JP, Fort Wayne’s Bike Commuter

In the early planning of RgR, we made contact with JP of fwbikecommuter.blogspot.com. A few months later, Fort Wayne, Indiana would take hold as one of our strongest stops.

Organized by JP, we had a community ride from Fort Wayne Outfitters to the Deer Ridge Elementary School in celebration of National Trails Day. Someone even drove 1.5 hours to ride with us; when we heard that, it sunk in that we are impacting people’s lives, even on small levels.

Thank you JP, and to everyone that showed up. We will never forget Fort Wayne, the city that surprised us.

Aboite Trails

We celebrated National Trails day with Lori Keys, executive director of Aboite New Trails. Their mission is:

To improve the quality of life for area citizens through the development of a multi-use trail system in Southwest Allen County and its surrounding communities.

Ronald G. Repka Foundation

From site:

In the fall of 2001, Ron Repka tragically lost his life at the hands of a speeding motorist while cycling on a country road. Ron’s love for athletics and the spirit of competition lives on in the memory of his family and friends.

The Ronald G. Repka Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to perpetuating Ron’s interest in youth sports, fitness, recreation and cancer patient support. The Foundation is a not-for-profit organization funded by private donations, fund raising events and other charitable organizations.

Sharon Repka, the wife of the late Ronald G. Repka, stopped by the Aboite Trails. They provided us two bright jerseys (shown below) and the the story of her husband to keep us safe throughout the trip.

Please visit here if you would like to make a charitable donation.

JP and Angela’s adorable kids:

BBQ at JP’s House:

RgR on the News:

PHEW…those were my overwhelming feelings, but let’s back peddle a bit. To start off, we do not need to fix bicycles. Let’s put repairs to the back of our mind and learn to simply identify the bikes we will be dealing with. This is the starting point that I needed to grasp.

Below will help you understand some general things about commuter bikes and some important questions to ask yourself.

What is a commuter bike?

Any type of bike can be a ‘commuter.’ The bike that gets you comfortably from home to work and back, is a good commuter. This is not the be-all end-all post for picking your bike, but we both have to start some where.

What questions should I answer about my commute?

Does it have a lot of hills?

If yes, then your answer is in a geared system. Make an automatic assumption that you will be getting a geared bike. Without detail on how gears work, they will ease your climb and give you more power when cruising on a straight path.

Is your ride to work flat?

If your ride is flat the entire way, you have an option of a more simplistic method than a fully geared bike; a ‘Fixed Gear’ or ‘Single Gear.’ The general benefits include less tuning and maintenance. Expect a future post about this type in more detail. For the hasty, Sheldon Brown has a good page on Fixed Gear bikes.

How much are you bringing to work?

A major reason some people can’t bike to work is that they bring half their office to their home, and then back the next day. Luckily for most, a small carry unit for a notebook, briefcase, and lunch will suffice.

Panniers, Baskets, and Trunks are the three main ways to carry your stuff. Posts are coming about each type and their benefits and whether your bike may need slight modifications.

Last note

After you understand the general ideas of cycling, Jim, a mechanic at Tsunami Cycles, strongly urges people to spend time realizing why their commute is unique. He stressed that bicycles are so customizable and seeing your route and needs before getting a bike is crucial when it comes time to decide.

Image Source: Flickr