The Money Mustache Community
General Discussion => Throw Down the Gauntlet => Topic started by: jordanread on September 01, 2015, 06:43:07 AM
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The cycling challenge for September 2015 is up and ready for you!!
If you logged miles last month, and selected "Remember Me" on the form, you have been added to this month's sheet already.
If you didn't log miles last month, or are a new participant
Click here to fill out the form. (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YbN-LXKFBY07zGkLtvZdI2TbLZk3Mq5ahcUdd0W1JPQ/viewform)
You can access the sheet at this link (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FYBeg2DrOEwuVextRqGJqChtMXS6LHzqLvy5KaHo-tU/edit?usp=sharing).
I can manually grab your historical data too, so if it's off, just let me know. If they aren't there within a day, or you have any other issues with the sheet, hit me up via email, Google+ Hangouts (http://gplus.to/jordanread), PM, or just comment on this thread.
Happy Cycling!!
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MMM has another biking post, although this one is about e-bikes. Since most everyone in this gauntlet is in camp # 1, what do you think? Have you seen the latest e-bike post (http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2015/08/31/electric-bike-reviews) from MMM? Thoughts?
Please note: we have previously had people with e-bikes in this gauntlet. By appending 'e-bike' to the user name when using an e-bike, they were able to differentiate between miles on the e-bike, and miles on a regular bike. You don't have to do this, but it's a way of keeping things separate. If you do ride an e-bike, you are still more than welcome to join in here, since you're not driving. :)
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Thanks, Jordan! I love biking in September.
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Last month was terrible for me. Hoping I get more miles this month. MMM article on e bikes was handy. My ride is short but an ebike, much like my motorcycle, would sure get me to work faster. It's hard to justify the total cost except to keep wear and tear off my other vehicles.
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The lack of being sweaty was intriguing to me. Same with the time factor. Personally, I struggled a bit with both of those things, but was always using it as an opportunity to flex my frugality muscles. Once I figured out how to work within those guidelines, I don't even consider them a problem. For me it's almost always time. I need time to bike in, time to cool down/stop sweating (new job has a shower and lockers so I feel spoiled), and time to change. So I wake up earlier, and do my best to get everything done in the time I have. Being able to make the trip twice as fast without a car seems awesome, but I think I'm just going to eventually get myself conditioned to kick that much ass. Also, maybe get a lighter bike than a 26" Specialized RockHopper (I was going to find a link, but they only have 29ers now). But first, the conditioning!
The last few months were bad for me, mostly because I didn't have anywhere to go. Now that I have a solid 9.3 mile commute, I should be able to make this month pretty sweet. Might even break my record, but I'll see.
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Yeah I am a heavy sweater and even on a cold day I can really get soaked. My work has no showers so I need to air dry and hope my deo kicks in. I've toyed with the idea of a moped since I have a motorcycle licence but none have pooped up cheap enough for me to consider.
I would try riding in the winter as well if it wasn't for my hands. If an ebike would help cut my time down in winter I would give it a try. Need to find one I could borrow and test it out but not many here that I have seen.
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Had a leisurely late start today, so biking was pretty easy. We'll see how I do tomorrow when I have to be at work and ready to go by 8am. :)
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Oh, it is raining like crazy. I'm about to head out for 9 miles of wet fun!!
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I read an article discussing the different classifications and people's comments on what classifications differences there should and shouldn't be.
http://electricbikereview.com/guides/electric-bike-classes/ (http://electricbikereview.com/guides/electric-bike-classes/)
It brings up some interesting points on multi-use paths and the use of e-bikes. The question is should there be any regulation with that? What criteria should we use?
I'll spend more time pondering this, as a cyclist but not an e-cyclist it can be hard to think from the e-cyclist perspective. I'd hate to have speed limits on bike paths, but maybe it would be a good idea on multi-use paths. In the bike lane I'd say just stick to the road speed limit.
Licensing is another consideration. Most cyclists balk at this idea for pedal power, but should it be considered for e-bikes? I think the article hits on it a little bit with the classification system and determining at which classification an e-bike should be considered as a moped/motorcycle.
I've also seen ones that take advantage of e-bike laws by having "pedals" that can move the e-bike, but are so short to be practically useless and are only there to satisfy the "bike" part of e-bike.
As a cyclists do I want purely electric powered e-bikes running by me? I'm still torn on the issue.
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I read an article discussing the different classifications and people's comments on what classifications differences there should and shouldn't be.
http://electricbikereview.com/guides/electric-bike-classes/ (http://electricbikereview.com/guides/electric-bike-classes/)
It brings up some interesting points on multi-use paths and the use of e-bikes. The question is should there be any regulation with that? What criteria should we use?
I'll spend more time pondering this, as a cyclist but not an e-cyclist it can be hard to think from the e-cyclist perspective. I'd hate to have speed limits on bike paths, but maybe it would be a good idea on multi-use paths. In the bike lane I'd say just stick to the road speed limit.
Licensing is another consideration. Most cyclists balk at this idea for pedal power, but should it be considered for e-bikes? I think the article hits on it a little bit with the classification system and determining at which classification an e-bike should be considered as a moped/motorcycle.
I've also seen ones that take advantage of e-bike laws by having "pedals" that can move the e-bike, but are so short to be practically useless and are only there to satisfy the "bike" part of e-bike.
As a cyclists do I want purely electric powered e-bikes running by me? I'm still torn on the issue.
I'll look at the classifications a bit later, but can't some scooters be driven without a license?
Edit: Fixed auto-wrecked stuff.
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There are a few trips I'd do almost 100% by bike (unless I needed to buy something that exceeded pannier+trailer) that I currently only do, say, 10% by bike. But that's only 100 miles/month tops. At a CPM spread of 0.25/mile I'm saving $25/month. I'm getting extra exercise and lowering carbon footprint, which are nice intangible benefits, but on pure money alone it's hard to justify the cost in our current financial position.
Plus, the ebike would be only used 1-2 days a week at most, since I couldn't exactly equip my kids with e-bikes too :P
But I totally applaud those who e-bikes work for.
For the legal aspect:
1. There are plenty of pedal powered bikes going over 20mph on multi-use paths. Most are sensible enough to back off when the paths are crowded. Or they often move over to parallel streets.
2. 20mph isn't all that fast compared to a good pedal cyclist, so I'd personally treat them as bikes. Ride in bike lane, share the lane, etc. Once your top speed gets to 25+ they should really be classified as a moped/scooter. Plus, a lot of these "lauded" builds with max speeds over 30 are super unsafe because of the frames they're using and the underpowered brakes. synonyk has a good treatment of some issues on his blog:
www.syonyk.blogspot.com/2015/05/my-second-ebike-properly-good-build.html
EDIT:
Forgot to add also to make even those 100 miles/month I'd need a kit with a load of at least 400lbs, and ideally more like 500-600, which really sends the price up.
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Hi all. I'm new to the challenge, and the forum. I bought a bike a couple of weeks ago. My goal is to work my way up to being able to commute to my maths tutoring and my karate classes. It's 7.5 miles each way for the former and 9.5 for the latter, as I live outside of town. I'm not overweight and have some basic cardio fitness (Can run 5k's) so it's just a matter of putting miles on the bike to get my quads used to the work and my ass used to the seat.
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Hi all. I'm new to the challenge, and the forum. I bought a bike a couple of weeks ago. My goal is to work my way up to being able to commute to my maths tutoring and my karate classes. It's 7.5 miles each way for the former and 9.5 for the latter, as I live outside of town. I'm not overweight and have some basic cardio fitness (Can run 5k's) so it's just a matter of putting miles on the bike to get my quads used to the work and my ass used to the seat.
Welcome, and glad to have you!
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Hi all. I'm new to the challenge, and the forum.
Welcome to the challenge!
As for e-bikes, I don't have a problem with them. Although they did take some getting used to when they became common on the bike trail. I'm not concerned about their extra speed as long as they pass me with enough space. And frankly, it's not the e-bikers who suck at this so much as some of the lycra-clad roadies.
I think e-bikes are great for people who want to bike, but are intimidated by some aspect of regular biking. DH has had one for a couple years now and it was just the ticket to get him to take on his 17km (34km round trip) commute. We'll probably also get e-bikes for our kids when they're teens so they can have the mobility without the risk of driving a car and the cost of insuring it.
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Couple of things. In the lower right hand corner of the screen, there is a little button that says explore (on a computer). Kind of cool, ad hoc charts. Not perfect, but they don't slow things down.
I have a trunk bag and a pannier that I use regularly. The trunk bag always stays on, but the pannier comes off a few times a day. It's gotten to the point where the soft sided trunk bag really screws up putting on my pannier. Have any of you folks had that issue? I might get a new trunk bag that is a bit sturdier, but the few that I've looked at all have the special racks (slide on locking stuff) that I'd need to get to. I was initially going to take off the outside pockets on that side, but today I realized that it was the bag itself (and the straps) that gets in the way, so even that is out.
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I have a trunk bag and a pannier that I use regularly. The trunk bag always stays on, but the pannier comes off a few times a day. It's gotten to the point where the soft sided trunk bag really screws up putting on my pannier. Have any of you folks had that issue? I might get a new trunk bag that is a bit sturdier, but the few that I've looked at all have the special racks (slide on locking stuff) that I'd need to get to. I was initially going to take off the outside pockets on that side, but today I realized that it was the bag itself (and the straps) that gets in the way, so even that is out.
I've never used a trunk bag, so I haven't had that problem. However, I did stumble across this instrucable a while ago. http://www.instructables.com/id/Lockable-bicycle-trunk/ Not sure if it will solve your issue...
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I left for work at 6:30 instead of 7 this morning and there was SO MUCH LESS TRAFFIC! I'm going to try to do that from now on.
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Did my first ride today that replaced a drive! I needed a couple of small things from the grocery store so I grabbed a light backpack and rode over there. It was a whopping 1.3 miles but in 95+ degree heat so I was sweating before I made it out of the garage.
That's how it begins... Muahahaha
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It was pouring rain on the way home, and I was soaked all the way through within a few minutes. The only words I can think of right now for my ride:
Unfettered Joy. I couldn't stop smiling all the way home. A great ten miles ish.
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7 km (4.5 miles) today. Couple km further than last time, so I'm getting there. I never realised just how many hills there were in my area. Somehow, you don't really notice them when you drive across them. I'm not sure if biking up a hill is harder than running up one (relative to biking/running on flat ground) but it feels like it. On flat ground I feel like I could ride all day.
Do hills get easier over time, or do you just learn to deal with the feeling?
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I don't bike that far because everything is very close (and I'm usually hauling a trailer with a kid), but my goal for September is to only use our car for things outside of our town. For example, we'll probably drive to Berlin and/or Rügen this month for family trips, and my husband has to drive Frankfurt to deal with leasing issues of the car. Note: we didn't lease this car, his employer did. We just have to deal with the headaches.
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Do hills get easier over time, or do you just learn to deal with the feeling?
Hills definitely make it clear how much you are carrying, and the weight and efficiency of the bike. It will be one of the spots where a new (to you) bike will really make you realize the differences. That being said, yes...they get much easier over time. Since it eventually starts getting a bit easier, you might (as I have) begin to look forward to the hills, and then try to break personal records as you go up. With me, I started getting comfortable with them, and slowly but surely decreased my time to get up it. And then, day before yesterday, some 60+ year old racer with a multi thousand dollar bike (and no love handles) passed me on said hill like I was standing still. I shouted encouragement and envy at him, and we both laughed. And then next time I hit the hill, I tried to go even faster. I was dying a little at the top, but think I set a new record.
So yeah, it will get easier the more you do it.
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It was pouring rain on the way home, and I was soaked all the way through within a few minutes. The only words I can think of right now for my ride:
Unfettered Joy. I couldn't stop smiling all the way home. A great ten miles ish.
Fantastic! I love riding in the rain. Ever since I started biking, I relish experiencing the weather conditions, be it getting wet or hot or momentarily cold. I used to leave my house and try to construct a bubble shield via umbrella or air conditioning/heat. Allowing myself to just be while outside on ye ol' bike = unfettered joy, precisely.
7 km (4.5 miles) today. Couple km further than last time, so I'm getting there. I never realised just how many hills there were in my area. Somehow, you don't really notice them when you drive across them. I'm not sure if biking up a hill is harder than running up one (relative to biking/running on flat ground) but it feels like it. On flat ground I feel like I could ride all day.
Do hills get easier over time, or do you just learn to deal with the feeling?
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I also notice the slight rises and dips in the terrain while riding, which I would not notice in a car or while walking. From my experience, hills definitely get easier the more you bike/build up your muscles.
When I first started biking up my hill, my barrier was mental (the feeling/thought I would get while at the bottom looking up was "I. Just. Can't"). So I told myself as I biked up the hill that I would only stop if I died. I would have to die off my bike to stop. The exertion of biking up a hill isn't going to kill me (luckily), so I always reached the top feeling exultant. It might sound crazy, but it works for me.
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7 km (4.5 miles) today. Couple km further than last time, so I'm getting there. I never realised just how many hills there were in my area. Somehow, you don't really notice them when you drive across them. I'm not sure if biking up a hill is harder than running up one (relative to biking/running on flat ground) but it feels like it. On flat ground I feel like I could ride all day.
Do hills get easier over time, or do you just learn to deal with the feeling?
As Greg LeMond would say: It never gets easier, you just go faster!
Of course, this means the hills will end sooner... :)
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I have a trunk bag and a pannier that I use regularly. The trunk bag always stays on, but the pannier comes off a few times a day. It's gotten to the point where the soft sided trunk bag really screws up putting on my pannier. Have any of you folks had that issue? I might get a new trunk bag that is a bit sturdier, but the few that I've looked at all have the special racks (slide on locking stuff) that I'd need to get to. I was initially going to take off the outside pockets on that side, but today I realized that it was the bag itself (and the straps) that gets in the way, so even that is out.
Jordanread I've had this problem lately too. I've taken to wrapping a bungee cord around my pannier and the rack to keep them more secure. It seemed to stop my problem.
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Just joined in the challenge! :-)
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Do hills get easier over time, or do you just learn to deal with the feeling?
My problem with hills is that my breathing gets all out of whack and I start acting like I'm having an asthma attack. I probably just need to learn to shift appropriately and watch my breathing but wanted to point out that it's not always the legs that cause problems (though I do slow way down and need to practice going faster too)
Do you actually have exercise induced asthma? I do, and without treatment I just don't get any fitter, no matter how much I exercise. With treatment I breathe a bit less like a freight train, but more importantly, I actually get fitter in response to exercise.
