New answers tagged commuter
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If you mean Vancouver, BC, I live to the south of you between Tacoma and Seattle and commute 7 miles one-way up and down hills year-round. I use a steel touring bike with a front triple and wide gearing on the rear, though I really only use the granny for hills on longer touring rides. No bar-ends for me in commuting. I need to change gears too often and ...
0
One rather drastic solution: https://www.eta.co.uk/2013/05/07/cycle-commuter-holy-grail-shirt-remains-wrinkle-and-odour-free-without-washing/
(Not the shirt in the URL, though that has obvious applications if it works as advertised, but scroll down to the "DIY shower for commuter cyclists".)
4
Given the added details in the question, I'd probably agree with @tommy_o's answer and @armb's comment, but would also say this:
It sounds like you do not currently ride and are looking to start. If this is the case, I wouldn't be tempted to spend too much money first time around.
Obviously you need to spend enough to be comfortable that what you buy is ...
3
For only 3 miles, I would find a used, steel framed, no suspension mountain bike that you can put some slick road tires on there. And if you're in Boston, go have a chat with these nice folks about your needs and you can learn to fix it, too! Bikes Not Bombs has been around since forever. Once you have put a couple months into into commuting, throw down ...
0
Traffic laws are a way of communication with the others that share the lane. When I find myself riding in a dangerous situation, I normally start what I call defensive riding.
My point is that the bicycle driver is the last safe driver at the road. So, the driving rules do not protect them as they should. This depends on the country. And of course, of the ...
1
Here is an easy gear ratio chart, it will give you a calculation and you can compare it to other sizes that will give you a good gauge to see what you might want to try: bmxultra.com Gear Ratio Chart. I grew up with the 16t rear so my calculations always go relative to that row. Usually BMX racing starts at 45:16, which is really close to what you have at ...
1
Basically, getting "sweaty" is a function of the temperature, humidity, clothing, level of effort, length of exercise, and your personal propensity to sweat.
If you're dressed lightly enough, the weather is not too bad (below 75F and maybe 60% humidity), you travel only a short distance (maybe 2 miles max) on relatively level ground, and you maintain a ...
2
It is possible, but only in certain conditions. I live in a tropical country, so, 20 degrees centigrade is considered cold here. My conmute to work is almost flat, with only one climb, something a very steep 300 meters. If it were not for that, I'd be able to get to the office almost completely dry.
What's the trick? I use a hardtail mountain bike with a ...
4
Even a short sprint or uphill effort can make a big difference in how sweaty I am when I get to the office. Maintain a consistently low effort, using low gears for any uphills.
Panniers are good, since backpacks and messenger bags not only insulate, but also hold your shirt directly against your sweaty back. Often I'll put my shirt in my pannier and just ...
1
You might find more general commuter bike buying, and bicycle commuting advise in these questions:
What do you wish someone had told you before your first commute?
Bicycle for 2 x 30mins commute
My general advise for your specific points would be:
Rain IMHO means you want fenders, unless you enjoy turning up at work with mud (or worse) all over your ...
1
This question isn't as straight forward as you might think. A larger front ring and/or smaller rear cog will get you a larger gear ratio and you'll have higher top speed. However, the larger your gear ratio is, the slower you'll be able to accelerate from a standstill.
Furthermore, the highest gear at which you can accelerate from a standstill is going to ...
2
Generally you should try the bike, and see if how it feels, including using the components feels good to you, if not look for something else.
If you will be riding no matter what the weather is, I would recommend looking for bike that has internal hub brakes, a full chain-case (which with gearing would normally require hub gears too), and full mud guards ...
9
For a city commuter bike, don't bother with disk brakes - go for simple rim brakes. You'll want the reliability over all else. You don't need disks for most types of road cycling, as the limiting factor for grip is likely to be your tyre anyway.
As regards shifters, go with whatever is comfortable for you. I like the combination of brakes and gear levers in ...
5
what spacing is the is the rear hub? I bought an s2c recently to commute on my track bike, two speed internal geared hub with a gain of 38% but it might be over kill for yourself.
Given your setup you have a gearing of about 55inches, if you were to switch out the rear cog to a 12 tooth you would gain 5inches, bring you to around 60 which is considered a ...
6
1- Disc brakes perform better in wet weather. If you choose rim brakes, aluminum rims offer a better braking surface than carbon rims. Hidraulic brakes adjust for pad wear and both pads move inwards to press against the disc surface. Mechanical brakes push one pad (usually the outer one) onto the disc, and the disc has to flex to touch the other pad.
2.- ...
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I think you need more rest. It's easy to forget that you don't get fitter and stronger during exercise, but when your body recovers after exercise. I admire your motivation and the effort you're putting in, if you don't get enough rest in between exercise, it may actually take longer to get fit (and be more painful).
By rest I mean whatever ordinary daily ...
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Just keep at it. The human body is very adaptable and you'll soon get fitter.
Don't worry too much about food and nutrition at the moment, that only matters when you're cycling at a competitive level, you just need to make sure you've had breakfast before you ride in the morning. Regardless of cycling/weight loss you should try and eat a healthy balanced ...
3
My commute is also ~15 miles. Certainly don't worry about that heart monitor (not for commuting at least). Try not to eat any processed flours (including bread!). My breakfast is whole oats soaked in milk with nuts, berries, and whatever else you fancy.
For the ride home it's important to get that same carb boost before you ride home (I eat 300-400 calories ...
1
Depending on your local regulations, claiming the lane might be illegal (it is here where I live, for example). So, my advice would it be to ride on the right side of the road (assuming that right is the driving side), but not getting too close to the curb because of the debris, gravel, car doors etc. When you see (and hear) someone behind you wanting to ...
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