Questions tagged [commuter]

Riding to and from work. Other cycling primarily for transportation. Carrying stuff. Picking a bike. Related issues.

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Shoe covers (or other tricks) for commuting in shorts

I commute to work by bike, very often in casual shorts and waterproof North Face sneakers. Provided I don't want to change my clothes (in particular I don't want to get SPD etc.), is there a good way ...
Łukasz Grabowski's user avatar
7 votes
8 answers
2k views

Polite/Proper Way To Notify Pedestrians and Bicycles [closed]

A question on a bell had a lot of comments on how to notify pedestrians. How do you notify a pedestrian you need to pass? How do you notify a bicycle you need to pass? I imagine this will be ...
paparazzo's user avatar
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7 votes
6 answers
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Left Turn Across Major Intersection

I'm new at biking, and have seen many examples of left-turn situations, but none that quite match this one. Simply, what is the proper / best way to complete the turn pictured below, or is it smarter ...
Tanaki's user avatar
  • 173
7 votes
5 answers
28k views

Tips to Alleviate Hand Soreness

I've recently switched from a hybrid with straight bars to a touring bike with conventional drop bars. My commute is just over 5km, and my palms have been getting very sore just below my thumb. My ...
Remy's user avatar
  • 183
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8 answers
2k views

Long sleeves for safety?

I took @Jason's and @Neil's advice and practiced wearing clipless pedals in cold weather. I fell three times (nearly four) last week, all at very low speeds: twice because of ice, and twice because of ...
ChrisW's user avatar
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How to properly position foot on flat pedals?

I recently replaced my clip-in pedals(SPD) with regular flat pedals on my commuter cycle with the hope to avoid wearing shoes with cleats on my commute. I want to wear my water proof boots to work ...
Akshay's user avatar
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7 answers
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Is my dream of finding a light/commuter/hauling bike a pipe dream?

For a while now I have been trying to find the perfect bike. One that is fast and allows me to ride 20 mph for 50 mi. One that I can load stuff on and has braze-ons for racks, fenders, etc. A bike ...
Chris Belsole's user avatar
7 votes
8 answers
730 views

How can I cycle in winter while not being able to change work clothes?

I started recently to bike to work, where we have a shower and I can change clothes. However recently I also started attending an evening course, where there is no place to change. So when I commute ...
BoltzmannMachine's user avatar
7 votes
5 answers
694 views

Does always commuting at the same rhythm/speed improve your fitness level?

I have been doing a new longer commute (round trip of 17 km) for the last 6 months and definitely saw an improvement of my fitness level if I compare to when I started. When I commute though, I do not ...
olliebulle's user avatar
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7 votes
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780 views

How to avoid running over animals whilst cycling on a canal at night?

I commute on a towpath in Hertfordshire, England and there is ample amount of wildlife about. During the day it's fine, I can see ducks, squirrels and rabbits in time and slow down if I need to. ...
Nobilis's user avatar
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I have trouble lifting my right arm to indicate whilst cycling. Any tips to improve my balance so I don’t feel super wobbly?

I use my bike mainly for my commute to the station, but there are quite a few roundabout with sharp right turns and I find it almost impossible to lift my right arm to indicate my direction, whenever ...
Georgia Kewin's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
16k views

Can I increase my highest gear ratio?

I have a modern bike (ridgeback meteor '13) and It currently has a 21 speed shimano chainset. I find that going down hills (which I do a lot) and on flats I need a higher gear. Can I do anything to ...
Mark W's user avatar
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1 answer
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Can a beginner cyclist commute ~40km (round trip) to school/work by bike?

I know this kind of question has been asked several times here (I've read those already), but I'm still uncertain and I have a few other questions. I hardly ride bicycles. I've gone night cycling for ...
lettuce's user avatar
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5 answers
9k views

Cycling position for commuting

I'm looking into buying a commuter bike. Observing other bikers I see some are hunched over their bikes and some are almost vertical. What is considered the best position for commuting? [I will be ...
Marcus Leon's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
10k views

What weather conditions are slicks suitable for?