Regardless, you need to slow down so you don't redline so badly. The trick to hills is to anticipate. Before you hit the bottom of the hill, try to ride as fast as possible to build up some momentum while it's still easy. As you start up the hill, gear down before you need to. Keep gearing down as necessary until you're in the lowest gear. Then sit down and just keep slowly grinding away.
Long distance bikers (like road racers) pedal at about 90 rpm. Most recreational riders pedal way slower and in too high of a gear. In bike racing there's a saying, "Spin to win." It's true. You'll go faster and feel less tired if you pedal faster in a lower gear. This is especially true for hills.
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Jordanread I've had this problem lately too. I've taken to wrapping a bungee cord around my pannier and the rack to keep them more secure. It seemed to stop my problem.
I could see that. My issue isn't that stuff doesn't stay secure (there is a reason I spent a stupid amount of money on an older version of Arkel Commuter (http://www.arkel-od.com/en/commuting-bike-bag.html) pannier), it's that it takes ridiculously long to move the trunk bag out of the way and hook up my pannier. It's more of an annoyance than anything else.
Just joined in the challenge! :-)
Welcome!! Happy cycling.
Long distance bikers (like road racers) pedal at about 90 rpm. Most recreational riders pedal way slower and in too high of a gear. In bike racing there's a saying, "Spin to win." It's true. You'll go faster and feel less tired if you pedal faster in a lower gear. This is especially true for hills.
After that entire cadence discussion a few months back, I shoot for 75 - 80 rotations per minute. Makes a lot of difference for me.
I definitely do need to anticipate hills better but I'm so new in getting back into biking that I'm too focused on the immediate area and forget to look far enough ahead and I end up reacting late. On our long ride last week DH kept reminding me after the fact that I need to accelerate before hills
My SO is the same way. She's more oblivious than focused on her immediate surroundings, but she always shifts once she needs to pedal easier as opposed to right before. That also puts some major wear on the derailleur, sprockets, and chains. Not exactly what you are talking about, but similar.
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Do hills get easier over time, or do you just learn to deal with the feeling?
My problem with hills is that my breathing gets all out of whack and I start acting like I'm having an asthma attack. I probably just need to learn to shift appropriately and watch my breathing but wanted to point out that it's not always the legs that cause problems (though I do slow way down and need to practice going faster too)
Do you actually have exercise induced asthma? I do, and without treatment I just don't get any fitter, no matter how much I exercise. With treatment I breathe a bit less like a freight train, but more importantly, I actually get fitter in response to exercise.
Regardless, you need to slow down so you don't redline so badly. The trick to hills is to anticipate. Before you hit the bottom of the hill, try to ride as fast as possible to build up some momentum while it's still easy. As you start up the hill, gear down before you need to. Keep gearing down as necessary until you're in the lowest gear. Then sit down and just keep slowly grinding away.
I've wondered if I have exercise induced asthma since I heard about it a couple of years ago but haven't seen a doctor about it. Is treatment any different than normal asthma?
I definitely do need to anticipate hills better but I'm so new in getting back into biking that I'm too focused on the immediate area and forget to look far enough ahead and I end up reacting late. On our long ride last week DH kept reminding me after the fact that I need to accelerate before hills
I have exercise induced asthma. I have an albuterol inhaler that I use when my breathing gets tight. I pack my inhaler whenever I'm anticipating doing anything athletic. I've also gotten pretty good at anticipating it - allergies make it worse, certain weather conditions can affect it. Depending on how active I am, my lung capacity can actually end up getting pretty good. I'll never be a marathoner (for many, many reasons) but if I'm working on my cardio conditioning I find myself depending less and less on the inhaler.
Another thing that helped me was focusing on mental aspects for impeding asthma attacks. It's scary not being able to breathe, if you let it freak you out, your fear will compound the problem. Try to slow your breathing, deep slow breaths. Keep your chest upright (put your hands behind your head to open your lungs), don't bend over - it compresses your lungs.
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I've wondered if I have exercise induced asthma since I heard about it a couple of years ago but haven't seen a doctor about it. Is treatment any different than normal asthma?
I definitely do need to anticipate hills better but I'm so new in getting back into biking that I'm too focused on the immediate area and forget to look far enough ahead and I end up reacting late. On our long ride last week DH kept reminding me after the fact that I need to accelerate before hills
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The first step is to go talk to your Dr. If you do have exercise induced asthma, the first treatment is to take a basic rescue inhaler before you exercise. If that's not sufficient then you can talk about adding a "maintenance" drug that you take everyday, plus the inhaler before exercise. On a MMM note, the rescue inhaler (ventolin) is cheap. Some of the inhaled corticosteroids are more expensive and the newer combo corticosteroids are more expensive.
If you think you may have this, I'd go get it checked out. My exercise induced asthma progressed to viral reactive asthma pretty badly several years ago. That just means that sometimes when I get a respiratory bug (cold, flu, etc.) it triggers a bad asthma flare (a sharp increase in symptoms that lasts days to weeks). I'm glad I had at least a bit of experience in treating it before that happened since it was a bit hairy. It also helps me anticipate situations when I need to increase my dosing, so I stay healthy and don't end up in the ER.
As for gaining awareness of when you'll need to change gears, that just takes time. Keep riding consistently and you'll start to become more comfortable on the bike. When that happens you'll be able to concentrate on more than just the patch of road in front of you. In the meantime, try to "look where you want to go" instead of staring at the ground right in front of your wheel.
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Do hills get easier over time, or do you just learn to deal with the feeling?
My problem with hills is that my breathing gets all out of whack and I start acting like I'm having an asthma attack. I probably just need to learn to shift appropriately and watch my breathing but wanted to point out that it's not always the legs that cause problems (though I do slow way down and need to practice going faster too)
Do you actually have exercise induced asthma? I do, and without treatment I just don't get any fitter, no matter how much I exercise. With treatment I breathe a bit less like a freight train, but more importantly, I actually get fitter in response to exercise.
Regardless, you need to slow down so you don't redline so badly. The trick to hills is to anticipate. Before you hit the bottom of the hill, try to ride as fast as possible to build up some momentum while it's still easy. As you start up the hill, gear down before you need to. Keep gearing down as necessary until you're in the lowest gear. Then sit down and just keep slowly grinding away.
Long distance bikers (like road racers) pedal at about 90 rpm. Most recreational riders pedal way slower and in too high of a gear. In bike racing there's a saying, "Spin to win." It's true. You'll go faster and feel less tired if you pedal faster in a lower gear. This is especially true for hills.
Intriguing. I'll have to try these tactics. Thanks!
For another data point, I start breathing harder when going up hills, but have no breathing problems. My quads feel like they're on fire though :)
Thanks to all who responded.
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7 km (4.5 miles) today. Couple km further than last time, so I'm getting there. I never realised just how many hills there were in my area. Somehow, you don't really notice them when you drive across them. I'm not sure if biking up a hill is harder than running up one (relative to biking/running on flat ground) but it feels like it. On flat ground I feel like I could ride all day.
Do hills get easier over time, or do you just learn to deal with the feeling?
You've gotten a lot of good advice about hills already. I just wanted to jump in and say that many cyclists I ride with say that you get faster at hill climbing with practic,e but it never gets easier.
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Well, today I decided to just go for it :) It was the perfect opportunity, as circumstances allowed me to get a lift back home. Thus, I only needed to do the commute in, not the commute back. Total distance was a little less than 8 miles (12.5 km) to town, plus another 2.5 miles (4 km) later that afternoon to get to a tutoring session.
It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Most of the ride (barring the hills) was actually quite nice. After the first couple of kilometres, it was almost all flat ground or downhill, so it was very pleasant. Perfect weather as well. I expected my ass to be more sore from the seat, but it was totally fine...until it came time to get back on the bike. Then I could feel it! Still, I made it without incident, and I should be able to make the same arrangement a couple of times a week for a bit, until I get used to the commute in. Then I can start to ride both in and back on the same day, and virtually eliminate my dependence on car-based transport.
I'm looking forward to doing it again on Thursday. There's something extremely satisfying about looking at a distance 99% of people would consider impassable without a car, and saying "I can just bike that". Still, I'll have to see how things go long term. I don't foresee any problems, especially since the commute should only get easier and faster as time goes on.
Next milestone: Make the commute in twice a week for a month or so.
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Joined the spreadsheet. Currently I only bike to commute so I won't be matching some of your impressive mileages. Aiming to cycle at least three days a week in September.
I've adjusted my sheet to reflect reality in the UK in terms higher running costs (particularly fuel, which is over US$6 per US gallon). Also my round-trip commute distance changes quite a lot depending on whether I drive or cycle (14.4 miles vs 22.9 miles), so I've changed it to show money saved versus my car commute, rather than using the distance cycled to calculate savings. If that buggers things up on the summary sheet, please let me know.
Is it odd that I'm looking forward to "badass" conditions so I can note that down on the spreadsheet?
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This thread is exactly what I need.
COMMUTE 20 MILES PER DAY...?
I am planning a bike commute that is 10 miles one way. It will begin as soon as my safety gear arrives this week. I live in a remote area outside of the town where my job is located. Trying to see if this will work for me.
...OR MOVE CLOSER TO WORK?
I might need to move closer to work for a shorter commute, but I don't like the town where I work. By January, I will have a location-independent job and I'm thinking of moving to a certain college town -a place that is equipped for cyclists. So maybe a short term move to the town I don't like might be a good thing. But then to pack up again so soon after moving there...
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Is it odd that I'm looking forward to "badass" conditions so I can note that down on the spreadsheet?
In the MMM community, that's normal. :)
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CK- I did 10 miles each way for a couple years before I quit to SAH with my kids. Especially if there's a good path or greenway along the route, it can be quite fun.
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I did some mt bike riding but didn't take my phone and track it because I figured, knowing my luck, that I would break it. So not sure how many miles we did. It was a blast though!
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CK- I did 10 miles each way for a couple years before I quit to SAH with my kids. Especially if there's a good path or greenway along the route, it can be quite fun.
Thanks, Thegoblinchief. I look forward to it.
Riding a bike for that length of road takes a lot of time out of the day, time that could be spent at home. Did you dislike this aspect of your long commute?
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CK- I did 10 miles each way for a couple years before I quit to SAH with my kids. Especially if there's a good path or greenway along the route, it can be quite fun.
Thanks, Thegoblinchief. I look forward to it.
Riding a bike for that length of road takes a lot of time out of the day, time that could be spent at home. Did you dislike this aspect of your long commute?
No, not really. I'm a morning person and the rest of my family is NOT. Having to leave earlier didn't lose me any quality time at that end. Coming into work with endorphins rushing helped stave off depression at being there, at least for a while into the day.
Getting home later made cooking harder but lets do some math. My 10 mile drive would take at least 15, often as much as 25 minutes with traffic and lights. My general average biking with lights is 14mph, so about 45 minutes. I was really only "losing" 20 minutes of time and came home in a much better mood, so I didn't need to decompress as much once home.
You may be slower on the bike at first but you have to view the time 'lost' in a similar fashion :) Keep in mind also that you've now gotten an excellent cardio workout - no need to duplicate that with a gym trip or whatnot.
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My situation pretty much mirrors Thegoblinchief's. No "together time" lost at the beginning of the day, and only 20–30 minutes extra on the journey in the evening. No additional workout needed.
In addition to all that, I find cycling time offers thinking time, an opportunity to clear one's head and prepare for/decompress from the day. Don't feel like that when driving (or even taking the bus/train). Maybe running would offer a similar opportunity, but work is far too far away to be attempting that kind of nonsense.
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I bought a cheaper singlespeed bike yesterday. It was $200. I have to do less prepping to commute in the morning than I did when I was riding one of my nicer bikes. This bike will also require less upkeep and maintenance which is nice for riding to work day-to-day. I'll feel less concerned that it gets stolen or stripped and will take it out for more errands. I like it. Getting to work takes a few minutes longer now. Other bikes will be used for recreation and not commuting/errands. I should probably sell one of my other bikes to make up for it. I probably won't. I like bikes.
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CK- I did 10 miles each way for a couple years before I quit to SAH with my kids. Especially if there's a good path or greenway along the route, it can be quite fun.
Thanks, Thegoblinchief. I look forward to it.
Riding a bike for that length of road takes a lot of time out of the day, time that could be spent at home. Did you dislike this aspect of your long commute?
No, not really. I'm a morning person and the rest of my family is NOT. Having to leave earlier didn't lose me any quality time at that end. Coming into work with endorphins rushing helped stave off depression at being there, at least for a while into the day.
Getting home later made cooking harder but lets do some math. My 10 mile drive would take at least 15, often as much as 25 minutes with traffic and lights. My general average biking with lights is 14mph, so about 45 minutes. I was really only "losing" 20 minutes of time and came home in a much better mood, so I didn't need to decompress as much once home.
You may be slower on the bike at first but you have to view the time 'lost' in a similar fashion :) Keep in mind also that you've now gotten an excellent cardio workout - no need to duplicate that with a gym trip or whatnot.
This is one effect I wasn't quite expecting. The mental health benefits of cycling to work should not be discounted :)
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CK- I did 10 miles each way for a couple years before I quit to SAH with my kids. Especially if there's a good path or greenway along the route, it can be quite fun.
Thanks, Thegoblinchief. I look forward to it.
Riding a bike for that length of road takes a lot of time out of the day, time that could be spent at home. Did you dislike this aspect of your long commute?
No, not really. I'm a morning person and the rest of my family is NOT. Having to leave earlier didn't lose me any quality time at that end. Coming into work with endorphins rushing helped stave off depression at being there, at least for a while into the day.
Getting home later made cooking harder but lets do some math. My 10 mile drive would take at least 15, often as much as 25 minutes with traffic and lights. My general average biking with lights is 14mph, so about 45 minutes. I was really only "losing" 20 minutes of time and came home in a much better mood, so I didn't need to decompress as much once home.
You may be slower on the bike at first but you have to view the time 'lost' in a similar fashion :) Keep in mind also that you've now gotten an excellent cardio workout - no need to duplicate that with a gym trip or whatnot.
Thanks, Thegoblinchief!
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The 11.5 mile route I did on Monday just kicked me in the gut about half the way home (after having managed it fine on the way to work), so the rest of it was like pedalling through honey. I am badly out of shape. Today I took the faster-but-less-pleasant direct route (7.2 miles) along a major road. I'm not a big fan of mixing it with bastard lorries doing 60, so I'm only doing the direct route for a couple of weeks until I can do the scenic route without corpsing on the way home.
