I really can't add much to what's already been said, but these would be my own main points based on 5-days/week bike commuting for over 20 years. Most of that was about 11 mostly flat miles each way, one year of 16+ miles each way with more stressful traffic and a couple big hills, and now averaging about 6-7 miles each way (I'm technically "retired,: but still working 5-days/week.)
If you can keep a change of clothes at the destination, that's helpful. At the minimum, if you can keep a pair or 2 of work shoes at work, that's super-helpful and cuts down on the load. If you have a quiet commute (it doesn't sound like you do) podcasts/audiobooks can liven things up. But safety first. I ran Orange Seal in tubes for several years when I was commuting through flat-prone areas and it helped a lot with flats. For commuting, don't allow yourself to get caught up in any feeling that you need "performance" whatever for your bike. Reliability and durability are far more important for the daily grind. This is especially true for tires. The shop I work at, which caters almost exclusively to bike commuters, only sells Schwalbe Marathon tires. They're not flat proof, but about as close as you can get. Habits are not developed overnight. For bike commuting to become a habit, you gotta stick with it. Soon enough, driving becomes much less appealing. Mike M On Thursday, October 26, 2023 at 7:26:25 AM UTC-7 Michael Morrissey wrote: > Lately I have been biking to work again, from my home in Queens to work in > Manhattan. Unfortunately, my commute is less than ideal. There are few bike > lanes in my neighborhood. I leave at 6:30, when it’s dark and cold outside. > There are lots of big trucks and fast drivers. It’s hilly. Then, when I get > to the bike lane section of the ride, it’s crowded with electric bikes, > deliveristas, and stand-up electric scooters. > > My commute is 7.8 miles point to point, and I make it in about 53 minutes. > I started keeping track of my times on Strava. I like looking at my records > (eastbound across Central Park in 1:40!) but I feel Strava is mostly a > record of how long I get stuck at red lights. There are so many stoplights > that I struggle to raise my average speed over 11 MPH. > > I use one Ortlieb bag, and I’ve tried to lighten my load as much as > possible. Yet, I still feel like I am carrying a lot to work. One thing > I’ve been doing is rolling my work clothes and putting rubber bands around > them. That helps with the organization. > > I’m riding my Rivendell Appaloosa with a big back rack and fenders. > Fortunately, even after riding it for about 7 years, the bike still feels > amazing. I also feel great getting so much exercise, and I find I feel I > have more energy on days I ride compared to when I take the subway. > > I was wondering if anyone has any bike commuting advice? I’m finding it > hard to stay motivated. I want advanced level advice - not just “keep your > tires pumped up,” but more along the lines of “Buy 5 Bromptons and have > your wife drop them off at work every Sunday so you can ride one home per > day.” One thing I might try is a lighter wheelset on the same bike. As Bill > Lindsay said, “If everybody had a gravity knob on their bike, we would all > peg it to the minimum.” > > Thanks, > > Michael > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/8b6a29e8-90df-4600-829f-59ce8716e837n%40googlegroups.com.
