66
votes
Accepted
How to pass a bicycle while driving a car
As long as you give a cyclist plenty of space, and obey traffic laws and drive safely in general you are OK.
1 meter or 3 feet is generally considered enough space when passing, but I know I prefer ...
- 75.3k
64
votes
How to pass a bicycle while driving a car
The problem is ambiguity. Sometimes you'll be unfairly judged by cyclists you're trying to pass. It will happen. Sometimes it helps to reduce the sting of the judgement with some perspective on ...
- 741
60
votes
Accepted
Is commuting 10 km on an empty stomach harmful?
As far as I can tell, no. I've been riding 30 minutes or more every workday before breakfast for more than 10 years with no detectable ill effects. When I was riding an hour to work I'd sometimes have ...
- 23.2k
53
votes
Should I drive or bike to work?
Health
Two decades ago I threw away my bike. Admittedly it was worn, but I had that "I have a car, why do I need a bike?" thought.
After a long time in a sedentary desk job, I got back on a bike ...
- 120k
51
votes
Accepted
How to commute to work on your bike and dress up
I've recently started commuting to work 3 times a week and my commute is about 8 miles each way. I've found if I roll my clothes rather than fold them and pack just before I leave, there are no ...
- 1,256
45
votes
Accepted
What can you do when a driver cuts you off?
Ride like every driver is a psychopath who hates cyclists; you will be wrong 95% of the time. What if the driver who just cut you off is one of the 5% and has a knife (US == gun)?
It’s easier said ...
- 47.8k
44
votes
How much cheaper is cycling than driving?
I commute by bike around 8,000-10,000 km per year and based on my book keeping it is at about 1/5th (or less) the cost of running a car. After accounting for paying for the bike (i.e., devaluation) ...
- 30.4k
42
votes
How to commute to work on your bike and dress up
People who are sweating when cycling but not when walking are either cycling in hot weather (worse when steeply uphill with not enough gears), or treating a bicycle as a piece of sports equipment ...
- 3,637
39
votes
Accepted
How to give away lights to cyclists without lights?
We have had much more success advertising it and doing it through a local bike shop or bike group. Once each, so far, that I've done.
I think the psychology behind refusing a gift from a stranger is ...
- 23.2k
39
votes
Should I drive or bike to work?
You don't bike to work to save money, you do it for the fun. Honestly, once you are a regular rider, you won't want to get into your car unless it's raining.
That said, of course biking is a lot ...
38
votes
Accepted
Is it possible to commute 34 km (21 miles) daily?
That's similar to my old commute (a bit further but flatter), and I didn't cycle regularly when I started. The Google estimate is probably reasonable for the second time you do it, though may not ...
- 55.8k
34
votes
Can any one tell me what make and model this bike is? Stolen today
It's a Specialized Sirrus circa 2012-2014. Here's a video from 2013 that shows the bike in detail. Without part photos it's hard to tell the exact trim level, I suppose it's either a "Comp" ...
- 5,679
28
votes
Since hybrid bikes may be a compromise with no benefits, why are they still often preferred for commuting instead of drop bar bikes?
Simply, I reject the premise of your question and I'm sure I'm not alone. I say that as someone who has a tourer and a hybrid, and commutes on both - the speed difference is much less than the ...
- 55.8k
27
votes
Is laptop safe in pannier bag during commute?
Start by checking with your employer about your personal liability if the device is damaged while in your possession. Mine tried to make a former coworker claim on his home insurance when his work-...
- 120k
26
votes
Accepted
Can’t seem to put the wheels back on the frame
That's not the correct skewer for the wheel. I think you likely are using the rear skewer in the font wheel. Front hubs are typically 100mm between the drop-outs, rear are 130 or 135mm (or even 145mm ...
- 75.3k
26
votes
What can you do when a driver cuts you off?
What to do when a driver cuts you off?
Stay safe
Keep situational awareness in all directions - there may be another vehicle coming so look for it.
Keep moving - don't stop, get out to a safe place ...
- 120k
25
votes
Accepted
Might biking lower forehead temp readings at destination?
The body controls its core temperature, not the skin temperature. Skin temperatures will vary significantly, to the point they are generally considered an unreliable way to measure core temperature, ...
- 47.8k
24
votes
Accepted
At what point does a road become too busy/fast to ride on safely?
Determining an acceptable risk level is really a subjective personal assessment, no one can tell you whether or not something is of an acceptable level of risk. As such I will give you my judgement ...
- 30.4k
24
votes
At what point does a road become too busy/fast to ride on safely?
@Rider_X has already given a good answer.
I would add an important consideration: local driver and cyclist cultures.
As you and the map you cite indicate, there is little pro-cycling culture in this ...
- 17.2k
24
votes
Is it better to get a commuter bike with a front suspension or without one?
Commuter or city bikes are designed for paved surfaces. A suspension fork on such a bike is not going to add much comfort, except perhaps when riding over potholes or kerbs, which are avoidable.
...
- 75.3k
24
votes
Since hybrid bikes may be a compromise with no benefits, why are they still often preferred for commuting instead of drop bar bikes?
You are wrong that hybrid style bicycles have no advantages over drop bar road bikes. You kind-of invalidated your premise by saying hybrids are a compromise, which means by definition certain ...
- 75.3k
23
votes
Is it annoying to carry a backpack when riding a road bike?
Backpacks have a number of drawbacks when riding.
They can make your back sweaty.
The can interfere with your helmet/head posture depending on bike geometry and backpack size/design.
They increase ...
- 9,928
22
votes
Accepted
Tips for improving commute efficiency/comfort?
I have found that if you don't want to invest in equipment the best way to improve efficiency is by ensuring you are fitted properly to the bike you have.
For example: Many non-cyclists do not have ...
- 1,426
21
votes
Would a backpack or cargo rack be better for commuting?
I avoid backpacks where possible
1) Sweat - I get damp enough wearing just a cycling top. Putting anything else on top makes it much worse.
2) Crashing - Occasionally I have carried a toolbox in a ...
- 120k
20
votes
Is commuting 10 km on an empty stomach harmful?
The myosin heads of muscle fibres move using the energy produced by converting ATP to ADP. The energy extracted is about 30.5 kJ/mol of ATP.
Muscle tissue has limited ATP storage. Your muscles' ...
- 3,906
19
votes
How to give away lights to cyclists without lights?
I am from the Bike Lobby in Austria, and we are doing security checks together with the police. We make a checkpoint, the police stops all cyclists and checks their equipment.
If everything is O.K. ...
- 1,219
19
votes
Did I pay too much for repairs on road bike? Should I have bought new?
Bicycles cost money to maintain. Even if you do all your own mechanic work, you still need to purchase parts. That being said, more expensive bikes are generally more expensive to maintain at the ...
- 9,928
19
votes
How to build stamina and speed?
You're doing it already. Time on the bike is what counts the most.
In the early days you will find yourself pushing up a lot of hills but in a few weeks you'll be surprised at how much better you're ...
- 55.8k
18
votes
How to commute to work on your bike and dress up
I've a theory that body odour doesn't come from sweat but from bacteria.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Body-odour/Pages/Introduction.aspx
The sweat itself doesn't smell. The unpleasant odour is ...
- 11.9k
18
votes
How to pass a bicycle while driving a car
My personal list in order of importance:
Overtake when it’s safe to do so. This means no oncoming traffic (unless the lanes are wide enough to overtake even despite traffic) and that you can see far ...
- 25.8k
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