Boiler was on the fritz at work this morning, so there was only cold water available. Quickest shower ever.
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The 11.5 mile route I did on Monday just kicked me in the gut about half the way home (after having managed it fine on the way to work), so the rest of it was like pedalling through honey. I am badly out of shape. Today I took the faster-but-less-pleasant direct route (7.2 miles) along a major road. I'm not a big fan of mixing it with bastard lorries doing 60, so I'm only doing the direct route for a couple of weeks until I can do the scenic route without corpsing on the way home.
Boiler was on the fritz at work this morning, so there was only cold water available. Quickest shower ever.
I've had a couple of days like that, especially when I first started riding. Something will happen. Sometimes it seems like hitting a wall (or if you are a fan of The Oatmeal (http://theoatmeal.com/), the Blerch (http://theoatmeal.com/comics/running) rears it's ugly cherubic head). For me, it's never quite like complete exhaustion, but I can't find my rhythm and cadence. I can't seem to get up to speed, so yeah...honey is a good example. Good for you finding a way around it though, even if it's not ideal. One of the things I've noticed is that being on a bike (especially with SPDs...cause walking in those shoes sucks), you still have to ride to get to your destination. Your feelings, your mood, your efficiency are all pretty much moot points. You still have to ride. After a few times just sucking it up and riding through honey (and 'wasting' time), you get to where you are going. When you start the next ride, the Blerch just shakes it's head while making snarky comments. But you've already won. You have already put yourself in the situation where you'll have to do it again. Not only do you adjust, but you learn to shrug off times when it's wonky, and don't waste a lot of time feeling bad about not being as good as you can be...you just move on, and keep riding.
I heard a saying last week, and it kind of resonated with me in regards to biking in the rain.
There is this interesting thing about getting wet: Most of the time, you'll eventually get dry, and you don't even have to do anything.
I kind of think this type of phrase will lend itself to creating one for biking. Work in Progress.
An interesting fact about biking: No matter how you feel or how you ride, with no other option, you will almost always reach your destination (eventually).
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One of the things I've noticed is that being on a bike (especially with SPDs...cause walking in those shoes sucks), you still have to ride to get to your destination. Your feelings, your mood, your efficiency are all pretty much moot points. You still have to ride. After a few times just sucking it up and riding through honey (and 'wasting' time), you get to where you are going.
Very true. I have SPD pedals and after a couple of minutes by the side of the path sucking down water and feeling sorry for yourself, you realise there is no Plan B. And if that means crawling along at 10 km/h, then so be it.
Thanks for the Oatmeal link. The Blerch will be henceforth be my mental model for exercise/food-related bastardry. Alternatively, for the cycling fans: Shut Up Legs.
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After a few times just sucking it up and riding through honey (and 'wasting' time), you get to where you are going. When you start the next ride, the Blerch just shakes it's head while making snarky comments. But you've already won. You have already put yourself in the situation where you'll have to do it again. Not only do you adjust, but you learn to shrug off times when it's wonky, and don't waste a lot of time feeling bad about not being as good as you can be...you just move on, and keep riding.
I used to struggle against conditions, like tired legs or strong winds, thinking I should be biking in a particular way, hitting a particular speed, feeling a particular way in my body, and making it to work in a particular amount of time. But then I realized that was silly. For me there isn't one way to ride; it isn't a game where I'm constantly leveling up and needing to maintain that level. Every ride is exactly as it should be. It happens as it happens, and not only do I get where I'm going, I enjoy the trip instead of fighting against it. So now there is no feeling bad about a ride and no blerch. Whatever the conditions, I ride. This has affected other areas of my life as well. I used to think that unless I struggled and strived and tried really hard to make myself absolutely awesome, that I would not accomplish anything and sort of slip into a giant puddle of lazy uselessness. I can say that I had it completely backwards.
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After a few times just sucking it up and riding through honey (and 'wasting' time), you get to where you are going. When you start the next ride, the Blerch just shakes it's head while making snarky comments. But you've already won. You have already put yourself in the situation where you'll have to do it again. Not only do you adjust, but you learn to shrug off times when it's wonky, and don't waste a lot of time feeling bad about not being as good as you can be...you just move on, and keep riding.
I used to struggle against conditions, like tired legs or strong winds, thinking I should be biking in a particular way, hitting a particular speed, feeling a particular way in my body, and making it to work in a particular amount of time. But then I realized that was silly. For me there isn't one way to ride; it isn't a game where I'm constantly leveling up and needing to maintain that level. Every ride is exactly as it should be. It happens as it happens, and not only do I get where I'm going, I enjoy the trip instead of fighting against it. So now there is no feeling bad about a ride and no blerch. Whatever the conditions, I ride. This has affected other areas of my life as well. I used to think that unless I struggled and strived and tried really hard to make myself absolutely awesome, that I would not accomplish anything and sort of slip into a giant puddle of lazy uselessness. I can say that I had it completely backwards.
If you read the beginning of my journal, which is helplessly out of date now, it starts with me riding to work every day. I would get to work with what I described as "Zombie Legs" because I could barely walk. Mind you, my ride is merely 3.5 miles taking the scenic route. I'd recover on the weekends and get back to Monday and tear it up getting to work. Slowly I could keep it up through the entire week, and now I continue to ride 50-100 miles on the weekend.
It took about a month to stop getting zombie legs every morning, and it wasn't until the Summer when I started doing longer rides, and by fall I had found a cycling group. My first 30mi ride was insane, heart beating so hard it felt like a cartoon, breathing heavily, and being the last one up the mountain.
The big turn about for me in the first month though was when I stopped racing myself. I used to try and beat my time every day, looking at my little cycling computer and testing how fast I could go. Even now, just as Nancy says, I still have rides that go really slow, ones that go really fast, depending on the day, how I feel, and other conditions. Today I tore it up, speeding along at 20mph, others I'll take it slow.
One thing I do sometimes is take the short route to work, and then the longer route home, and on the longer route it's a bit more slow and relaxed since I'm not sharing the lane with cars for most of it.
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Nancy - that was an excellent post. I haven't quite accepted that but I'm definitely on the way to forming a similar mindset.
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Rode 14 km (8.7 miles) to karate today, then did a karate lesson. Was quite nervous about how it would turn out, but weirdly, even though the ride was pretty taxing, I was able to handle karate just fine after a short rest.
On the topic of "You just have to finish the ride", my route is great for that. The start, for me, has been the hardest in both rides so far. But I tell myself "Just make it through the first three kilometres (2 miles)". The reason for that is that a big downhill section ends around the 2 mile mark. By the time I've gone through that, the last thing I want is to turn around and go back UP those hills just to drive to where I need to go, so I just keep going. It's similar to the strategy I used while running. If I do a 4-mile run, I tell myself to make it through the first 2, and then my hands are tied, I have to go back. And I'm so impatient that I'd rather run than walk.
I'm definitely enjoying the biking so far, even though the hills are an unpleasant reminder that I've slacked off on exercise during the first semester of university, and I'm still fatter than I'd like. Every hill is my body yelling at me "Lose some weight, dumbass." I can see why biking is so recommended. When I don't do much physical activity, it's easy to forget how much fitter I still want to be. Biking shines a magnifying glass on this particular flaw, and won't let me look away. I think it's time to go back on a weight loss diet.
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Any tips about reducing chain wear? I am apparently hard on my chains... just needed to replace my chain (and cassette!) after only about 1000 miles. I trust my bike shop not to replace things that don't need to be replaced, and it was shifting really poorly, so I don't doubt that it needed it, and I guess even if I go through a couple of chains a year that's still a fairly reasonable expense compared to my other transportation options, but it seems like other people are getting more life out of their chains.
I do ride in very bad weather and am not always great about washing down the bike after rain and snow and salt... mostly I'm just not sure where/how to do it (no outdoor covered space, and although I know some people will wash their bikes in the bath, that is not for me!). I have a new watering can and could probably use that to give the drive train a quick rinse after a bad-weather ride. I'm going to get a chain measuring tool, too, to make it easier to notice when the chain is getting old.
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Rode 14 km (8.7 miles) to karate today, then did a karate lesson. Was quite nervous about how it would turn out, but weirdly, even though the ride was pretty taxing, I was able to handle karate just fine after a short rest.
On the topic of "You just have to finish the ride", my route is great for that. The start, for me, has been the hardest in both rides so far. But I tell myself "Just make it through the first three kilometres (2 miles)". The reason for that is that a big downhill section ends around the 2 mile mark. By the time I've gone through that, the last thing I want is to turn around and go back UP those hills just to drive to where I need to go, so I just keep going. It's similar to the strategy I used while running. If I do a 4-mile run, I tell myself to make it through the first 2, and then my hands are tied, I have to go back. And I'm so impatient that I'd rather run than walk.
I'm definitely enjoying the biking so far, even though the hills are an unpleasant reminder that I've slacked off on exercise during the first semester of university, and I'm still fatter than I'd like. Every hill is my body yelling at me "Lose some weight, dumbass." I can see why biking is so recommended. When I don't do much physical activity, it's easy to forget how much fitter I still want to be. Biking shines a magnifying glass on this particular flaw, and won't let me look away. I think it's time to go back on a weight loss diet.
Glad to have you here, and happy you are getting value from biking. It is a bit on the addictive side, and the benefits soon become even more obvious. I can't help but think of a picture (https://thegoblinchief.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/bike-vs-car1.jpg?w=590) that TGC has on his site. I really just want to get that stencil and paint it in all the bike lanes.
I used to struggle against conditions, like tired legs or strong winds, thinking I should be biking in a particular way, hitting a particular speed, feeling a particular way in my body, and making it to work in a particular amount of time. But then I realized that was silly. For me there isn't one way to ride; it isn't a game where I'm constantly leveling up and needing to maintain that level. Every ride is exactly as it should be. It happens as it happens, and not only do I get where I'm going, I enjoy the trip instead of fighting against it. So now there is no feeling bad about a ride and no blerch. Whatever the conditions, I ride. This has affected other areas of my life as well. I used to think that unless I struggled and strived and tried really hard to make myself absolutely awesome, that I would not accomplish anything and sort of slip into a giant puddle of lazy uselessness. I can say that I had it completely backwards.
That is an outstanding way of looking at things! I still need to figure out a good way to reconcile it with my thoughts on biking. I always try to beat my previous record, but I'm also cool if I don't. I like pushing myself, but biking is so much more than that. I don't lose sight of all the awesomeness, but I could see how that could happen if you do view things as a way to level up. Thanks for the insight!
Any tips about reducing chain wear? I am apparently hard on my chains... just needed to replace my chain (and cassette!) after only about 1000 miles. I trust my bike shop not to replace things that don't need to be replaced, and it was shifting really poorly, so I don't doubt that it needed it, and I guess even if I go through a couple of chains a year that's still a fairly reasonable expense compared to my other transportation options, but it seems like other people are getting more life out of their chains.
I do ride in very bad weather and am not always great about washing down the bike after rain and snow and salt... mostly I'm just not sure where/how to do it (no outdoor covered space, and although I know some people will wash their bikes in the bath, that is not for me!). I have a new watering can and could probably use that to give the drive train a quick rinse after a bad-weather ride. I'm going to get a chain measuring tool, too, to make it easier to notice when the chain is getting old.
I don't necessarily rinse off my bike, but I do make sure I regularly lube the chain. That seems to have reduced my wear quite a bit. You're not shifting when it's too hard or anything like that I'm assuming, right?
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Rode 14 km (8.7 miles) to karate today, then did a karate lesson. Was quite nervous about how it would turn out, but weirdly, even though the ride was pretty taxing, I was able to handle karate just fine after a short rest.
On the topic of "You just have to finish the ride", my route is great for that. The start, for me, has been the hardest in both rides so far. But I tell myself "Just make it through the first three kilometres (2 miles)". The reason for that is that a big downhill section ends around the 2 mile mark. By the time I've gone through that, the last thing I want is to turn around and go back UP those hills just to drive to where I need to go, so I just keep going. It's similar to the strategy I used while running. If I do a 4-mile run, I tell myself to make it through the first 2, and then my hands are tied, I have to go back. And I'm so impatient that I'd rather run than walk.
I'm definitely enjoying the biking so far, even though the hills are an unpleasant reminder that I've slacked off on exercise during the first semester of university, and I'm still fatter than I'd like. Every hill is my body yelling at me "Lose some weight, dumbass." I can see why biking is so recommended. When I don't do much physical activity, it's easy to forget how much fitter I still want to be. Biking shines a magnifying glass on this particular flaw, and won't let me look away. I think it's time to go back on a weight loss diet.
Glad to have you here, and happy you are getting value from biking. It is a bit on the addictive side, and the benefits soon become even more obvious. I can't help but think of a picture (https://thegoblinchief.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/bike-vs-car1.jpg?w=590) that TGC has on his site. I really just want to get that stencil and paint it in all the bike lanes.
Sounds about right :) MMM's "car clown" analogy really got to me as well. "If a car weighs 2 tons and you weigh 80 kg, 96% of the fuel you spend is spent getting your CAR where you need to go, not you. It's like buying 25 meals, eating one, and throwing the other 24 in the garbage." Now I can't stop thinking about that every time I drive, but hopefully I can bring my car usage down to once every two weeks by the end of the year. I have one tutoring client that I choose not to bike to, since I go from tutoring straight to karate, and biking is simply too slow to get there in a reasonable frame of time. I was going to say I can't bike there, but then I realised this is a lie; I choose to prioritise getting to karate on time over using a bike. This isn't a bad choice, in my opinion, but it's a choice, and I should be conscious that I am making it every time I do the drive.
This is admittedly not as bad as it could be, as I still need to get sixty hours of accompanied driving in to get my provisional license, and I do want to have a car license, even though I currently choose not to own a car. You never know what might happen in the future. I may need to borrow a car for an unbikeable errand every so often, or suffer an injury that prevents me biking while still permitting me to drive.
I should probably keep an eye out for these choices in other areas of my life, too. A choice is still a choice, even if I make a decision without ever realising I had an alternative.
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Any tips about reducing chain wear? I am apparently hard on my chains... just needed to replace my chain (and cassette!) after only about 1000 miles. I trust my bike shop not to replace things that don't need to be replaced, and it was shifting really poorly, so I don't doubt that it needed it, and I guess even if I go through a couple of chains a year that's still a fairly reasonable expense compared to my other transportation options, but it seems like other people are getting more life out of their chains.
