Comments on: Guest Post : A Commuting Story by Banjo Brother Eric

By: ds dstt

ds dstt — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:25:11 +0000

Thanks for the information!

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By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:46:43 +0000

Eric, I live about 150 miles south of you, and Winter 2008-09 was quite challenging for me too. One day it was 32 below zero actual temp. I still stayed warm that day!

I don’t remember exactly when I changed my mindset from reaching for car keys to bike helmet, but I don’t give it a second thought now. Rain, snow or sun I choose the bike. One thing that helped me is that I stopped watching the weather forecast. I just make sure I have enough layers along for any drastic changes between morning and evening conditions. In fact, I’ve had my eye on a Banjo Brothers bag to help carry a jacket & rain gear (I’m tired of bungee straps!).

I use studded tires as well, and I actually seek out icy spots on the route to save the studs and make some tracks. Keeps the ride interesting. I like to lock the brakes on frozen puddles and make “claw” marks in the ice.

I only wish my wife was of the same bike-riding mindset. I’d jump for joy if I ever heard her ask if we could get an Xtracycle. She refuses to even try a 3 block ride to the grocery store, or the same distance to work. I don’t pressure her to ride, but I do find it sad that she won’t even consider it. You are a lucky man in that regard, Eric.

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ugg boots — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:13:11 +0000

I’m still trying to figure out that part

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:51:33 +0000

“For me the breakthrough was when the process of getting out of the house became
automatic…I made it as brainless as getting in the car.”

Ditto that.
I’m still trying to figure out that part

By: Nihilarian

Nihilarian — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:49:04 +0000

Eric, you have great legs. Hoping that bike commuting will do the same for me.

By: Banjo Eric

Banjo Eric — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:22:21 +0000

Winter in Minnesota is a solid 3 months (by our OWN standards – 4 or 5 months by the standards of most of the U.S.) I put the tires on at the first snowfall and kept them on until it became obvious that the ice was done.

I don’t find them of much help on snow – the studs are really for the ice. I would assume that bare pavement wears them fairly quickly, but even when the streets are really bad, I am still riding on mostly bare pavement – after 3 1/2 months of constant use, they appear to have at least a couple more winters in them. I do also have another single speed bike with plain tires for those times when the studded tire bike isn’t necessary.

By: welshcyclist

welshcyclist — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:50:01 +0000

You say you put spiked tyres on to cope with the ice in winter, does that mean you kept those tyres on when the roads/paths were clear. I am thinking of getting winter/spiked tyres, because after a bad fall last christmas, I’ve become very timid of the possibility of ice, but they will only be needed, a couple of weeks, i.e., the odd couple of days here and there, and I want to know can they be used on ordinary roads, when no ice is about, without ruining them or the ride.

By: generide

generide — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:04:42 +0000

the best part of commuting is the ability to personalize your rig, I just put a new flite with black patent leather on my cross-muter.

By: mrbrown

mrbrown — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:46:26 +0000

I’m also finding that I ride my 3-speed bikes more. They are reliable and bombproof. I ride a Dahon Curve D3 and a vintage English 3-speed roadster, both with SA hubs (one modern and one circa 1978).