The all about Bicycling thread

Question for the bike commuters:
I've ridden my bike to and from work for almost 20 years.
We live on top of a long steep hill, and the ride is about 7.5 miles.
I've always done it in cycling bibs/tights, then changed in to work clothes in my office.

I have a new position coming up this spring. It will be a fairly flat 3.5 mile ride to the office.
It seems like overkill to wear cycling bibs then change again in the office 20 minutes later.
But I have almost no experience cycling in "normal" clothes.
I'm not a sweaty person. I'm more worried about getting a sore/irritated butt.

@DamnitAll it sounds like you do a lot of short range cycling and errands during your day. Are you wearing bike kit? Normal clothes?

 

Congratulations on the shorter commute! And yes, I’ll do commutes up to 10-15 miles in normal clothes without issue.

They’re not for everyone, but I do swear by my nicely broken in Brooks B17, emphasis being on the “nicely broken in” part. I think finding a saddle that will be kind to your parts without a chamois is critical in this respect, and I’ve been thankful that the Brooks has served me well.

As for sweating, I try to leave enough time when I’m able that I’m not having to hammer too hard, and the breeze of riding/coasting helps with temperature regulation on all but the hottest/most humid of days.

 

The Brooks Team Pro is my go to, and my commuter has one that I've been using for about 15 years.
I'll have to give it a try. If it doesn't work out I'll just go back to wearing cycling bibs and changing clothes before and after work.
I go to work early in the morning, so the heat isn't really an issue.

 

Chicago's Museum of Science & Industry has an exhibit dedicated to the art of the bicycle! (tagging @DamnitAll for this one!)

Here's a sample:




If you can read the print on this one, it's a cardboard bicycle selling for $20. It's meant to be an affordable & earth-friendly solution to transportation:

 

MMG that looks like my kind of place.
Next trip to Chicago, that's a must see.

 

The museum never disappoints. Some exhibits stay the same for years, other new ones crop up. I believe this one is new and should be there for a while, at least.

The city has had a bike path along the lake for a long time now, and further up north there is the museum campus which includes the planetarium, aquarium and the Field Museum, all worth a look and easy to access by bike.

 

I cannot wait to see this! MMG, is there an end date to this exhibit that I should know about?

 

Art of the Bicycle

I don't see any mention of a limited time. Several other listings that showed up in my search indicate this is a permanent(?) older (2006?) exhibit.

FIIK .

 

As per what @Chris Noyb posted, this should be a permanent exhibit. (Thanks, Chris!)

 

I spent this past weekend at the Philly Bike Expo with my friend Alex. It was my first time at this event, having missed previous years with orchestra conflicts.

Highlights included:

• Catching up with the Baltimore-based mechanic/builder who hand-built both of my custom wheel sets;
• Meeting a guy based in California whom I knew from videos by my new favorite YouTube cycling personality and who flew into Pittsburgh to stay with friends before crossing the width of Pennsylvania by bike in two days to get to the Expo;
• Meeting a UP-based visual artist selling awesome cycling-themed prints, some of which I might purchase;
• Learning about the Jersey Devil Hunt, a 170mi bike packing route from Trenton to Atlantic City through the New Jersey Pine Barrens;
• Riding the mean—and especially torn up—streets of Philadelphia after dark with 100 or so new two-wheeled friends; and
• Photographing a gold sprints tournament at the post ride bike shop afterparty, pictures from which may take me months to edit and post.

I wish we’d participated in some of the event’s planned group rides, but coming off this two week old chest cold left me worse enough for wear that keeping up with folks on carbon speed machines seemed less than fun and altogether unappealing. Maybe next year.

 

Totally jealous. Have always wanted to go to the Philly show, just have never made it down.
There's always next year......