I do ride in very bad weather and am not always great about washing down the bike after rain and snow and salt... mostly I'm just not sure where/how to do it (no outdoor covered space, and although I know some people will wash their bikes in the bath, that is not for me!). I have a new watering can and could probably use that to give the drive train a quick rinse after a bad-weather ride. I'm going to get a chain measuring tool, too, to make it easier to notice when the chain is getting old.
Yeah, keeping it clean and lubed will extend it's life. However, riding in wet weather is terrible for chains. All that road grit gets in the links and acts like internal sandpaper. I also have to replace my chains pretty frequently.
One thing I've realized in the past year though is that rear casettes with more gears require thinner, more expensive chains than cassettes with fewer gears. The thinner chains are stupidly expensive and prone to breaking. I ride a silly carbon racing style road bike and it has a correspondingly silly 10-speed rear cassette. When those gears wear out I'm going to replace them, and the chain, with an 8-speed. It'll be cheaper and more durable. I live in a hilly area so I don't need the higher end gears anyway. I'm either grinding uphill in a low gear or coasting down without pedaling.
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[...] I'm either grinding uphill in a low gear or coasting down without pedaling.
I recently switched out my SO's MTB tires with slicks. Now she coasts down hills faster than I can pedal in a high gear. One day...:)
Fun fact: My best mileage ever was in January of this year (306 Miles), because it was the first winter biking I did, and was totally motivated not to drive at all that month, even though I wasn't necessarily liking it. Best mileage in winter is awesome.
Other Fun Fact: As of my ride home this evening, that's the only month I have to beat now (told you I'm leveling up, Nancy). I broke 155 miles, and it's only the 10th. Getting rid of my car was an awesome decision for me. Now I just need to quit smoking (again). I need to get some of those candy cigarettes or something though. I get the best looks when I pull up on my bike all sweaty and kicking ass, and then light a smoke. Totally feeds my superiority complex when I am smoking a cigarette and see people driving in giving me super hilarious looks.
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Now I just need to quit smoking (again). I need to get some of those candy cigarettes or something though. I get the best looks when I pull up on my bike all sweaty and kicking ass, and then light a smoke. Totally feeds my superiority complex when I am smoking a cigarette and see people driving in giving me super hilarious looks.
Haha, I agree you should stop smoking (for your health!) but I do love anything that conveys that biking is not just for the obsessively fit. Maybe get yourself a cupholder and keep a Big Gulp in it at all times.
Riding in this morning I realized another thing that may have contributed to chain wear for me this year: I got another bike with an internally-geared Sturmey-Archer hub, which can only be shifted when you're *not* pedaling (the worn-out bike has a standard derailleur). I suspect that, especially when I was first getting used to the new bike, I was sometimes shifting at the wrong times on the derailleur bike as well. I've mostly got it down now, but it is a little difficult switching back and forth.
The new (well, new to me) bike also has a complete chain case, so I should probably use that bike more in the rain, but it also has a wicker basket and a leather saddle, which I don't like to get wet... maybe I should switch out the basket so I can ride it more this winter.
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Any tips about reducing chain wear? I am apparently hard on my chains... just needed to replace my chain (and cassette!) after only about 1000 miles. I trust my bike shop not to replace things that don't need to be replaced, and it was shifting really poorly, so I don't doubt that it needed it, and I guess even if I go through a couple of chains a year that's still a fairly reasonable expense compared to my other transportation options, but it seems like other people are getting more life out of their chains.
I do ride in very bad weather and am not always great about washing down the bike after rain and snow and salt... mostly I'm just not sure where/how to do it (no outdoor covered space, and although I know some people will wash their bikes in the bath, that is not for me!). I have a new watering can and could probably use that to give the drive train a quick rinse after a bad-weather ride. I'm going to get a chain measuring tool, too, to make it easier to notice when the chain is getting old.
Yeah, keeping it clean and lubed will extend it's life. However, riding in wet weather is terrible for chains. All that road grit gets in the links and acts like internal sandpaper. I also have to replace my chains pretty frequently.
One thing I've realized in the past year though is that rear casettes with more gears require thinner, more expensive chains than cassettes with fewer gears. The thinner chains are stupidly expensive and prone to breaking. I ride a silly carbon racing style road bike and it has a correspondingly silly 10-speed rear cassette. When those gears wear out I'm going to replace them, and the chain, with an 8-speed. It'll be cheaper and more durable. I live in a hilly area so I don't need the higher end gears anyway. I'm either grinding uphill in a low gear or coasting down without pedaling.
There are a few things to consider when changing the number of gears.
1) Your shifters (guessing they are indexed brifters) are probably indexed for 10 so you may need to get new shifters - Sheldon Brown says that this shouldn't be a problem having extra clicks.
2) Your front and rear derailleurs are also designed for 10 gears and may not work well with the smaller cassette - Sheldon Brown suggests that the rear derailleur probably doesn't care, and the front derailleur may only be a little fussy, so this may not be a large concern
One thing I would look at is maybe getting a new crankset. Are you running a 53/39 or 52/39 crank? You could switch to a compact which would be 50/34. This doesn't require new cassette, derailleurs, or shifters, just an adjustment to the front derailleur to lower it, and possibly removing a couple links from the chain due to the smaller circumference.
Another thing to consider on the rear cassette is going for a lower geared rear, a standard set used on road bikes is 11/25, but you could switch to a 12/30 which is commonly used for climbing, this might allow you to be in the big ring more especially in combination with a 50/34 front crankset.
The real differences between the 7/8, 10, or 11 cassette is in the steps between shifts. An 11 speed cassette has the same top speed as the 9 or 10 if the cassettes smallest cog only has 11 teeth, but you can maintain a smoother cadence between shifts because the steps are smaller. With a 7 speed cassette with the same size small and large cogs you would have an average of 2 teeth change between each gear in an 11/25 setup, whereas a 10 speed would have 1.4 teeth change, or 6 with 1 tooth steps and 3 with 2 tooth steps.
Originally I thought you were wrong on the 10 speed being thinner, but Sheldon Brown suggests that you are correct. Myself I put about 1600 known miles on my 10 speed before changing the chain and have since put another 1300 without it getting to the warning wear indication with the Park Tool chain wear tool. This includes plenty of uphill, and racing. I have not changed my rear cassette yet, which would have 3900 miles + however many the previous owner put on it. I also got the bike in November and road it all winter and spring rain or shine.
More reading:
Sheldon Brown - Speed (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/speeds.html)
Potomac Pedalers - Cycling Gears (http://www.potomacpedalers.org/?cyclinggears)
Any tips about reducing chain wear? I am apparently hard on my chains... just needed to replace my chain (and cassette!) after only about 1000 miles. I trust my bike shop not to replace things that don't need to be replaced, and it was shifting really poorly, so I don't doubt that it needed it, and I guess even if I go through a couple of chains a year that's still a fairly reasonable expense compared to my other transportation options, but it seems like other people are getting more life out of their chains.
I do ride in very bad weather and am not always great about washing down the bike after rain and snow and salt... mostly I'm just not sure where/how to do it (no outdoor covered space, and although I know some people will wash their bikes in the bath, that is not for me!). I have a new watering can and could probably use that to give the drive train a quick rinse after a bad-weather ride. I'm going to get a chain measuring tool, too, to make it easier to notice when the chain is getting old.
As far as washing the bike goes, I've been horrible at this, but getting better. During the wet season I'll at least wipe down the bike once I get home to keep the chain from rusting overnight, and lube at least once a week. I've been getting into the habit of actually using degreaser and a toothbrush to clean the drivetrain once a week, and lo and behold my chain is actually silver! I find the jockey wheels can be particularly grimmey. It's actually fairly relaxing being in the garage with a beer and taking the time to clean the bike. I use a folding bike stand (http://amzn.to/1NuBBx8) for parking my bikes and they work great for doing maintenance.
Also for riding in inclement weather I highly recommend full fenders. 1) the will keep the mud off your back and water out of your face, and 2) they do the same for your drivetrain. Full fenders on the rear will come around down to your bottom bracket, my road ones even have a little extra side covering on the drivetrain side.
Thanks everyone for the inspiring stories. I've been feeling a little burned out recently and have been taking it easy on the extra rides, your stories help motivate me to keep being badass. I'm probably going to end up riding to my friends house again this weekend unless my wife decides to come along, so should look forward to adding another 60+ miles on Saturday.
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I just joined the challenge! I realize it's almost halfway through September, but my company's office didn't open until this Wednesday and until then I was working from home.
I'm moderately overweight and out of shape -- I've always enjoyed biking, but for the past few years my lifestyle (clown-car commute, and then telecommute) has not been conducive to it. Plus I'm lazy.
My commute is 6.5 miles each way, with some moderate hills at each end and an almost-flat multi-use rail trail in the middle. Because I'm so out of shape, it's taking me about 45 minutes to go those 6.5 miles. : ( I'm looking forward to getting faster...
I failed to bike commute on Wednesday. My rationalization was that it was raining and I wasn't sure if my "water-resistant" pannier would adequately protect my laptop. After that, I decided I won't take my laptop home in order to eliminate that excuse. Thursday and Friday were successes, though! In fact, on Thursday I felt pretty lucky: a storm was chasing me and it started monsooning shortly after I arrived home.
The plan is to bike commute every workday from now on, except for extenuating circumstances like needing to haul a carload of stuff or having to run an errand farther than biking-distance away. From now on, bad weather will not be considered an extenuating circumstance! (Except maybe ice -- it's not a factor for enough days per year to be worth getting studded tires, so I'll take transit those days.)
One of the things I've noticed is that being on a bike (especially with SPDs...cause walking in those shoes sucks), you still have to ride to get to your destination. Your feelings, your mood, your efficiency are all pretty much moot points. You still have to ride. After a few times just sucking it up and riding through honey (and 'wasting' time), you get to where you are going.
Very true. I have SPD pedals and after a couple of minutes by the side of the path sucking down water and feeling sorry for yourself, you realise there is no Plan B. And if that means crawling along at 10 km/h, then so be it.
SPDs are just fine for walking (I assume... I have Crank Brothers 'eggbeater' style instead, but they use the same 2-bolt attachment and similar cleats). The problem is the shoes, not the cleats. Swap out the road shoes for mountain-biking style ones, which have real treads and recessed attachment points, and you'll find it works much better.
(Look-style pedals are only compatible with road-style shoes, so if you had that kind you'd be screwed.)
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One of the things I've noticed is that being on a bike (especially with SPDs...cause walking in those shoes sucks), you still have to ride to get to your destination. Your feelings, your mood, your efficiency are all pretty much moot points. You still have to ride. After a few times just sucking it up and riding through honey (and 'wasting' time), you get to where you are going.
Very true. I have SPD pedals and after a couple of minutes by the side of the path sucking down water and feeling sorry for yourself, you realise there is no Plan B. And if that means crawling along at 10 km/h, then so be it.
SPDs are just fine for walking (I assume... I have Crank Brothers 'eggbeater' style instead, but they use the same 2-bolt attachment and similar cleats). The problem is the shoes, not the cleats. Swap out the road shoes for mountain-biking style ones, which have real treads and recessed attachment points, and you'll find it works much better.
(Look-style pedals are only compatible with road-style shoes, so if you had that kind you'd be screwed.)
Yeah, I get that. One of my former coworkers got some higher end hiking shoes with SPD cleats. They were much nicer and you could actually walk in them. I have a cheap set of shoes and dual platform pedals. I have heard that the hardness of regular SPDs is what allows for a better transfer of energy while pedaling. I haven't tested this, since I've always had really hard (and cheap) SPDs. Doing a touch of googling does make me want to look more into egg beaters. I always assumed they were just 4 sided SPD clips, but I was wrong.
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At least from the touring diaries I read, you want a very stiff cycling shoe when doing long distances regularly. I can definitely see the point, as my feet can get very sore near the balls of the toe from flexion pressing onto the pedal.
If I ever make it to SPDs I'll either get recessed cleats or just pack sandals in the pannier.
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I've been trying to work up the courage and motivation to start biking to work (13 miles each way). Reading through this thread is helping. My plan is to get an ebike eventually, but I need to save some more money first. If I can start riding to work a few times a week though, I'll be able to save up for an ebike quicker, so hopefully I can talk myself into doing it soon.
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I've been trying to work up the courage and motivation to start biking to work (13 miles each way). Reading through this thread is helping. My plan is to get an ebike eventually, but I need to save some more money first. If I can start riding to work a few times a week though, I'll be able to save up for an ebike quicker, so hopefully I can talk myself into doing it soon.
I'm glad the thread helps. We've been doing monthly challenges for a while now and they are all valuable. There are a lot of different ways to get into it (and you probably won't want to get an e bike once you are regularly riding). What's your biggest issue now?
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My main issue is time. I used to commute by bike to my last job, but it only took 5 minutes longer than driving. With my longer commute now it will probably be 30 minutes longer each way. With an ebike I could get to work a lot quicker, and maybe not need to shower when I got there.
My other issue is needing to eat more food. I've been working hard to gain weight for years, and I don't want to lose any weight. 26 miles of biking is a lot of extra food to cook, eat, and pay for.
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My main issue is time. I used to commute by bike to my last job, but it only took 5 minutes longer than driving. With my longer commute now it will probably be 30 minutes longer each way. With an ebike I could get to work a lot quicker, and maybe not need to shower when I got there.
My other issue is needing to eat more food. I've been working hard to gain weight for years, and I don't want to lose any weight. 26 miles of biking is a lot of extra food to cook, eat, and pay for.
That is a good issue to have! I get the time thing when it comes to biking, though. Maybe bringing the bike to work one day and only riding home would help.
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Well, I've just done some back of the envelope maths. If I want to completely avoid owning a car next year, I need to bike ~100 km (62.5 mi) each week, assuming I take one trip to town each fortnight for random things on top of my karate and tutoring. In reality, this number is slightly lower, as tutoring is a 40 week per year profession at best.
Estimated costs of a car:
Fuel: $800/year (I don't travel much, but fuel in Australia is expensive.)
Registration: $850/year
Insurance: $1600/year (Quote for an under 26 with a provisional license. Could probably get this lower, but as will soon be apparent, there is no reason to.)
Maintenance: $800/year
Total cost: $4,050/year, or about $60,000 over ten years.
This also means that I get $4,050/year for riding 5,200 km (3,250 mi), which is about 78c/km ($1.25/mi). Assuming 16 kph (10 mph) pace, this means I get paid $12.50/hr just to ride the bike, completely ignoring all other benefits from doing so. Considering the bike and it's accessories cost me $87, if owning a bike means I don't have to buy a car, it pays for itself in about eight days.
