
http://www.konaworld.com/asphalt_commuter.cfm?content=dew_plus
Why such bike is so special for me -- because right from the shop I ...
1
vote
2answers
409 views
Information about Lotus Explorer bike?
I just bought a 20" Lotus Explorer for $200. The frame is Tange CR-MO and has Shimano components, the bike shop guy said it was a good frame. I don't know a lot about bikes; I'm just looking for a ...
2
votes
4answers
244 views
Cycling in high traffic roads
Riding on roads?
I want to go to the work (in São Paulo, Brazil), by bicycle. But I live in a neighbor city, and I need to get a high traffic road.
What is your experience with this, and could it ...
12
votes
5answers
9k views
How often should I grease and repack my hubs and bottom bracket?
I am commuting 7 miles a day (round trip) in all weather in New England (temperate, moderately wet climate, cold winters). Overall I am putting about 1000 miles per year on my commuter bike, a 2009 ...
21
votes
10answers
3k views
For a long (25mile each way) commute, what kind of bike should I look at?
I'd really like to be able to commute to work. It's a long way though - 25 miles away. Too far for every day, but maybe I can cycle it once or twice a week.
I tried it on my old mountain bike a ...
20
votes
5answers
2k views
What bike+equipment for a long daily urban commute?
In the (distant) past I commuted 6 km (more than half an hour) each way, on a cheap bike with big knobbly tyres.
Soon I'll have a new commute: 18 km each way, daily. That's much further than I've ...
2
votes
4answers
281 views
Affordable GPS with maps?
I have my eye on the Garmin 800. It looks fantastic, but alas I can't afford it right now.
I would like a gps / cycle computer that would work well in Europe with maps.
What are my options? I want ...
8
votes
15answers
386 views
What do you do to make positive you remember your water bottle? [closed]
I commute 11 miles to work, and at least once a month, at about mile 2, I'll look down and notice I left my water bottle on the counter at home!
What tricks do you have to make sure this doesn't ...
5
votes
3answers
269 views
What tools are most important on an all-in-one bike tool for a commuter?
My commute is about 25km/day. I have a cheapish hybrid bike with Shimano gears, v-brakes and SPD pedals. I carry a small hand pump and spare tube.
What do I need in a bike tool/ multitool or other ...
1
vote
4answers
362 views
What type of bike is appropiate for my situation?
First off, sorry for being unable to phrase my question more precisely. Currently, I ride a 26" hardtail mountain/trail bike to and from work/university (around 7km each way). Surely, this is not the ...
13
votes
5answers
308 views
When accompanying children on roads - ahead, beside or behind?
When accompanying children (in my case roughly in the 5 to 9 range) on a moderately busy (by rural standards) road on our commute to their school I'm sometimes ahead, sometimes beside (at least the ...
2
votes
4answers
2k views
biking with lower back pain
I have regular lower back pain (mostly mild, with severe episodes during which I generally stay home; there's nothing wrong with my spine, I just sit at a computer too much). I just started biking to ...
5
votes
8answers
541 views
What can I wear in the cold weather to be able to bike to work (where I don't have a shower)
I've already read the answers to this question and learned a lot!
But my question is a bit different, I bike to work almost everyday, not a long ride, a few miles, a bit hilly a bit road side...
...
6
votes
1answer
508 views
Can 37-622 tyres replace 32-622 tyres?
I used my old Trek mountain bike last winter (Helsinki, down to -25C, lots of snow) for commuting to work (8km each way, roads) but it probably needs too many repairs to be worthwhile.
I got a new ...
8
votes
4answers
255 views
Ice tires for winter commuting on non-icy roads?
Can a tire like the Schwalbe Marathon Winter be used for winter-long commuting (40 km/day) on roads which are mostly or usually not icy?
I might want the studs occasionally (and lower the air ...
6
votes
2answers
252 views
Will my drivetrain freeze if left outside in the winter?
I have to leave my bike outside at work for 8-10 hours at a time.
If it's -3°C or -6°C, is there anything special I need to do to ensure it will still ride when I'm ready to go home? i.e., ...
9
votes
6answers
2k views
Best chain lubricant for commuter/utility bikes?
What's the best chain lubricant for a bike used for riding in normal(ish) clothes, year-round?
I've been using Tri-Flow, but that tends to leave black greasy/dirty stains on pants, shoes, etc. I've ...
5
votes
2answers
287 views
Quality to/from work bike
I want a bike that will take me to and from work quickly, but not make it too easy.
To get to work, I have to ride a quarter mile up a steep hill, which will be difficult on a bike. I want to spend ...
-1
votes
2answers
232 views
List of accessories and training for commuting [closed]
It's been about 10 years since I last rode on a bike. My wife and I have decided that we need to get ourselves into shape, and one method we've decided on, encouraged by our daughter, is to bike back ...
3
votes
5answers
800 views
Bike for a shorter rider to do touring, daily commuting and light off-roading?
I want to buy a bike. These are the things I'm looking for:
frame that can handle weight and light off-roading (eg, sand, gravel, rocks, roots, but no big drops)
frame can accomodate fatter, ...
