Comments on: The Slacker’s Guide to Bike Commuting http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:36:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Jo http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-84254 Jo Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:10:24 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-84254 I love cycling my bike to college and work, I just wish some car drivers had a bit more respect! I had one guy pull out - not in front of me - but on top of me today! I've got quite a chunky suspension mountain bike at the moment but I am considering getting one of those light bikes with thin tyers to make it a bit easier! Does anyone know any good cheap makes? I wish everyone could be slackers like us! I love cycling my bike to college and work, I just wish some car drivers had a bit more respect! I had one guy pull out - not in front of me - but on top of me today!

I’ve got quite a chunky suspension mountain bike at the moment but I am considering getting one of those light bikes with thin tyers to make it a bit easier! Does anyone know any good cheap makes?

I wish everyone could be slackers like us!

]]> By: Murk http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-83150 Murk Thu, 29 May 2008 07:12:09 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-83150 When I commute, I do need to be out of regular clothing, as the route is long enough and hilly enough that I perspire. (About 15-20km each way, depending upon the route - I do change my route from time to time, and important point in keeping it fun) To the first commenter who said about mountain bikes on the road. One option is to fit smoothish tyres. I use Marathon Schwalbe. Touch wood, I've not had a puncture yet. When I commute, I do need to be out of regular clothing, as the route is long enough and hilly enough that I perspire. (About 15-20km each way, depending upon the route - I do change my route from time to time, and important point in keeping it fun)

To the first commenter who said about mountain bikes on the road. One option is to fit smoothish tyres. I use Marathon Schwalbe. Touch wood, I’ve not had a puncture yet.

]]> By: gowestgirl http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-83059 gowestgirl Mon, 26 May 2008 23:57:23 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-83059 I am a new bike commuter and somewhat of a slacker. I am doing this largely for economy and fitness and have found it is really a great way to start the day. My husband and I now have panniers and a saddlebag to store our stuff. I wear winter running gear into work since it is still chilly where I live and something simple to change into at work, where I also store some grooming items. I always have my cell for emergencies but haven't yet committed to the bike repair kit. We had three snowfalls in the last two weeks and I am just not ready to ride in that kind of weather - mostly because we don't have shower facilities at work. Of course if the price of gas goes up I fully expect so many people are going to be biking that area businesses are going to have to start accommodating those types of needs. One of my next tasks will be to try the bus route. Bus service here is not the greatest and I know more regular circulation would help us a lot in if-y weather. I am a new bike commuter and somewhat of a slacker. I am doing this largely for economy and fitness and have found it is really a great way to start the day. My husband and I now have panniers and a saddlebag to store our stuff. I wear winter running gear into work since it is still chilly where I live and something simple to change into at work, where I also store some grooming items. I always have my cell for emergencies but haven’t yet committed to the bike repair kit. We had three snowfalls in the last two weeks and I am just not ready to ride in that kind of weather - mostly because we don’t have shower facilities at work. Of course if the price of gas goes up I fully expect so many people are going to be biking that area businesses are going to have to start accommodating those types of needs. One of my next tasks will be to try the bus route. Bus service here is not the greatest and I know more regular circulation would help us a lot in if-y weather.

]]> By: Jesse http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-83011 Jesse Mon, 26 May 2008 01:48:50 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-83011 For that cellphone, it pays to be a member of the Better World Club (BWC), a green alternative to AAA, because they will provide road service for your bike and do a lot of other green things like funding lobbyists for green legislation, etc. Hope this helps!! :) For that cellphone, it pays to be a member of the Better World Club (BWC), a green alternative to AAA, because they will provide road service for your bike and do a lot of other green things like funding lobbyists for green legislation, etc.

Hope this helps!! :)

]]> By: Kemosabe http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-82714 Kemosabe Thu, 15 May 2008 02:35:44 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-82714 Gears are for sissys. Gears are for sissys.

]]> By: Shay in KC http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-82309 Shay in KC Thu, 08 May 2008 21:31:05 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-82309 Shoot, I'm just glad I'm not the only bike commuter out there that doesn't carry an entire bike store - I'm sorry, spare tire kit - with them. :-) My 13-mile round trip commute carries me up and down a few steepish hills (there's a 250ft change between my highest and lowest points), and I'm grateful for my multiple gears. Here's the ultimate bike commuter slackerdom though - I bought myself an electric bike. I love it. I don't have to stress myself over the hills, I just pedal (and occasionally get some help). Because I don't work as hard, I don't sweat as much, which means I can ride in my regular clothes and carry less with me. That said, I do bike in a bright orange shirt with whatever other layers I need - I just carry some body spray and deodorant and change my shirt at the office. Anyway, I've been loving my commute. I'm saving a bunch of money on gas, love the fresh air in the mornings... Shoot, I’m just glad I’m not the only bike commuter out there that doesn’t carry an entire bike store - I’m sorry, spare tire kit - with them. :-) My 13-mile round trip commute carries me up and down a few steepish hills (there’s a 250ft change between my highest and lowest points), and I’m grateful for my multiple gears.