Now I see why MMM recommends buying a new bike if you have to, as long as it makes it more likely that you'll stick to the habit and that you have a bike as soon as possible. Bloody eye opening.
And I definitely see why "fuzzy maths and hand-waving" is useful. These numbers are probably totally out of whack, but it doesn't matter. Even if I'm off by a factor of 2, I still don't want to pay 30 grand (approximately 350% of my savings) for a car. So I won't. Time to build up to biking 100 km per week. Not a bad side hustle; getting 12 bucks an hour to exercise and even enjoy myself!
Even more information; on my current student income, I'm managing to save about 50% by living with family and having very few expenses. This rate would go down to 25% if I owned a car, based on the above analysis. That one thing would cut my savings rate in HALF. And all I have to do to avoid that is get a bit fitter and get into the biking habit. Pretty good deal, if you ask me.
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Team, I don't know if I mentioned it here, but at my new place I did get one of my new coworkers to start biking in at least once a week. It also turns out that he is a bit of a maker, and has crazy skills with a sewing machine. When I was looking at panniers and the like, Russ said something pretty accurate: There will always be pannier people, and there will always be backpack people. So this isn't for me (since I fall solidly into the pannier camp...back sweat makes me angry), but the thought and sewing skill that went into this was super cool. He made a vest with a series of loops to support weight. I didn't get a picture of his laptop bag, but it's just a sleeve that he sewed more hooks on, and uses a carabiner to attach it to the vest. The other cool thing is that he can carry anything he wants and even layer them if need be. Camelbak, storage, and the like. Here are the pictures.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Yv1lKcxoDkRz39G_N-NUaDXFC8oPZ60QCnkJea7nfQlJVzV15oWQue7bZJVoY0tHO39oRrLYAZcfWatHDvinHMYdj0QeThVR5ZTeX8RiUR6Krm_2jMT8eH0uIjliyGexodpwUXys8Ftwsd8LKE9XbXntP3IV6lOVhf6WdGwaHQ7chFnuvMoDcvK2XzsQLDjn8R9lGpd5-shrdxSmXRQ2Dvw2aaBL7lUhg85KMdGXBw8Nq5JS8FG6pFoykjrfUfsXtkm2dqERuNB_aM_-JzCDnilmEiSLNrlACcXG6mL0yaV6ZzWf_voTOEb8uX7x0AxKExMpNImsvrIa50Byann63e3jZRPgFtd2SFjtXYfATqvGs3GPok9f4pXdjD1ZPifQ3sL7ADalW9fcvmb2JtlsVayKqW8QK5543wizSie7Ed49zgiHJbs8PZwk_cKQOvey_CcKOj282Xak14mtp2FH_MgUrPjouyDi_UGygqZB-tMlnrd0kWleMKJOUEgX35uyf0ura7l1VlhWI7LPQvyIpU9ZOnpBTU18uWPMl1M8STk=w382-h677-no)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/b_ktUES7e2T2xpsrb0YbdJn7MgX1dMUl7bJ4es65WOCUTGvjr6G09EbG5a8FCDfnyEqL1GsinDbXhsEUJJKCRG16JAIGyMQHZ9F4RlfiPc9_Mls8FYyONDQtIel6vWCkt7yeWdQAn4n5xEXg2gZ1N1BZKaHdDKFGj_cN9o9k5IKKPztgAHPPclOkXBXP-JnRJHv6EmFXhRFP4avhkEys0-9IBOJRquIhjg_HNfD_gevq-j49ATiGmN6sIDwQod0jalvjMAJkqf_5PRm6KRY3A2SO8lBpSbjLI-sIRO5tqEl-jR04Z8RfAo8ogIbesQEA9WZogDolfpmDSkyA4BPnd-OvtlMPIc44YGPWrGKm6OaVPRklYBHUnnEmARxvPYrc61Ju32YzSrMxVqtc4GJ-TYTcSo4Fnd8SjGJiGD10CFD-AlawM8Uqm26Z1YkA4svcLRDsSIcGxKUmVhmrX87GtQ3nLB2ubkOfESi1UJRJdH1rxcspM43GcB2iu2Vy9w1MhhdU1NqMAj6LrC3-6zCFfq1z48WgGR-vOvUOb7mKfe0=w382-h677-no)
I might make a poll in next month's challenge, just to see the stats on panniers and backpacks here. My initial guess is that there are probably more backpack people, since almost everyone has one, and this is a place about not buying things you don't need, but I've been wrong before (once), and my stupid expensive pannier did have a side effect of riding a whole lot more (while commuting...my cheap panniers [or nothing] are fine for recreational rides).
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Nearly got creamed by a 4x4 this morning. Mostly my fault. First near miss in recent times and it's shaken me a bit. A healthy reminder to ride fucking conservatively around traffic that can kill you dead in seconds.
There will always be pannier people, and there will always be backpack people.
Pannier person here. Occasionally add a rucksack if I've got a lot to carry, but I don't like it.
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Well, I've just done some back of the envelope maths. Estimated costs of a car: $4,050/year, or about $60,000 over ten years.
Doesn't sound too far off. Unfortunately for me Mrs Butterfingers would have my nuts if I sold the car, but I can still save Ł5,000–8,000 over ten years by leaving it sitting on the driveway instead of commuting/shopping in it.
In Australia and the UK probably the single biggest dent most people can make in their outgoings is going car-free. Good for you.
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DH and I went out today and did 23.4 miles...for fun :)
I did a lot better with my breathing this time. I was consciously making myself take slow deep breaths when I started gasping and allowed myself to stop for breaks as needed.
I need to get a new doctor since we moved and when I do I'll talk to them about exercise induced asthma. I hate the idea of needing treatment but if it helps I'll deal with it
I told you that's how it starts. And just last month you were concerned about the poker game. Way to kick ass! And good job starting to problem solve the breathing issues.
[...]
In Australia and the UK probably the single biggest dent most people can make in their outgoings is going car-free. Good for you.
I think this could be the biggest single dent anyone can make, even when things are artificially cheaper like they are here in the US.
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[...]
In Australia and the UK probably the single biggest dent most people can make in their outgoings is going car-free. Good for you.
I think this could be the biggest single dent anyone can make, even when things are artificially cheaper like they are here in the US.
Depends on your circumstances. Some people waste significantly more than this. My own mother has a $100/week cigarette habit, 33% more than the cost of me getting a car. On the other hand, someone with a $100/week cigarette habit probably also makes car payments, which I didn't factor into cost savings, as I wouldn't have been making any. I have no idea how much car payments are for most people. Moving to a cheaper place could also give similar levels of savings, if you live in a larger/nicer place than you need.
Still, going carless is definitely a major one. For someone who's already reasonably smart with their money, you guys are probably right.
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DH and I went out today and did 23.4 miles...for fun :)
I did a lot better with my breathing this time. I was consciously making myself take slow deep breaths when I started gasping and allowed myself to stop for breaks as needed.
I need to get a new doctor since we moved and when I do I'll talk to them about exercise induced asthma. I hate the idea of needing treatment but if it helps I'll deal with it
I told you that's how it starts. And just last month you were concerned about the poker game. Way to kick ass! And good job starting to problem solve the breathing issues.
So an hour or two after the ride my legs started hurting so bad I was actually in tears. I was trying to make sure I stretched out thoroughly (when I go to the gym I spend 15 minutes just stretching) but it wasn't helping. I think I figured out it was more my knees than my thighs and 4 ibuprofen made me feel back to normal but that was excruciating. I did even cry from pain when I cut my heel in a creek requiring 9 stitches a couple of years ago. I now have much more sympathy for people with knee problems. I think I may need to raise my seat a little, I'd say my legs extend 90-95% of the way so I'm not way off but that may help.
Crazily enough I haven't quite made it past the mental barrier to actually ride my damn bike to work even though it's a whopping 3 miles (what if I'm sweaty/disheveled/helmet hair/rained on/etc?). I had myself all psyched up to do it today, but after hurting so bad yesterday I had visions of me crying at work with no way to get home. Except for some saddle soreness I feel 100% today so as long as that keeps up I'll plan on riding in tomorrow
Ouch. Sorry to hear about that. There are some really good links that have been posted here about proper positioning on the bike. My SO's ones hurt at first until we got the adjustments locked in. I'll try to look for the link later.
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DH and I went out today and did 23.4 miles...for fun :)
I did a lot better with my breathing this time. I was consciously making myself take slow deep breaths when I started gasping and allowed myself to stop for breaks as needed.
I need to get a new doctor since we moved and when I do I'll talk to them about exercise induced asthma. I hate the idea of needing treatment but if it helps I'll deal with it
What I find helpful for breathing is sort of the opposite of a slow deep breath. The reason why we start breathing harder while riding is to remove CO2 rather than for a need to take in more oxygen, so I've found that the exhale is more important than the inhale. When I'm working hard going up a hill and find myself breathing heavily I'll concentrate on exhaling as hard as I can and let the inhale come in naturally, rather than forcing the inhale to be slow. This allows me to exhale more deeply, exhaling more CO2, and to get a fuller breath.
Of course, if you have advice from a doctor feel free to adhere to that over the ramblings of someone on teh internetz.
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There are a few things to consider when changing the number of gears.
Thanks for all the tips! My rear cassette should get me through the next winter and at that point I may start doing some more research. I hadn't realized it might be more complicated than just changing the rear cassette and chain. The front gears are a compact set and the rear is a granny-gear cassette (can't remember the actual #'s). Shifters are indexed brifters.
I originally got this bike new as a replacement for a previous bike that was stolen. Insurance paid for it and at the time I wasn't biking but thought I would get back into short course triathlon (I hate time trial bikes). So I bought the fanciest bike I could with the insurance payout.
Turns out I just really want to bike commute and all the fancy pants light components on this one cost a fortune to maintain/replace with all the commuting miles. I really like the frame though so my thought was just to replace the finicky components with cheaper, more durable ones as they wear out.
On another note, I'm so grateful to be a bike commuter this week. The clutch in my "new-to me" car died on Friday. I won't get the car back from the shop till Wednesday. No problem, I can just bike in the meantime!
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There are a few things to consider when changing the number of gears.
Thanks for all the tips! My rear cassette should get me through the next winter and at that point I may start doing some more research. I hadn't realized it might be more complicated than just changing the rear cassette and chain. The front gears are a compact set and the rear is a granny-gear cassette (can't remember the actual #'s). Shifters are indexed brifters.
I originally got this bike new as a replacement for a previous bike that was stolen. Insurance paid for it and at the time I wasn't biking but thought I would get back into short course triathlon (I hate time trial bikes). So I bought the fanciest bike I could with the insurance payout.
Turns out I just really want to bike commute and all the fancy pants light components on this one cost a fortune to maintain/replace with all the commuting miles. I really like the frame though so my thought was just to replace the finicky components with cheaper, more durable ones as they wear out.
On another note, I'm so grateful to be a bike commuter this week. The clutch in my "new-to me" car died on Friday. I won't get the car back from the shop till Wednesday. No problem, I can just bike in the meantime!
As Sheldon Brown noted it may not be that big of a deal. I'm grateful you brought your plans because it's helped me to understand even more about how bicycles work. Going from a 9 or 10 speed to 7 or 8 should work, you'll have extra clicks on your brifter, which you may not even notice because the derailleurs limiter will prevent it from clicking again in the lowest gear.
If I were to do that I would go ahead and change the cassette and the chain and adjust the rear derailleur first. Ride with it, see if there are any issues with shifting. If the indexing is the problem then the next step would be to get new brifters, but going down to 7/8 gears means you aren't running Dura Ace, and not even Ultegra, so the Tiara or 105 brifters should be fairly affordable. The derailleurs probably won't be much trouble, and you don't have to change both at the same time. The only thing with doing the derailleur and brifters separately is you'd have to buy new cables, versus doing them together, but cables are by far cheaper than either of these components.
If you do decide to go ahead with it please report back! I'd love to hear how it goes.
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What are peoples' thoughts on cycling with a cold? I have the telltale scratchy throat and shivers that herald an imminent bout, but I don't want to break my streak in the saddle. Is it advisable to power* on through? Forecast is for heavy rain tomorrow.
*Used in the very loosest sense
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What are peoples' thoughts on cycling with a cold? I have the telltale scratchy throat and shivers that herald an imminent bout, but I don't want to break my streak in the saddle. Is it advisable to power* on through? Forecast is for heavy rain tomorrow.
*Used in the very loosest sense
Any time something like that had happened to me, I'll power through the early stages and make sure that I take vitamins. 4/5 times it helped, and I never progressed beyond the early stages. Fifth time, once it got bad, I did have to skip a day. It probably has more to do with using more of my energy stores, so the multi vitamin probably did more, even though after riding in (actually about half way through the ride I started feeling better the other times). YMMV, though. If give yourself some extra time, just in case you have to slow down a bit.
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Yeah, I think you're right. I'll keep cycling as long as I feel able. If it hits me hard, then it's time to move to plan B (diesel-powered transport).
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Yeah, I think you're right. I'll keep cycling as long as I feel able. If it hits me hard, then it's time to move to plan B (diesel-powered transport).
Head colds were generally fine. But if you start to feel super fatigued, it moves into chest, or when you have stomach/GI issues - definitely time to get off the bike. (Unless you have an e-bike and can use the "easy mode".)
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Yeah, I think you're right. I'll keep cycling as long as I feel able. If it hits me hard, then it's time to move to plan B (diesel-powered transport).
Head colds were generally fine. But if you start to feel super fatigued, it moves into chest, or when you have stomach/GI issues - definitely time to get off the bike. (Unless you have an e-bike and can use the "easy mode".)
I guess I figured if a cold is getting so bad that I think I can't bike, I should probably do all my coworkers a favor and just stay home anyways.
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I guess I figured if a cold is getting so bad that I think I can't bike, I should probably do all my coworkers a favor and just stay home anyways.
Reads like prophecy. Woke up early this morning with a hacking cough. No work for Mr Butterfingers today.
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I finally biked to work this morning!
Yes! You can walk that little bit taller today.
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Thanks to the encouragement from this thread, I rode by bike to my new job and back yesterday.
It was 25.8 miles total. The ride to work wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. I found myself thinking maybe I didn't need to build an ebike, or at least I could probably get by with a smaller motor. Then throughout the day my legs felt pretty tired, and I wasn't looking forward to the ride home. The ride home was harder, and about 1 mph slower, but I made it. It sure would have been nice to have some electric assist to make the commute time shorter though.