I currently use 700x25 slicks on my commuting bike, to get the easiest ride possible. I also own: 700x28 with some tread 700x35 metal studded snow tires (Purchased last year for UK snow) ...
Peter Bridger's user avatar
7 votes
7 answers
5k views

Options for carrying a smart briefcase on a bike (pannier or otherwise)

Situation I don't own a bike: however due to a recent change of office location, I have worked out that I could cycle in half the time as driving through rush-hour traffic every day. I'm therefore ...
Chris Melville's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
516 views

Other commuters riding too close

I have been commuting to work for a few months now, and generally I enjoy it. Unfortunately I've noticed that on the way back (never seems to happen in the morning - I set off quite early) I will ...
Ben A's user avatar
  • 81
7 votes
3 answers
6k views

Which front and rear lights can run while charging?

I have a 52V battery pack on my krampus, which I use for commuting to work. I plan on buying a DC-DC converter with two USB outputs to run headlight and taillight. So my requirements are mostly to ...
Jamesco's user avatar
  • 73
7 votes
3 answers
2k 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., ...
bicyclops's user avatar
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3 answers
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Options for a bigger child?

I have a 4 year old son, who's on the bigger side of the height and weight charts; he weighs 21.5kg and is 115cm tall. He can cycle on his own–but not uphill–and only relatively short distances before ...
Kasami's user avatar
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1 answer
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Any tips for aligning fenders?

I recently bought a used trekking bike (Focus) to commute to work in Berlin. It's a great bike, and now that the weather is a little wetter I'm finding that the fenders it came with aren't quite ...
THEAO's user avatar
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1 answer
6k 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 ...
Hugo's user avatar
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2 answers
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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 ...
bsiq's user avatar
  • 185
7 votes
3 answers
760 views

Effect of helmets and other impressions of the bike rider on driver behaviour?

Are there any studies on the effect of helmets and/or other impressions of the bike rider, on driver behaviour? Has anyone collected their own data on things like this? Has anyone noticed any other ...
user avatar
7 votes
5 answers
1k views

What are the advantages of a building an electric bike from a kit vs. prebuilt

I'm trying to decide on what would be the best option for me for my first electric bike. I need a way to get around, and as I live on a hill where I will have to manage a fairly steep incline coming ...
Lauren's user avatar
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6 votes
6 answers
33k views

Are 32mm tires ideal for a fast commuter bike?

I am considering a faster bike to replace my XC for commuting. I am thinking hybrid/cross/road bike with wider tires. My question is whether 28mm tires are enough or if I should go with 32mm like Trek ...
VoY's user avatar
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6 votes
6 answers
4k views

Bicycling 36 km per day in city traffic is feasible?

I am planning (still in planning phase since last 1 month :( ) to use bicycle as my commute to and from office. My office is around 18 km away from my home. Almost half the road will be full of ...
Shekhar's user avatar
  • 161
6 votes
10 answers
3k views

Shoes for commuting

I'm trying to find a good (and preferably cheap) pair of shoes to wear while commuting. I've only got a relatively short commute (around 3 miles) and I'm using an old mountain bike I had lying around (...
Joe's user avatar
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3 answers
7k views

Can I pump my MTB tire to max (55 psi / 380 kPa) without the tube inside bursting?

I have a e-mountain bike and I use to commute to uni every day. I have heard that higher tire pressures give you a bit more speed. My tires say I can pump to 55 psi (380 kPa) but I don't know if my ...
Sonasi's user avatar
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6 votes
6 answers
690 views

Dealing with homicidal drivers [duplicate]

I do a 35km return commute into a big city. Almost daily, someone tries to run me over. Just in the past month I've experienced the following: I filter to the front of the traffic, wait at the ...
LifeCycle's user avatar
  • 237
6 votes
4 answers
2k views

Bike for many short city commute AND long distance travels (partially dirt road)

Disclaimer: I am a bike amateur, so my knowledge is very limited. I currently have an old model of the Pegasus Piazza, which I've been using for 4 years (I only replaced the saddle and the lights of ...
Noldor130884's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
5k views

Will mounting a camera on the handlebar instead of the helmet make the picture more shaky?

I do a short commute in Paris (about 7 km / 30 minutes each way) and I am seriously considering adding a camera (maybe 2) to my bike to be able to report dangerous behaviour and also generally because ...
Sébastien's user avatar
6 votes
8 answers
652 views

Daily commuting - are dietary supplements recommended?

