After thinking it over, I think you guys are right. Especially because i work nights, and I don’t really want to be riding the east side that late. Sounds as if a lot of people are being mowed down out there.
[quote]Chickenmcnug wrote:
After thinking it over, I think you guys are right. Especially because i work nights, and I don’t really want to be riding the east side that late. Sounds as if a lot of people are being mowed down out there.[/quote]
The East Side at NIGHT!?!?! Yeah, they’re getting mowed down out there, but not with cars.
I gave up bicycle commutes due to me being an easy sweater. I’d spend the first few hours at my desk drenched in sweat. It worked ok when my commute was only 2 miles tops. One time I got nailed by a lady who ignored the stop sign. Almost broke my leg. I split-second instinctively managed to back pedal so my leg would be higher than the bumper. The leg would have been broken for sure if it took the main impact of the car. I landed on the hood of her car. Once she realized what was going on, she hit her brakes hard launching me into the intersection. Walked away without a scratch. Her insurance bought me a new bike.
[quote]DBCooper wrote:
[quote]Chickenmcnug wrote:
After thinking it over, I think you guys are right. Especially because i work nights, and I don’t really want to be riding the east side that late. Sounds as if a lot of people are being mowed down out there.[/quote]
The East Side at NIGHT!?!?! Yeah, they’re getting mowed down out there, but not with cars.[/quote]
Hah!
I biked like 3 times…pretty good bike paths most of the way, but one stretch of highway…I HATE fucking cyclists that won’t get off the road, want to be treated like a car, etc…but…I found it was one way to make sure people saw me…you always notice the pain in the ass biker…but not the one huffing down the shoulder.
Those time/distance predictors are pretty accurate. My commute’s 11 miles and it took me an hour…got it down to 55 minutes on the third try.
May ride in a few more times as I spent $75 bucks to get my bike tuned up/new tire/brakes…I hadn’t ridden in 10-15 years. Figured 8-19 trips would recoup my money.
[quote]Chickenmcnug wrote:
Any bicycle commuters out there?
I have approx a 30 minute car commute to work each day. According to google maps(which you can do bicycle directions), its 15-16 miles, and would translate into a 1:20:00 ride. I am not sure at which pace they figure this trek would be accomplished at. All I know is that there is only about a 5 mile stretch that is pure bike trails. The rest would be city streets.
Anyone have any input? I am most interested in hearing from bike commuters, or people who know bikes, frames, tires, etc.[/quote]
Bike commuter here. I bike to work and school. It’s 5 miles round trip for work (5-6x/wk) and about 10 to school (3x/wk). More in a few weeks when I move.
Don’t be afraid of riding in the streets. I’d check your local laws about bikes and helmets and such, but I’m pretty sure that if you’re an adult, you have to ride in the street. http://www.bikeleague.org/action/bikelaws/state_laws.php
Personally, when I ride, I’m in the right lane and I’m riding as close to the lane next to me as I can (instead of riding close to the curb). I’ve noticed that cars tend to give me more room when they pass me (i.e. moving all the way out of the right lane, into the middle, pass me with 4 or 5 feet to spare before getting back in the right lane).
I ride a single speed (freewheeling) bike that I’ve made more commuter friendly. I got a rear rack, some waterproof panniers, a good headlight, a rear blinky, and since I ride home at night from work, I got a Bike Glow frame light. If there’s an REI around, get a pair of the Novara cycling boxer briefs until your butt gets used to the seat.
When I lock up at school, I do a double lock method of a cable lock through the rear wheel and looped through the frame and then a U-Lock through the front wheel, frame and then attached to the rack.
I’m lucky enough that I work next to a 24 Hr Fitness, so I have easy shower access, but I’ve heard great things about Action Wipes from people who don’t have access to a shower.
I recommend checking out http://www.bikecommuters.com for any other suggestions.
[quote]postholedigger wrote:
I gave up bicycle commutes due to me being an easy sweater. I’d spend the first few hours at my desk drenched in sweat. [/quote]
I could never do it for this reason also. I’d sweat all day in the summer.
[quote]DBCooper wrote:
[quote]Chickenmcnug wrote:
Any bicycle commuters out there?
I have approx a 30 minute car commute to work each day. According to google maps(which you can do bicycle directions), its 15-16 miles, and would translate into a 1:20:00 ride. I am not sure at which pace they figure this trek would be accomplished at. All I know is that there is only about a 5 mile stretch that is pure bike trails. The rest would be city streets.
Anyone have any input? I am most interested in hearing from bike commuters, or people who know bikes, frames, tires, etc.[/quote]
Where in California do you live?[/quote]
I live in Walnut… whenever you want,homie… whenever you want.
[quote]Sharp4850 wrote:
It’s really simple… if you’re not riding on a bike path or in a bike lane, you follow the same road laws as a car. Which means not riding on the sidewalk. It’s called a sideWALK for a reason.
This also means stopping at stop signs and red lights. And riding single file when on the road. [/quote]
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I try and switch judiciously. If theres a sidewalk without driveways/pedestrians I’ll take that cause I dont want to get runover by a texter.
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I think in montana there is a special rule for bikes with regard to stop signs/red lights, its yield if theres traffic, and go ahead if its empty. I know some municipalities where I live were considering this also. It makes sense to me.