I'll probably ride to work again sometime next week, but I don't think I'm going to do it more than once or twice a week. 2 hours is a lot of time to spend commuting everyday, and I don't want to have to eat an extra 1400 calories of healthy food every single day either. When I am able to build an ebike, if I can cut my ride time down to 30-40 minutes each way, I think I could manage doing that several times per week.
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.....my commute was 2.8 miles (one way)
You should still feel proud of your accomplishment! BTW, I'm jealous of your commute.
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I finally biked to work this morning!
Yes! You can walk that little bit taller today.
You'd think so but then I read this:
Thanks to the encouragement from this thread, I rode by bike to my new job and back yesterday.
It was 25.8 miles total.
.....my commute was 2.8 miles (one way)
Sure what are you going to do? Go round in circles to make up the difference?
You had your task and you nailed it. Done. Now you just need to do it again tomorrow.
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I made it through all of June, July, August cycling every day to work. September I'm taking a break and just going to cycle the better weather days. I bought enough bus passes for 5 days and my goal is to not need more before October.
The last two days have been very cold and very wet and I took the bus. But today it was not wet, just cold (5c). I know many of you cycle in much colder temps and worse weather, but since losing 65 pounds a few years ago I get bitterly cold so quickly, with chills that don't go away for many hours.
Anyway, today I braved the cold.... dressed like it was -15c. Worked great. :D
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Cookie - my main issue with cold, particularly those chills you're describing was wind penetration. I switched to wearing a rain/wind shell as my outermost layer. I end up a bit sweatier than I would with a non windproof outer (even with fewer layers) but I'll take that since I'm not shivering two hours later.
Nice job on the weight loss! I'm down about 90 pounds and it's amazing how different I feel.
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Hello, all!
I am new to the forums, but I have been reading the MMM blog for a while.
Argentower actually pushed me on the website and the forums.
Long story short I was paying for a loan on a 2013 Jeep Wrangler and I ended up selling the Jeep two Friday's ago.
Then this past Friday I bought an electric bike. The EG Oahu 500EX. So I am planning on using this for my commute to and from work. At least until it starts snowing and it is no longer feasible to do so. I paid cash for the bike so I do not have any payments on the bike.
I did my first actual work commute last night and it went really well. The ride home in the morning was a bit more difficult, but very easily done.
I look forward to logging bike miles with you all.
Keep up the great work everyone!
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Chuck - no reason for snow to make biking no longer feasible ;)
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It should be interesting none the less lo!
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I feel like I end up repeating myself a lot between this thread and my journal but I had to share:
I finally biked to work this morning!
I read both your journal and this topic. Doesn't get old to me, and this is a great spot to post those biking wins. Don't worry about repeating yourself. You rocked it! Granted, I think Butterfingers made better comments congratulating you:
Yes! You can walk that little bit taller today.
You had your task and you nailed it. Done. Now you just need to do it again tomorrow.
Thanks to the encouragement from this thread, I rode by bike to my new job and back yesterday.
It was 25.8 miles total. The ride to work wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. I found myself thinking maybe I didn't need to build an ebike, or at least I could probably get by with a smaller motor. Then throughout the day my legs felt pretty tired, and I wasn't looking forward to the ride home. The ride home was harder, and about 1 mph slower, but I made it. It sure would have been nice to have some electric assist to make the commute time shorter though.
I'll probably ride to work again sometime next week, but I don't think I'm going to do it more than once or twice a week. 2 hours is a lot of time to spend commuting everyday, and I don't want to have to eat an extra 1400 calories of healthy food every single day either. When I am able to build an ebike, if I can cut my ride time down to 30-40 minutes each way, I think I could manage doing that several times per week.
.....my commute was 2.8 miles (one way)
You should still feel proud of your accomplishment! BTW, I'm jealous of your commute.
I'm actually jealous of your commute. ~30 miles per day would be awesome. Are you riding an e-bike now? I think you could probably cut your time down just with practice. I've decreased my time by about 25 minutes over the past year, just with conditioning.
Hello, all!
I did my first actual work commute last night and it went really well. The ride home in the morning was a bit more difficult, but very easily done.
I look forward to logging bike miles with you all.
That is amazing. We have quite a few new people who are starting to commute via bike this month, so welcome to all of you, and way to make the leap. Everyone here will support that journey, so if you have questions, comments, concerns, or something that seems to be holding you back, feel free to post about it here. We do a new challenge every month, and I always post the 'next' challenge in here. The sheet will update and carry forward your historical data as well.
So I am planning on using this for my commute to and from work. At least until it starts snowing and it is no longer feasible to do so.
Chuck - no reason for snow to make biking no longer feasible ;)
I had not realized that it was actually getting cold enough to address this in the Northern Hemisphere (and the Southern Hemisphere people have already been rocking it). Since last November, I've been compiling a list of all comments and things related to winter biking. This includes issues with tech, clothing, bikes, and the like. I'll try to get that all polished and ready and post a link to it in next month's challenge.
That actually reminded me of something I wanted to ask (to those of you who don't know...kmp2 posted one of our awesome winter biking pictures):
Edit: I was wondering if the shortness of breath, nausea and lethargy was pregnancy or smoke...
So you are riding while pregnant? And you already have a kid (I don't know that if it's true, but saw you posted in the Biking with Kids thread)? Very badass!!
Welcome again to everyone, and congrats to everyone rocking it!!
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I had not realized that it was actually getting cold enough to address this in the Northern Hemisphere (and the Southern Hemisphere people have already been rocking it). Since last November, I've been compiling a list of all comments and things related to winter biking. This includes issues with tech, clothing, bikes, and the like. I'll try to get that all polished and ready and post a link to it in next month's challenge.
Fantastic! Can you include a bit on winter maintenance, i.e. what we can (quickly) do at the end of the day after riding through slushy grit? I want to keep the gubbins from corroding away, but I don't really want to spend ages in the dark outside hosing the bugger down every day, then drying, then oiling, if it's not really necessary. As a winter rider you will have some insight. Perhaps something like "do this before/after every ride" and "do this once a week" kind of instructions would be really helpful.
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Cookie - my main issue with cold, particularly those chills you're describing was wind penetration. I switched to wearing a rain/wind shell as my outermost layer. I end up a bit sweatier than I would with a non windproof outer (even with fewer layers) but I'll take that since I'm not shivering two hours later.
Nice job on the weight loss! I'm down about 90 pounds and it's amazing how different I feel.
Awesome! Congrats. :)
Keeping the wind off me is my top priority, especially my neck and my ears.
I did wear two jackets today, one that seems to keep the wind off quite well, and another with a hood. And a thick scarf, winter gloves, long johns. I may have overdone it a little, but I didn't sweat much at all, and I wasn't too cold. I only had a very slight chill afterwards for about an hour.
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It started getting cold this week and I didn't look at the forecast on Monday, so my ride home was a bit chilly. After I got home I immediately went to Goodwill and found myself some good top layers that do a great job. Warm pants that would work well for cycling were nowhere to be found though.
I did a bit of looking and found a great deal on cycling pants/tights ($26!) on Nashbar (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_588305_-1___205149). If anyone is looking for cycling pants to prepare for the coming cold, this is the best deal I've seen in the months I've been looking. "These tights are designated factory seconds solely due to a slight discoloration of the external Nashbar logo." Just thought I would pass it along!
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Keeping the wind off me is my top priority, especially my neck and my ears.
A balaclava (full head) or neck gaiter plus ear warmer is a lot easier to deal with than a scarf on a bike. I always had issues with the scarf "escaping" and being a real PITA/hazard when riding.
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Keeping the wind off me is my top priority, especially my neck and my ears.
A balaclava (full head) or neck gaiter plus ear warmer is a lot easier to deal with than a scarf on a bike. I always had issues with the scarf "escaping" and being a real PITA/hazard when riding.
I too recommend the balaclava, even though I never had trouble with the scarf, just that the scarf didn't cover my head. The biggest help the scarf had was keeping the wind from going down through the neck. Another idea for the balaclava is to sew an extra piece of cloth to help keep it in your jacket if the balaclava is a little short.
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I had a little buddy when I left work today
Biking in and already getting gifts!! Way to go!
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I think I've stumbled upon a sure fire way to make sure I keep biking with the weather turning cooler and wetter... My husband left on a week long trip and took the (only) car with him. Now, if I'm going to go to work (or anywhere else), I've got no choice but to bike it. :)
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I think I've stumbled upon a sure fire way to make sure I keep biking with the weather turning cooler and wetter... My husband left on a week long trip and took the (only) car with him. Now, if I'm going to go to work (or anywhere else), I've got no choice but to bike it. :)
Necessity is the mother of biking... Or something like that. I kicked my stuff into high gear by refusing to fix the fuel pump on my car. Good choice.
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I'm actually jealous of your commute. ~30 miles per day would be awesome. Are you riding an e-bike now? I think you could probably cut your time down just with practice. I've decreased my time by about 25 minutes over the past year, just with conditioning.
What is your commute like?
I don't have an e-bike yet, just a road bike. And you're right, there is plenty of room for improvement. I'm in pretty good shape, but that was my first ride over 10 miles in many years.
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I'm actually jealous of your commute. ~30 miles per day would be awesome. Are you riding an e-bike now? I think you could probably cut your time down just with practice. I've decreased my time by about 25 minutes over the past year, just with conditioning.
What is your commute like?
I don't have an e-bike yet, just a road bike. And you're right, there is plenty of room for improvement. I'm in pretty good shape, but that was my first ride over 10 miles in many years.
Right now it's 9.2 miles. It was something like 10 earlier, and before the challenges, I had a16 mile commute. ~10 is when I really started doing it regularly, though. The longer the ride, the more I get accomplished at work.
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I did a bit of looking and found a great deal on cycling pants/tights ($26!) on Nashbar (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_588305_-1___205149). If anyone is looking for cycling pants to prepare for the coming cold, this is the best deal I've seen in the months I've been looking. "These tights are designated factory seconds solely due to a slight discoloration of the external Nashbar logo." Just thought I would pass it along!
Thanks. That deal was too good for me to pass up.
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Rode my bike Monday and Tuesday, for 30.5 km (19 miles) combined, but ran into a brake problem on Tuesday. Specifically, a lack thereof. Took it into the shop today, and apparently the bike was originally put together poorly; the brakes are tied up and the gears are bad. It's going to cost 40 bucks to get it serviced, but on the plus side, if the gears were bad before, that might mean the bike is easier to ride when I get it back. The guy at the shop said it should be good for at least a few months after the service, and 50 bucks for the bike + 40 for the service is still cheaper than paying for a new one.
I also saw a 30-dollar seat cover the other day when buying a pannier. Designed to make riding more comfortable on the ass. I was quite tempted to buy it, but decided that I would hold off until I lost the weight I needed to lose. Then I can get it if I still want it. Triply good solution. Encourages me to lose weight, lets me have a few months to see if my butt gets used to the seat on it's own, and makes me wait to see if I really want to buy it.
Looking forward to getting back into it next week.
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Keeping the wind off me is my top priority, especially my neck and my ears.
A balaclava (full head) or neck gaiter plus ear warmer is a lot easier to deal with than a scarf on a bike. I always had issues with the scarf "escaping" and being a real PITA/hazard when riding.
I too recommend the balaclava, even though I never had trouble with the scarf, just that the scarf didn't cover my head. The biggest help the scarf had was keeping the wind from going down through the neck. Another idea for the balaclava is to sew an extra piece of cloth to help keep it in your jacket if the balaclava is a little short.
Good ideas. :) I don't have any problems with the scarf at all. I just use it for my neck mostly and my face for the first few minutes. My hood covers my head quite well. 1C this morning and I felt it a little bit more. Pulled my hood a little more over my forehead this morning. The only place I feel the wind now is in my eyes. For the first few minutes they start watering, but after that they don't bother me. Also through the holes in my shoes, but that's not an issue.
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That actually reminded me of something I wanted to ask (to those of you who don't know...kmp2 posted one of our awesome winter biking pictures):
Edit: I was wondering if the shortness of breath, nausea and lethargy was pregnancy or smoke...
So you are riding while pregnant? And you already have a kid (I don't know that if it's true, but saw you posted in the Biking with Kids thread)? Very badass!!
Welcome again to everyone, and congrats to everyone rocking it!!
I am sort of biking while pregnant, I actually started out really well for month 2 &3... but have trailed off in month 4 and now almost 5. Partly our hot summer, partly my never ending all day morning sickness (lasted until 3 weeks post partum with my first so I'm not all that surprised it didn't clear up like it 'should'). Gagging and being light headed on a bike is just not fun!
Now my hybrid is uncomfortable, the seat is much to narrow, and I'm too hunched over. I did pick up a oldie cheap 3-spd upright bike from the goodwill bike shop in town :) - I have thoroughly enjoyed a few bikes to the store with my handlebar basket :). It's a most awesome granny bike!
I am pretty sure I won't even be switching my tires on my hybrid over to my studded ones this year - I think my OB would freak! It will likely be late march or april before I'm back on my bike.
And yes I have a 2.5 year old who is desperately trying to get daddy to let her ride her own bike to the dayhome, instead of riding in the bike seat ;), even though she is still far from mastering her run bike.
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@ Cookie78
Last year was my first winter biking season - and I found September and Ocbtober, to be mostly about just getting used to the dark,and figuring out what to wear in 5 degree C chunks as it got colder.
When to add long johns, switch to winter boots, two pairs of socks, winter gloves/mitts/liners??? It takes some figuring out - and I often packed an extra pannier of warm gear just in case I ran into problems and had to walk/wait for a lift. Below zero I actually ended up dressing a lot like I would to go cross country skiiing.
Oh - and remember that it can be warm first thing in the morning, but much colder going home... daytime lows don't always happen first thing in the morning.
Keep it up, the fall can be filled with fantastic rides!
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I'm on my second week of bike commuting, and I've ridden three of four of those days. I missed Monday for a stupid reason: I stayed up late Sunday night finishing something I should have done earlier, and I had a dentist appointment that morning. The dentist's office is right on my route so I had no real excuse, but the combination of tired + in a hurry + not wanting to be sweaty at the dentist was just enough of a rationalization... : (
The rest of the week I've been making up for it though, since I've cycled to an after-work activity on all three days. That meant instead of going home via a 6.5 mile route along small roads and rail trails in the afternoon, I've been riding straight through downtown Atlanta for a total distance of more like 10 miles, and doing half of it after dark. (On that note, I've also realized I need a better headlight.)