I've been commuting daily (Apart from holidays, illness and some other exceptions) for the past year, riding 12 miles daily (6 miles with 500ft height gain coming in, 6 miles 232ft height gain riding ...
Peter Bridger's user avatar
6 votes
6 answers
1k views

Wind- and water-resistent jackets

To answer the comment after this question, what should one know about wind- and water-resistent jackets? For example, what is "Gore-Tex", is it always expensive, and is there anything else like it? ...
ChrisW's user avatar
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6 votes
5 answers
29k views

How do you clip your helmet to your bag when not wearing it?

I've been using a carabiner through the strap to clip my helmet to my backpack. But it seems clumsy, and the helmet dangles around a lot. I've seen other people with helmets closely mounted on a bag....
Elliott B's user avatar
  • 390
6 votes
3 answers
385 views

What can I do to help me sustain frequent long-ish rides?

After nearly a year of commuting by bicycle to and from work 2-3 days per week, I have recently started cycling to work every day, 5 days a week, rain or shine. My commute is about 11-15 miles each ...
Tal Fishman's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
468 views

What special measures do I have to take to commute in frigid temperatures?

Until now, I have been an infrequent recreational (summer) cyclist, but this winter I plan to begin commuting to work via bicycle. It is a relatively short distance, (approx. ten minute ride), but ...
GentlePurpleRain's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
417 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 ...
Korvin Szanto's user avatar
6 votes
5 answers
1k views

How to reduce the amount of dirt sticking to the frame?

The bottom bracket and the downtube of my bicycle (these parts are very wide on E-bike, to accommodate the battery and the engine) get dirty much faster than the rest of the frame and, unlike tires, ...
nightrider's user avatar
  • 7,701
6 votes
3 answers
465 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 ...
Jarede's user avatar
  • 253
6 votes
2 answers
678 views

What happens if sealant residues are not cleaned systematically on tubeless tires used for commuters?

Tubeless tires seem to be an interesting compromise for commuters: they offer a good level of protection for small punctures, and allow to use supple tires at lower pressure, which has comfort ...
Renaud's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
941 views

Is a brompton right for my riding style?

This question is for current OR past Brompton owners. I am considering purchasing a Brompton because hype about its quality built compact simply looks awesome! About me: 6ft, 145lbs. (182cm and ...
Gabriel Panduro Jr's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
856 views

Durability of road bike (25mm tyres, 15mm i.d. rims, 32 spoke wheels) for commuting

road cycling beginner here. I have recently bought an old road bike for commuting and some training. It has 32 spoke wheels on Shimano Sora hubs, 15mm internal diameter rims (Slovak manufacturer, V ...
Sherwood's user avatar
  • 210
6 votes
3 answers
2k views

Storing commuter bicycle indoors during winter

I got myself a road bike that I intend to ride occasionally during winter (mostly for commuting). I live in an apartment, so storing the bicycle in a dry and cold place such as garage is not an option....
aL3xa's user avatar
  • 185
6 votes
5 answers
8k views

Pavement riding in Scotland

I've just moved to Edinburgh, and I understand that the land reform act 2003 lets me cycle on most land, excluding certain places like some highways or ministry of defense land. Does this mean I'm ...
Nic's user avatar
  • 376
6 votes
4 answers
830 views

Heart rate monitors for Cycling

I am an absolute novice around heart rate monitoring and its implications, just trying to validate/argument my knowledge through a discussion here. I do 30 kms a day commute and upto a 100 km a day ...
Swayam Siddha's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
3k views

Pannier for MacBook Pro 15 retina?

I'm commuting with a backpack, and I don't like having the weight of my laptop on my back for the whole commute (30 minutes). So I'm looking to buy a pannier that I can easily take off when I get to ...
erwan's user avatar
  • 163
5 votes
9 answers
1k views

How would the "pros" bike this commute?

I've been putting up some pounds and have a bike gathering dust at home =D I normally commute by bus or carpool, but would like an opinion from some more seasoned bikers on how you'd tackle this ...
alex_mayorga's user avatar
5 votes
8 answers
2k views

First time commuter needs advice

I'm an out of shape 60 year old and have just purchased a bike for the first time in almost 30 years. It's a Giant Seek 3 hybrid and my intention is to commute to work on it at least 3 times per week. ...
Rick's user avatar
  • 53
5 votes
7 answers
26k 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 ...
Lindsay's user avatar
  • 61

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