Comments on: What type of bike should I get to commute to work? http://www.realgeeksride.com/2009/03/05/what-type-of-bike-should-i-get-to-commute-to-work/ 2 Geeks biking across the USA to make a point Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:50:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Daisy http://www.realgeeksride.com/2009/03/05/what-type-of-bike-should-i-get-to-commute-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-361 Daisy Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:50:03 +0000 http://www.realgeeksride.com/?p=123#comment-361 Hey Carlos, Thanks for this post. As the weather is turning, I'm just starting to look into what kind of bike to buy for my commute to work. This was helpful... there are things that I never thought to consider before buying a bike. Thanks! Daisy Hey Carlos,

Thanks for this post. As the weather is turning, I’m just starting to look into what kind of bike to buy for my commute to work. This was helpful… there are things that I never thought to consider before buying a bike.

Thanks!
Daisy

]]> By: Mr.Bikers http://www.realgeeksride.com/2009/03/05/what-type-of-bike-should-i-get-to-commute-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-353 Mr.Bikers Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:22:52 +0000 http://www.realgeeksride.com/?p=123#comment-353 Bicycle ! This lightweight transportation mode is both fun and very practical for commuters and campers.t. Besides, a bicycle is your ticket to exercise and freedom. Bicycle ! This lightweight transportation mode is both fun and very practical for commuters and campers.t. Besides, a bicycle is your ticket to exercise and freedom.

]]> By: Fort Wayne Bike Commuter http://www.realgeeksride.com/2009/03/05/what-type-of-bike-should-i-get-to-commute-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Fort Wayne Bike Commuter Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:27:12 +0000 http://www.realgeeksride.com/?p=123#comment-12 I ride a Breezer Villager that was designed for the commuter in mind. It has 7 speeds that is handy for the hilss or that steady headwind that blows during the winter months. Light generator that powers fromt and rear , rack, and of course fenders. I love it. I tried the pannier and didn't like it so much. It couldn't hold everything I need. I bought a sweet Mountainsmith pack that holds everything I need including water bottles. I rode all winter on my marathon tires and dressed like I was going snowboarding and it worked great. I find also that there is a fine line between too much clothing and too little. You have to experiment to see what works for you. If I am too cold I pedal harder, too hot, I pedal slower. I ride a Breezer Villager that was designed for the commuter in mind. It has 7 speeds that is handy for the hilss or that steady headwind that blows during the winter months. Light generator that powers fromt and rear , rack, and of course fenders. I love it.
I tried the pannier and didn’t like it so much. It couldn’t hold everything I need. I bought a sweet Mountainsmith pack that holds everything I need including water bottles.
I rode all winter on my marathon tires and dressed like I was going snowboarding and it worked great. I find also that there is a fine line between too much clothing and too little. You have to experiment to see what works for you. If I am too cold I pedal harder, too hot, I pedal slower.

]]> By: Bryan Wiggins http://www.realgeeksride.com/2009/03/05/what-type-of-bike-should-i-get-to-commute-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Bryan Wiggins Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:02:27 +0000 http://www.realgeeksride.com/?p=123#comment-6 I’ve been commuting 100% for just shy of a year, and feel that I have learned a lot. The most important lessons I have learned so far relate to bags and winter. On the bags front, spring for something good. It will seem expensive, but you’ll be glad. I’ve got a trunk with panniers (saddlebags) that zip out and fold down when needed. It is awesome for carrying clothes and miscellaneous crap back and forth to work, and lets me carry a surprising amount of groceries (yes, I really meant 100% commuting). Mine is a Trek that retails for about $75, which doesn’t count the cost of the cheaper panniers that it replaced. If you’re thinking that a backpack will be sufficient, well, it’s a free country. But in my experience, riding with a backpack sucks. If there’s anything actually in it, it sucks worse. The lower down you can get any weight, the better. Hence the advantage of panniers, which put your cargo way down by the axles. Winter… winter has been much harder than I anticipated. You’ll notice that experienced cyclists really love their expensive wool undergarments. Emulate them. They know of what they speak. Whatever the weather forecast calls for, subtract 25°F, as cyclists always have their very own wind chill factor. This is a perfect time of year to buy those expensive winter clothes, as everybody’s trying to clear inventory for summer. I’ve been commuting 100% for just shy of a year, and feel that I have learned a lot. The most important lessons I have learned so far relate to bags and winter.

On the bags front, spring for something good. It will seem expensive, but you’ll be glad. I’ve got a trunk with panniers (saddlebags) that zip out and fold down when needed. It is awesome for carrying clothes and miscellaneous crap back and forth to work, and lets me carry a surprising amount of groceries (yes, I really meant 100% commuting). Mine is a Trek that retails for about $75, which doesn’t count the cost of the cheaper panniers that it replaced.

If you’re thinking that a backpack will be sufficient, well, it’s a free country. But in my experience, riding with a backpack sucks. If there’s anything actually in it, it sucks worse. The lower down you can get any weight, the better. Hence the advantage of panniers, which put your cargo way down by the axles.

Winter… winter has been much harder than I anticipated. You’ll notice that experienced cyclists really love their expensive wool undergarments. Emulate them. They know of what they speak. Whatever the weather forecast calls for, subtract 25°F, as cyclists always have their very own wind chill factor. This is a perfect time of year to buy those expensive winter clothes, as everybody’s trying to clear inventory for summer.

]]> By: Steven Jacobs http://www.realgeeksride.com/2009/03/05/what-type-of-bike-should-i-get-to-commute-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Steven Jacobs Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:18:05 +0000 http://www.realgeeksride.com/?p=123#comment-4 Folders are cool but make sure they good ones. The best I have seen are from Montague Corporation. They are full size bikes. Check them out here: www.montaguebikes.com Folders are cool but make sure they good ones. The best I have seen are from Montague Corporation. They are full size bikes. Check them out here: http://www.montaguebikes.com

]]> By: Jim http://www.realgeeksride.com/2009/03/05/what-type-of-bike-should-i-get-to-commute-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Jim Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:52:00 +0000 http://www.realgeeksride.com/?p=123#comment-3 Folders are pretty sweet, especially if you take mass transit as part of your commute. But I'm sure Carlos will get more into that later. Folders are pretty sweet, especially if you take mass transit as part of your commute.

But I’m sure Carlos will get more into that later.

]]> By: DDK http://www.realgeeksride.com/2009/03/05/what-type-of-bike-should-i-get-to-commute-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-2 DDK Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:02:25 +0000 http://www.realgeeksride.com/?p=123#comment-2 Also consider a folding bike -- makes it much easier to hitchhike home with coworkers if the weather gets dire or your tires/stamina go flat. Also consider a folding bike — makes it much easier to hitchhike home with coworkers if the weather gets dire or your tires/stamina go flat.

]]>