It's crazy to think that some of you are already talking about cold-weather gear; here in Atlanta I'm still wearing shorts and a T-shirt! Admittedly, I briefly considered putting on a jacket Tuesday morning, but half a mile down the road I was warmed up enough that I didn't miss it.
I also saw a 30-dollar seat cover the other day when buying a pannier. Designed to make riding more comfortable on the ass. I was quite tempted to buy it, but decided that I would hold off...
Good call. According to the expert (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html#hardsoft), soft bike saddles can actually be less comfortable than properly-fitting firm ones. Besides, if the saddle is wrong, a seat cover won't fix it (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html#pads).
I did a bit of looking and found a great deal on cycling pants/tights ($26!) on Nashbar (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_588305_-1___205149). If anyone is looking for cycling pants to prepare for the coming cold, this is the best deal I've seen in the months I've been looking. "These tights are designated factory seconds solely due to a slight discoloration of the external Nashbar logo." Just thought I would pass it along!
Thanks. That deal was too good for me to pass up.
Are those things men's only, or unisex? I wonder if I should buy my wife some, too.
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It's crazy to think that some of you are already talking about cold-weather gear; here in Atlanta I'm still wearing shorts and a T-shirt! Admittedly, I briefly considered putting on a jacket Tuesday morning, but half a mile down the road I was warmed up enough that I didn't miss it.
Are those things men's only, or unisex? I wonder if I should buy my wife some, too.
The cold didn't even cross my mind either, which is why I haven't done any real posts about it. It was only comments here that made me think of it. I'm still doing shorts and t-shirts, too. As far as the bib type things go, those seem like a good deal, but the feedback I received a while ago said that the only benefit of them is around the waist area. If you have a jersey that stays tight or below the pants (I tuck mine into shorts I wear over my biking shorts). Just a thought.
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I just got back from a 6-day 450 mile biking/camping trip up and down the Delmarva Peninsula. It rained the first night and the campsite was pretty soggy, aside from that lots of sunshine, scenery and historic sites.
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Sorry I fell so behind logging miles. Caught up now, though!
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I'm glad I don't get rattled on a bike. On my way home yesterday, an actual city bus came up in the same lane and honked as it passed less than a foot away. Considering that I was obeying all cycling laws, and even had lights on during the daytime (I don't always do that...but I do when I ride streets, which doesn't happen often - I love this damn city), I was a little surprised that a professional driver, especially one that works for the city, was this ignorant of the laws. Didn't really bother me, more of an annoyance. On the super plus side, I found that this page (https://coloradosprings.gov/cat/transportation/bike-colorado-springs/information/bike-cos-report-cycling-issue) exists. So I'm going to report the driver of the city bus, and I'll actually use this very handy tool I didn't know exist to report the 3 lights that don't detect cyclists (there is actually a section on the form for that!!). So hopefully the lights will get fixed, and they'll teach the driver of this 40000lb vehicle that perhaps they need to be a bit more aware of the laws and their surroundings.
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Some of my worst experiences have been with city buses, particularly because the bike lanes usually double as the bus lanes on many streets. A lot of the bus drivers seem to try and drive like a car, having no conception for the size (and mass) of their vehicle.
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I just signed myself up for the challenge. I have a roughly 14 mi commute each way to my job in downtown Milwaukee. Most days I take the bus to work, and during the summer months I'll bring my bike in to work on the bus and ride it home.
But, that's not the level of "badassity" I could be at! My main excuses are the time factor and the daylight factor, especially as the days get shorter (I typically arrive at work before 6:30 am). But these are pretty wimpy excuses (I do have bike lights, after all...), so I'm hoping this challenge inspires me to "kick it up a notch"!
Plus, if I am able to step it up a notch, I can realize even more savings. My employer subsidizes half the cost of the Milwaukee County Transit System's Commuter Value Pass already, but if you bike to/from work at least half time in any one quarter, they will pay the entire cost of the pass for that quarter!
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Some of my worst experiences have been with city buses, particularly because the bike lanes usually double as the bus lanes on many streets. A lot of the bus drivers seem to try and drive like a car, having no conception for the size (and mass) of their vehicle.
Thank goodness for the GoPro. This particular section of street doesn't have a bike lane, and bikes are allowed to use the entire lane. It's in downtown COS, so it's actually illegal to have your bike on the sidewalk. I always assumed professional drivers (even government ones) would be more aware. I would have expected that from a regular vehicle, but not a bus. I guess I get spoiled considering I'm almost never on streets. I have the footage, so if nothing happens, I might reach out to the news outlets or something. Fun fact: he actually broke a law.
§ 42-4-1003. Overtaking a vehicle on the left
The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicyclist proceeding in the same direction shall allow the bicyclist at least a three-foot separation between the right side of the driver's vehicle, including all mirrors or other projections, and the left side of the bicyclist at all times.
[...]
Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class A traffic infraction.
I just signed myself up for the challenge. I have a roughly 14 mi commute each way to my job in downtown Milwaukee. Most days I take the bus to work, and during the summer months I'll bring my bike in to work on the bus and ride it home.
But, that's not the level of "badassity" I could be at! My main excuses are the time factor and the daylight factor, especially as the days get shorter (I typically arrive at work before 6:30 am). But these are pretty wimpy excuses (I do have bike lights, after all...), so I'm hoping this challenge inspires me to "kick it up a notch"!
Plus, if I am able to step it up a notch, I can realize even more savings. My employer subsidizes half the cost of the Milwaukee County Transit System's Commuter Value Pass already, but if you bike to/from work at least half time in any one quarter, they will pay the entire cost of the pass for that quarter!
Welcome.
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I just got a service for the second-hand bike I bought, after I had a problem with the brakes not working. The gears are fixed, the brakes work well, and the tires have been pumped up.
Holy crap, you guys, the difference is amazing. Going up hills is only a little easier, but that's still enough to turn my hardest hill from "Feeling like I'm going to die" to just "intense", and my second hardest hill from "intense" to just "hard". Big change. But on flat ground? Oh man, the change is night and day. Before, I would ride on flat ground in second gear. Now, I use fourth. Massive difference. Definitely increases my speed as well.
It's a more comfortable ride, too. I rode 14 km today (using my new pannier, too!) and I feel totally fine, like I could have happily rode quite a lot longer. I have a set of mini milestones I want to achieve now over the next few weeks.
This week: 18 km round trip to the grocery store.
Next week: 25 km round trip into town. (With a few hours break, as I'll be visiting my sister.)
If I can make the 25 km trip once, I can make it twice a week, and then it's only a short jump from that to thrice a week. I'll need to do a bit of night riding practice first, but once I can ride at night and ride 25-30 km thrice a week, my car usage will drop to nearly zero. I'll only need to drive on alternate Tuesdays, or when the weather is really horrible. (Naturally, I shall work on increasing my weather-related badassity as time goes on.)
I'll have to set myself a goal in next month's thread! My plan to nearly eradicate my car usage by the end of the year is seeming well ahead of schedule at the moment.
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It's amazing the difference that a tune-up makes. Well worth the money, and even more worth learning to do it yourself! I'm just starting down that road, but it's nice to be able to adjust things and be fairly confident that you know what you're doing.
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I've been off work (and so off the bike) for a few days. Came to work in the car this morning (naughty), but I need to get back on the bike as soon as this cough finally dies.
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I just signed myself up for the challenge. I have a roughly 14 mi commute each way to my job in downtown Milwaukee. Most days I take the bus to work, and during the summer months I'll bring my bike in to work on the bus and ride it home.
But, that's not the level of "badassity" I could be at! My main excuses are the time factor and the daylight factor, especially as the days get shorter (I typically arrive at work before 6:30 am). But these are pretty wimpy excuses (I do have bike lights, after all...), so I'm hoping this challenge inspires me to "kick it up a notch"!
Plus, if I am able to step it up a notch, I can realize even more savings. My employer subsidizes half the cost of the Milwaukee County Transit System's Commuter Value Pass already, but if you bike to/from work at least half time in any one quarter, they will pay the entire cost of the pass for that quarter!
Paul - good luck! Milwaukee in general is a pretty easy city to ride at night in. If you continue to ride all the way into show season, be prepared to change your routes if they involve trails, as only some of the trails are maintained during the winter.
If you have any questions, feel free to PM.
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I bike commuted for the third time since starting last week. It's already getting easier. Every time I feel tired or discouraged I just remind myself it doesn't matter how hard I'm pedaling, if I don't stop, I will get there.
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This week was shot by my getting the Flu. Finally came in to work by car today, but definitely not ready to bike yet. Hopefully next week. Hat's off to all of you cycling in the colder climates!
Some of my worst experiences have been with city buses, particularly because the bike lanes usually double as the bus lanes on many streets. A lot of the bus drivers seem to try and drive like a car, having no conception for the size (and mass) of their vehicle.
Thank goodness for the GoPro. This particular section of street doesn't have a bike lane, and bikes are allowed to use the entire lane. It's in downtown COS, so it's actually illegal to have your bike on the sidewalk. I always assumed professional drivers (even government ones) would be more aware. I would have expected that from a regular vehicle, but not a bus. I guess I get spoiled considering I'm almost never on streets. I have the footage, so if nothing happens, I might reach out to the news outlets or something. Fun fact: he actually broke a law.
§ 42-4-1003. Overtaking a vehicle on the left
The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicyclist proceeding in the same direction shall allow the bicyclist at least a three-foot separation between the right side of the driver's vehicle, including all mirrors or other projections, and the left side of the bicyclist at all times.
[...]
Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class A traffic infraction.
Glad you're OK? Do you always have a GoPro on you when you ride? Luckily I haven't had any close encounters yet, but that does sound really useful.
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It's kind of cute how concerned my coworkers are about me biking in the winter. (Note: it's still 70 and sunny here.) Every time they see my bike, or someone says something about snow, or the forecast indicates it might be in the 50s at night, they get all "OMG WINTER IS COMING AETHERIE WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DOOOOO" - and I appreciate that they care about me but also, do they really think I haven't thought 2 months into the future? I'm tempted to respond with "Wait, you mean it's going to get cold THIS YEAR TOO?" but I'm keeping the sarcasm in check for now...
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My coworkers seem very concerned about the traffic, and how brave I must be to deal with all the lunatic drivers. I'm sure they will be equally concerned for me when the weather changes too.
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It's kind of cute how concerned my coworkers are about me biking in the winter. (Note: it's still 70 and sunny here.) Every time they see my bike, or someone says something about snow, or the forecast indicates it might be in the 50s at night, they get all "OMG WINTER IS COMING AETHERIE WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DOOOOO" - and I appreciate that they care about me but also, do they really think I haven't thought 2 months into the future? I'm tempted to respond with "Wait, you mean it's going to get cold THIS YEAR TOO?" but I'm keeping the sarcasm in check for now...
When I still worked, I got that a lot. People shut up pretty fast when I would regularly be the first person in the department even on snow days. Around here, there were only maybe 1-2 days I thought to myself that even I was crazy for biking in them. But those are the days I remember the most (driving blizzards, flying at full speed over black ice thanks to studs, etc.)
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Took my bike out during lunch today and as I was unlocking it I found that a black widow spider had taken up residence between my front fender and basket. Yikes! Not sure if she found her way there at the bike racks or if I gave her a lift to work this morning. I’m not wildly afraid of spiders, but I was quietly relieved when a parking attendant grabbed a tissue and squished her for me. He got hero points from a bunch of ladies standing in line waiting for their cars.
Feeling grateful that she wasn't hiding under my seat as I was wearing a dress.
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Did my first full ride, riding to the nearest grocery store (near the outskirts of town) and back. Total distance was 18 km (11.25 miles).
I quite enjoyed the trip in. It's getting more enjoyable each time as it gets easier and I go a bit faster. I had a tailwind on the way in and almost no traffic, so I was going nice and fast and barely exerting myself for most of the ride. It's moments like that that make me wonder why more people don't cycle. Great way to spend 30-45 minutes. I've never been much of an outdoor person, but I far prefer this to driving a car.
The trip back out, on the other hand, was much harder. The route from my house to town is mostly downhill and flat ground. I also had a headwind on the way back. Headwind + hills = not fun. I had to get off my bike a couple of times to walk up some of the worst sections. My legs still hurt from the effort as I write this, but fortunately I'm not riding tomorrow.
The good news is, the worst hill on my route into town has gone from "Oh my god, I'm going to die" steadily all the way down to merely difficult over just a few weeks. So I look forward to the day where I can ride up all the uphill sections on both legs without too much trouble. The only way I'm going to get better at it is to keep doing it, after all.
Next step is the 25 km (15.6 mile) trip on Monday. That'll take me all the way into town and back out. The good news is, I'll be resting for a few hours between the trip in and the trip back, and the extra 7 km I didn't ride today is mostly flat. In fact, the only uphill section is on the way in, not the way out, and I've already made the trip in a few times.
Once I can ride the 25 km, I can officially start replacing my car trips, one by one :) I think my goal for October will be only using the car once per week, meaning that for most of the month I'll have to make the trip in and out of town twice a week, plus any extras for stuff I forget to get on the other trips.
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Last week I biked to work all five days, and biked to an event in Midtown on Saturday!
Amusing anecdote: my (early-1990s) bike's freewheel started acting up (the chain would go slack when I stopped pedaling or tried to pedal backwards). On Friday I decided to stop by one of the bike shops on the way home and ask for advice, since I figured they might be able to do a quick fix right there instead of me having to figure it out for myself. The guy looked at it and then told me (in pretty quick succession) (1) "Oh, if your freewheel is doing that, it's probably shot -- when they get like that they can't be fixed, only replaced." (2) "These Sun Tour components haven't been made in 15 years, so you'd have to switch to Shimano and replace the shifter and derailleur too." (3) "Given how old this bike is, maybe you should think about replacing it-- [noticing the good-condition, non-original paint job and customizations] --oh wait, you're probably pretty attached to it, huh?" I told him that if I needed to replace any parts I'd just scrounge something at the local bike co-op, thanked him for the advice, and left. Then I went home, looked up freewheels on sheldonbrown.com, learned how to oil the damn thing, and now it works perfectly again. That shady fucker tried to upsell me to a whole freaking new bike when all I needed was a squirt of grease! Sometimes I wonder why average people (who are terrified of DIY) spend so much more money than mustachians, then a situation like this reminds me.