Here’s the ultimate bike commuter slackerdom though - I bought myself an electric bike. I love it. I don’t have to stress myself over the hills, I just pedal (and occasionally get some help). Because I don’t work as hard, I don’t sweat as much, which means I can ride in my regular clothes and carry less with me. That said, I do bike in a bright orange shirt with whatever other layers I need - I just carry some body spray and deodorant and change my shirt at the office.

Anyway, I’ve been loving my commute. I’m saving a bunch of money on gas, love the fresh air in the mornings…

]]> By: Mab http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-82162 Mab Tue, 06 May 2008 19:15:34 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-82162 I'm just starting to commute on my $10 yard sale bike and after reading many of the articles on this site I was starting to feel inadequate. I'm not so much a slacker as a complete novice. Maybe someday I'll be more of a real cycler but for now I just want to go from point A to point B. I’m just starting to commute on my $10 yard sale bike and after reading many of the articles on this site I was starting to feel inadequate. I’m not so much a slacker as a complete novice. Maybe someday I’ll be more of a real cycler but for now I just want to go from point A to point B.

]]> By: German http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-81549 German Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:42:01 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-81549 So relieved that I'm not the only slacker in the cyclommuter universe. I do a rinky-dink 3 miles to a train station for a 20-mile one-way commute. Yesterday morning the train system was partially shut down because someone jumped into the track (and survived). I got off the rail, biked an additional 3 miles on a bile path under the track (it's elevated) and hopped on a bus with bike rack - they all have them in Miami - to the next functioning station. Beat my boss and his secretary (both early birds and two trains - about 10 minutes - ahead of mine) to the office. They don't make fun of my cyclommuting anymore, at least not too much of it. : ) So relieved that I’m not the only slacker in the cyclommuter universe. I do a rinky-dink 3 miles to a train station for a 20-mile one-way commute.

Yesterday morning the train system was partially shut down because someone jumped into the track (and survived). I got off the rail, biked an additional 3 miles on a bile path under the track (it’s elevated) and hopped on a bus with bike rack - they all have them in Miami - to the next functioning station. Beat my boss and his secretary (both early birds and two trains - about 10 minutes - ahead of mine) to the office.

They don’t make fun of my cyclommuting anymore, at least not too much of it. : )

]]> By: elise http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-81396 elise Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:38:03 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-81396 ah, the bike-bus-bike combo...some it's more bus than bike, some days it's more bike than bus. really depends on the weather, the amount of time, and how tired I am coming home. good advice! becoming a bike commuter was a little nerve-wracking for me, but now I dread the days I have to drive. excellent article. ah, the bike-bus-bike combo…some it’s more bus than bike, some days it’s more bike than bus. really depends on the weather, the amount of time, and how tired I am coming home. good advice! becoming a bike commuter was a little nerve-wracking for me, but now I dread the days I have to drive. excellent article.

]]> By: dan http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-81244 dan Sat, 19 Apr 2008 07:01:18 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/04/10/the-slackers-guide-to-bike-commuting/#comment-81244 I feel like single speed is good for 'commuting slackers' like myself. Less maintenance. Less shifting. That and my commute is barely 8 miles round trip. I ride a re-used 70's schwinn with some new wheels that I converted to a single speed. Tomorrow If I go on a training ride its gonna be over 25miles and then I break out the clipless pedals and bike shorts and my Trek. Fixed gear is an option I'm thinking for my next city bike. I wanted to have some experience riding in urban traffic before I jumped right on the fixed gear boat. I feel like single speed is good for ‘commuting slackers’ like myself.
Less maintenance. Less shifting.
That and my commute is barely 8 miles round trip.
I ride a re-used 70’s schwinn with some new wheels that I converted to a single speed.

Tomorrow If I go on a training ride its gonna be over 25miles
and then I break out the clipless pedals and bike shorts and my Trek.

Fixed gear is an option I’m thinking for my next city bike.
I wanted to have some experience riding in urban traffic
before I jumped right on the fixed gear boat.

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