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......

 

Look what I got in the mail today.
My last one served me 15 years, including a trip back to Showers Pass HQ for repairs and a zipper swap.
Expensive but worth it.

 

Awesome jacket, @fflowley! I’ve had my eye on some Showers Pass gear for a while; eventually I might finally pull the trigger on one.

 

It’s really well made and they back it up with great customer service.
That’s the only way I can justify the price to myself.

 

This isn’t directly gear related, but I put together a list of bike commuting FAQs that I’m pretty proud of, so I figured I’d share it here.

Thinking of commuting to work on your bicycle for the first time? You might have some questions about how to make your trip a little easier, less intimidating, and more fun—we're here to help!

I'm nervous and have never done this before/I don't ride my bike on roads or near traffic much. What do I absolutely need to know?

• By law, bicycles are considered vehicles and should be recognized and operated as such. As a bicyclist, you have the same rights and duties to the law as motorists. When riding on the road, remember to:
  • Obey traffic signs.
  • Ride on the right side, in the same direction as traffic.
  • Use hand signals to show when you're making a turn.
  • Stop at stop signs and traffic lights.
• Ride predictably where people can see you, and make eye contact with other road users, including motorists, pedestrians, and other bicyclists.
• Wear brightly colored clothing.
• Avoid the door zone: ride with enough space between you and the doors of parked cars so they won't hit you when open.
• Watch for turning vehicles, debris, potholes, and road hazards.
• Wear a helmet every time you ride.
• Use a front white light, red rear light, and reflectors.

What bike should I ride?

• Any bike that you feel comfortable riding is appropriate, but make sure it's in good working order:
  • Tires can hold air
  • Brakes work
  • Wheels, chain, and pedals turn smoothly
  • Handlebars don't wobble
  • Shifters can change gears (if applicable)
• We recommend getting your bike checked out by a bicycle mechanic at a local bike shop before your first ride to work.
• Consider an e-bike if you think you might need an extra boost to help cover the distance in less time.

Which way do I go/what roads should I use?

• Plan your route to work ahead of time. You can find bicycle-friendly routes in Google Maps or Apple Maps by selecting the bicycling option when entering your starting point and destination.
• Use caution and familiarize yourself with your route before your first commute to make sure you're comfortable riding it.
  • We suggest test riding the route on a day when you aren't working to see if it will be suitable for your regular commute.
• Consider distance, traffic volume, road width/conditions, and terrain.
• If possible, use low-stress bike networks with quieter roads and bicycle facilities, like dedicated bike lanes, where possible.
  • Avoiding busier roads for your route might make it a bit longer, but it will also make for a much more pleasant (and safer) ride.

What if it's too far for me to ride to work?

• Start at an easy, comfortable pace and take as many breaks as you need. Keep riding, and in time you'll build confidence and endurance!
• Combine riding with transporting your bike another way for part of your route to shorten the distance you'll have to ride:
  • Drive part of the way with your bike and ride the rest, or ride part of the way and take transit for the rest, if that works with your route.
  • Try riding to work and taking transit home, then alternating the next day.
  • Ride to a coworker’s house that's closer to work, and carpool with them the rest of the way.

What should I wear?

• A comfortable commute is always a better one, so prioritize riding in whatever clothing you're most comfortable in.
• If you have a short commute and feel comfortable doing so, ride in your work clothes at an easy pace to stay cool and dry.
• If you need to change into work clothes once you arrive, pack your work clothes with you and change at work. Minimize wrinkles by rolling your clothes instead of folding them.
  • You can also keep one or more spare sets of work clothes at work and rotate them on days you don’t ride in. You might also be able to get your work clothes cleaned at nearby dry cleaners or laundromats.
• If you need to clean/freshen up after you get to work and don't have access to shower facilities, baby wipes and other toiletry items can also work well

Where/how do I park my bike?

• [employer] has bike racks for dedicated bicycle parking in the following locations:
  • Inside the parking garage near the public entrance ramp on Level 2.
  • Inside the parking garage on Level 1 by the Lower Level employee entrance to the hospital.
  • Outside the hospital building between the Main Entrance and the Emergency Department entrance.
  • There are also bike racks outside the following [employer] outpatient locations:…
• Depending on your work location, you may be able to bring your bicycle inside, but check with your leaders and coworkers first.
  • If you'll be bringing your bike inside, look around for a storage area or closet in your building. You may even be able to keep your bike in your own office or workspace.
• If you have to park outside, lock your bike in a highly visible area to an immovable object that cannot be cut.
• Use a bicycle U-lock, chain, and/or cable lock to secure the bike's frame, wheels, seat post, and anything else that can be easily removed.
  • Lock the bike's frame to the immovable object with the U-lock. Then secure any removable parts of the bike—like your wheels and saddle—to the U-lock using a chain or cable lock.

Information adapted in part from the League of American Bicyclists. Visit the pages linked here for more information and resources on commuting and riding safely:

• Commuting Resources
• Drive Less, Bike More
• Tips on Riding Better
• Bicyclingr Rules of the Road
• Learn to be a Bicycle Friendly Driver

 

Way to go!
Does your hospital or community have a bike to work day?
We had one, usually in June and we would get a decent turn out.
I "escorted" new riders on a couple of occasions. I swung by their house, leaving us plenty of time to get to work, and we rode together.
It was a lot of fun.
It's one of those events that disappeared with Covid and never came back......

 

We do! It’s almost always the third Friday of May, with the third week of May being designated as Bike Week, and May being National Bike Month. This year, for whatever reason, BTWD will fall on a Thursday (for the first time in my memory, and I keep worrying that it’s a mistake!), so I’m not sure how—or if—that will affect participation. But hopefully we’ll get decent weather.

We do a bike parade of sorts from the college next door to our hospital campus into downtown, stopping at City Hall (to pick up the Mayor) and ending at the local Transit center (train station) for free food, speeches, raffles, etc. Typically we get a turnout of a few hundred riders for the parade, with a police escort.

Since I’m the sitting chair of our local bicycle/pedestrian advisory committee, I get to accept all the printed proclamations given out by city, county, and state officials along with the speeches.



I actually won a folding bike in the raffle one year. It would’ve been awesome to have if I were still commuting down toward DC on the train, but by that point I didn’t really have a need for it and I gave it away to a pilot friend who kept it at the airport and rode on a nearby bike path during his downtime between flights.

Back before Covid, a few of us would meet after the end of the festivities for breakfast at a local restaurant and kick back a Bloody Mary before getting to work. I miss those days.