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My next bike purchase is going to be some sort of carrying device. I need a basket or a rack with panniers. I think I would have done a lot more miles if I'd had a way to use the bike to run errands but all I have is a drawstring backpack which is both uncomfortable and would hold in heat at my back (where all of my sweat happens). I'm also nervous about carrying my lunch to work in it since I don't quite trust my tupperware. It made it fine today (btw, I biked again today!) but it still makes me nervous
My first panniers were Avenir, and I found them to be pretty good entry level panniers. I actually still have their trunk bag in daily use. I already spent a stupid amount of money on my Arkel Commuter pannier, but these (http://amzn.com/B00165Q908) look pretty functional. I personally have this trunk bag (http://amzn.com/B0014UQ93W) and these panniers (http://amzn.com/B00165Q4QM) as well. There were some size comparisons in a previous month, but I don't know what month specifically.
As it is I probably won't make my goal of doing more miles than I did in September. After today I'll be 13.5 miles short and it's supposed to rain the next two days. If it holds off I can just squeak past the goal so I'll be keeping a close eye on the weather
It still is September, right? What are you short of? Also, my confusion on this matter made me question reality for a bit. :)
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My next bike purchase is going to be some sort of carrying device. I need a basket or a rack with panniers. I think I would have done a lot more miles if I'd had a way to use the bike to run errands but all I have is a drawstring backpack which is both uncomfortable and would hold in heat at my back (where all of my sweat happens). I'm also nervous about carrying my lunch to work in it since I don't quite trust my tupperware. It made it fine today (btw, I biked again today!) but it still makes me nervous
My first panniers were Avenir, and I found them to be pretty good entry level panniers. I actually still have their trunk bag in daily use. I already spent a stupid amount of money on my Arkel Commuter pannier, but these (http://amzn.com/B00165Q908) look pretty functional. I personally have this trunk bag (http://amzn.com/B0014UQ93W) and these panniers (http://amzn.com/B00165Q4QM) as well. There were some size comparisons in a previous month, but I don't know what month specifically.
Thanks for the links! I'm so lost in shopping for accessories since I don't know what brands are good or crap. I think I like the look of the first one and Amazon recommended a rack and light set with it for a total of $70.40 that I might just spring for, though I am considering asking for this stuff for Christmas instead so I can ask for useful things this year. There's also a couple of used bike shops around me that I need to check out to see if they have any of this stuff
That's funny, I have a couple of those exact lights too. They work well for making sure you are visible (which is super important), but they aren't that great for actual night riding, in my experience. They do okay, but I went for rechargeables after using those ones for about a year. Batteries are still mostly good in them on the GFs bike though.
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My next bike purchase is going to be some sort of carrying device. I need a basket or a rack with panniers. I think I would have done a lot more miles if I'd had a way to use the bike to run errands but all I have is a drawstring backpack which is both uncomfortable and would hold in heat at my back (where all of my sweat happens). I'm also nervous about carrying my lunch to work in it since I don't quite trust my tupperware. It made it fine today (btw, I biked again today!) but it still makes me nervous
On my bike, I have a Wald basket (http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012DZEBY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00) on one side and a Blackburn pannier (http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1157500_-1___000000) on the other, and I like both of them. The pannier is big, cheap (on sale, as it is currently), and pretty sturdy, but only "water-resistant" rather than "water-proof." (As far as I can tell, good-quality "water-proof" panniers cost a lot more.) I figure that, for the difference in price, I can wrap stuff in a trash bag before putting it in the pannier, but so far I haven't needed to since the light rains I've ridden through haven't penetrated it.)
That's funny, I have a couple of those exact lights too. They work well for making sure you are visible (which is super important), but they aren't that great for actual night riding, in my experience. They do okay, but I went for rechargeables after using those ones for about a year. Batteries are still mostly good in them on the GFs bike though.
I've been meaning to ask this for a few days: can anybody recommend a very bright, good-yet-cheap "actual night riding" light? I hear good things about Cree LED flashlights, but I'm looking for a specific recommendation (e.g. a link to a particular product).
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That's funny, I have a couple of those exact lights too. They work well for making sure you are visible (which is super important), but they aren't that great for actual night riding, in my experience. They do okay, but I went for rechargeables after using those ones for about a year. Batteries are still mostly good in them on the GFs bike though.
I've been meaning to ask this for a few days: can anybody recommend a very bright, good-yet-cheap "actual night riding" light? I hear good things about Cree LED flashlights, but I'm looking for a specific recommendation (e.g. a link to a particular product).
I can give you my personal experiences with them. So one of my first lights recently was this combo (http://amzn.com/B00A6TBITM), which is the one that showed bundled earlier. While the front light is bright enough to get attention during the day, the tail light isn't quite bright enough to do much of anything unless it's dark, which is fine if you have reflective gear. The headlight is relatively bright, but when I did a night ride through Garden of the Gods (Starlight Spectacular 2014 - no lights at all) I noticed that the way the lens works maintains a thin beam, and weird spots on the outside. Great for visibility of you, but not that great of visibility for you. The fact that they take standard AAA batteries instead of stupid CR2025 button batteries is nice. When winter was coming last year (insert GoT joke here), I knew that it wouldn't do for riding as early in the morning as I leave. So then I purchased this (http://amzn.com/B00GJZ015Y). The only bad thing about this is how slow it charges, the external battery pack, and the fact that it's a relatively proprietary AC adapter sucks. However, the battery life is pretty good, and the light is super bright and a nice wide beam. In the one run in that I've had with a deer at night, it wasn't quite bright enough to make it freeze, but it does a great job of providing visibility. This is my primary light to this day. And then, at some point, I acquired the headlight part of this combo (http://amzn.com/B00TP3CIIK). I have it strapped to my helmet, and on a couple of occasions when I didn't remember to charge my usual light, I had to use this one for night riding. I absolutely love the fact that they are USB rechargeable, and bright. I actually bought a set of these to replace the first light on my GFs bike. I did this primarily due to the rechargeable nature of them, and I'd rather she have them on during the day for each ride, and recharge when we get back.
Hope that helps.
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I'm a big fan of Cygolite Metro (300 or higher) headlights and Cygolite Hotshot 2W taillights. I've gotten many positive comments from cyclist - and even drivers hailing me to ask what I had!
I've got 4 of each for me and the kids. Haven't done much night riding with them this year but we did a fair amount last year. They enjoy using the headlights as flashlights in the meantime, and the battery life is excellent.
On panniers it comes down to how much you care about:
1. Organization (if any)
2. Waterproofing
3. Ease of removal.
I decided I didn't care very much about #1 but cared a tons about 2&3 and got Ortlieb Classics, which are built to last but offer next to no internal organization.
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This is a great review done every year: 2015 Lights Shootout (http://reviews.mtbr.com/2015-lights-shootout). It goes through a wide range of lights and prices. I personally have the Nightrider 700, got it on sale I think from Nashbar with 20% off during a lights sale. Works wonderfully. Charge it about once a week, or more if I do a longer ride or expect to do a long ride soon where I would want it fully charged.
Another page on the same site: Light Patterns (http://reviews.mtbr.com/2015-lights-shootout-beam-patterns) shows you all the different patterns from various lights that were tested. You can see how different ones illuminated more to the sides, or further down, and their general brightness.
For actual cycling rides where I'm doing 30mph downhill and hitting a sharp corner I would suggest a helmet mount along with the handlebar one. Nothing like coming up on a corner and realizing that you can't see around it. Not a problem for most commuting I do, but being able to turn your head and see where you're looking would be nice.
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Rode to work today for the third day in a row and weather looks like it's going to let me finish the week without having to move my car out of the garage. After I get home I'll only be 2.3 miles short of beating my August mileage but I might not have time to squeeze those miles in. We want to take both bikes back to the shop for an adjustment now that they're broken in (they do this free for life) and/or we might be hanging out with friends.
Racks/panniers: I have three options for getting these; buying them from a local shop (expensive but fast), buying them online (cheaper but could take a week or so before I get them, or asking for them for Christmas (free but I'd have to wait months). The weather is getting to where I want a hoodie in the morning but not in the afternoon and I either have to cram it into my drawstring backpack (which is really uncomfortable I learned yesterday) or leave it at work and end up with a pile of hoodies at my desk until I drive the car. I suppose I could suck it up and get Amazon Prime and get two day shipping on the panniers JordanRead linked earlier, DH has been talking about getting it for a while now anyway and that would let me finish out at least September in more comfort. I'm just trying to not spend a ton of money and I know I'll still need fenders, lights, and fleece lined leggings (if I ride in much colder weather). Oh, and I've looked on the local craigslist and there have been no panniers listed so that's not an option
So here's a dumb question: Are bike rack pretty universal? If I were to buy this one (http://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Rear-Road-Bike-Black/dp/B00165PA08/ref=pd_bxgy_468_text_y) (that Amazon suggested with the panniers) it should fit my bike correct?
First off, congrats on riding in again. It will become the most healthy addiction ever. Bike racks that aren't seat post (and I'm only saying this because I have 0 experience with them) usually will fit on any bikes IME. One part attaches to the hub/axle section of the rear tire, and the other part mounts to the top of the rear fork, but is adjustable. You might need a special rack for 29ers, but I'm not sure. If you have 26" tires, I can almost guarantee that it would be a fit. I think that is exactly the one I have, but I bought it second hand for $5 from a friend who upgraded, so I'm not certain. Don't forget to make sure you have it level. If you go with those panniers, one of the benefits of the top section (especially with shifty tupperware) when balanced properly is that your riding style controls the slop of your food. As long as you don't crash, you don't need to worry too much about leakage. I don't know exactly what part of the country you are in, but if you are going to be riding in super cold weather, a solid base layer that isn't cotton or fleece is invaluable.
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Rode to work today for the third day in a row and weather looks like it's going to let me finish the week without having to move my car out of the garage. After I get home I'll only be 2.3 miles short of beating my August mileage but I might not have time to squeeze those miles in. We want to take both bikes back to the shop for an adjustment now that they're broken in (they do this free for life) and/or we might be hanging out with friends.
Racks/panniers: I have three options for getting these; buying them from a local shop (expensive but fast), buying them online (cheaper but could take a week or so before I get them, or asking for them for Christmas (free but I'd have to wait months). The weather is getting to where I want a hoodie in the morning but not in the afternoon and I either have to cram it into my drawstring backpack (which is really uncomfortable I learned yesterday) or leave it at work and end up with a pile of hoodies at my desk until I drive the car. I suppose I could suck it up and get Amazon Prime and get two day shipping on the panniers JordanRead linked earlier, DH has been talking about getting it for a while now anyway and that would let me finish out at least September in more comfort. I'm just trying to not spend a ton of money and I know I'll still need fenders, lights, and fleece lined leggings (if I ride in much colder weather). Oh, and I've looked on the local craigslist and there have been no panniers listed so that's not an option
So here's a dumb question: Are bike rack pretty universal? If I were to buy this one (http://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Rear-Road-Bike-Black/dp/B00165PA08/ref=pd_bxgy_468_text_y) (that Amazon suggested with the panniers) it should fit my bike correct?
First off, congrats on riding in again. It will become the most healthy addiction ever. Bike racks that aren't seat post (and I'm only saying this because I have 0 experience with them) usually will fit on any bikes IME. One part attaches to the hub/axle section of the rear tire, and the other part mounts to the top of the rear fork, but is adjustable. You might need a special rack for 29ers, but I'm not sure. If you have 26" tires, I can almost guarantee that it would be a fit. I think that is exactly the one I have, but I bought it second hand for $5 from a friend who upgraded, so I'm not certain. Don't forget to make sure you have it level. If you go with those panniers, one of the benefits of the top section (especially with shifty tupperware) when balanced properly is that your riding style controls the slop of your food. As long as you don't crash, you don't need to worry too much about leakage. I don't know exactly what part of the country you are in, but if you are going to be riding in super cold weather, a solid base layer that isn't cotton or fleece is invaluable.
My husband had a little difficulty getting a rack to fit on his bike. I think it was because his bike has disk brakes, so the rear axle was a bit wider than most. He just had to bend the vertical part of the rack a smidge to get the extra centimeter or so of clearance that he needed. Not a big deal. It was kind of funny though. He'd never put a rack on a bike before so when he first put it on, he put it inside the frame of the bike. That meant he couldn't shift to the outside gear because the rack was in the way.
Another option, AerynLee, is to stop by a garage sale or goodwill or something and see if they don't have a bigger backpack for a couple bucks. That way you would be a bit more comfortable waiting until Christmas for an actual set of panniers. It sounds like you just need a bit more space -- and wider straps! That makes a huge difference.
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So here's a dumb question: Are bike rack pretty universal? If I were to buy this one (http://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Rear-Road-Bike-Black/dp/B00165PA08/ref=pd_bxgy_468_text_y) (that Amazon suggested with the panniers) it should fit my bike correct?
Not only do not all racks fit all bikes, but not all panniers fit all racks.
For rack/bike fit: check to see if your bike has the correct braze-ons (at the rear axle and near the top of the seat stays), and that it does not use disc brakes. If that's the case, most racks should fit.
If you're lacking braze-ons, look for a rack that attaches to the seat post (one that attaches at the seat post and rear axle is better than one that attaches only at the seat post). Otherwise, your bike shop may be able to help you with some cheap little metal brackets for the front of the rack to attach to.
If you have disc brakes, look for a rack advertised as being disc brake compatible.
For pannier / rack fit, all I know is to try them out with each other and if they don't fit, pick a different pannier. (The blackburn one I recommended upthread is not the first one I tried, but it is the first one that fit.)
Now, back to headlights: what do y'all think of impossibly-cheap ones made by shady Chinese companies, like this (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008KUXRAW?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_act_title_5&smid=A1KFSUCULWYOI1)? Worth the gamble? Or should I bite the bullet and get the theoretically-identical but "not a cheap imitation" (http://www.amazon.com/Bright-Eyes-Rechargeable-POWERFUL-Headlight/dp/B00GJZ015Y/ref=pd_sim_468_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=130TP5GG6CBTJA1N4C8X&dpID=51y9Ol6tbwL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_) one that's 4x as expensive?
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Can I sign up for being saved to the sheet at this late time? I'd like to keep the modifications I've made going into next month if possible :)
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Right now preferences from the forms are being persisted if you selected remember me. If, however, you made manual changes to your sheets, they won't persist. I do have some time today, so I might see about making that an option (or at least adding more options to the form).
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The next challenge (October Cycling 2015) is up (http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/october-cycling-challenge-2015/)!!!
Please follow the above link and ride on!!