New Bicycle Commuter

[maximumrob]

Bike: 2011 Scott SUB40
Accessories: Bunch'a Topeak stuff...bottle cage, 2L handlebar bag, and rear rack with small trunk and small saddlebags.

Commuted 2 days last week to the office, 10 miles each way.

Plusses: Forgot about the hard day by the time I got home covered in sweat.

Minuses: Dallas suburban drivers don't like to share the road with bikes and there are few laws protecting us. Though I had a flashing red blinky on the rear, I added another one that is much brighter and has a gnarly strobe pattern. That oughta help.

I used to commute 35 miles one way by motorcycle a few years ago here in Dallas, too. Back then the most dangerous thing on the road was a cell phone driver (this is pre-texting). These days cell phone drivers/texters/emailers/websurfers remain high on the "potential killer" list, but the winner for 'most dangerous driver' are owners of small cars that feel like they can share the lane entirely with me.

There are enough of those running around to have a cramp in my middle finger by the time I get to work


.

 

[wesel123]

I test road one this weekend. Its a damn fast bike!!!! How is the overall comfort???? I only got to ride it in the parking lot??

 

[maximumrob]

I like the bike. If I had my 'druthers and known better, I would have gone with a true speed-demon but kept the flat bars (gets me scoffed at by the "drop" riders). Perhaps the best example is the Scott Speedster Flat Bar.

For the money, I can't imagine a better machine for what I'm doing. Love the Conti tires, too. To ease the commuting duty, I swapped out the grips to something more hybrid-friendly since I don't want to wear gloves and added a gel-filled seat since I don't want to wear spandex in to the office! Also, my bike is the primary tow vehicle for our double-wide kid trailer.

Given all the utility it's tasked with, one could easily argue that a more frail, speed machine wouldn't have worked so well. In summary, the SUB40 is perfect.


Pass the word if you pick one out for yourself.

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

My commuter bike is a Scott Sportster, very similar but different components from what we could tell at the LBS I bought it from. Anywho, its a zippy little bike I've really enjoyed it. Keep rocking the commute!!

 

[maximumrob]

UPDATE! Stormy weather will likely keep me in the Rubicon this week. Have been able to drop my commute to 8.5 miles from 10 by weaving my around to stay off the busiest roads.

Also purchased a bike computer so now I know how fast I'm going. Speed is the only statistic I really care about anyway.

 

[jrose609]

How bout a pic ?

 

[Lichen]

Just Great. After reading this post I just had to go on-line and order me a commuter bike. I went a bit cheaper with a Schwinn Coffee 3-speed. Very retro. When I was a kid, we called them "English racers".

 

[maximumrob]

It's my 4th week commuting 2-3x per week and am still enjoying it. Have experimented with many different routes and have shortened my ride somewhat (down to 8.5 miles one way). I've also chopped time out of my ride as I've grown faster.

I'm now more comfortable in traffic so there's less tension and less of my getting angry at drivers...cagers suck but they're going to do what they do no matter how mad I get.

I'm also more efficient at what I haul back and forth to the office so my loads are lighter. I'm down 5 lbs as well and that's WITH increased food consumption!

What has surprised me is how often I must now maintain the bicycle. Since it's getting used a lot I check tire pressure and do a lube job weekly.

Showing up at the office on the bike starts a lot of conversation in the elevator since I garage in the empty cube next to me.

 

[maximumrob]

Eight weeks down, commuting at 3x per week by bike. It's hot as all get-out in North Texas, pushing my limits to get really clean in the morning for a day in the office. However, my office mates haven't called me out on it even though I've asked that they mention smell if noticed.

I've gotten faster! When I started out it was a 44 minute commute. I do it now regularly in 35 minutes or less.

I gave up using "dry lube" on the chain and went to a silicone spray that seems to keep the chain quieter longer.

More to come!

 

[Plannerman]

What are you wearing to commute in, regular clothes or regular bike kit?

I started commuting by bike a few weeks ago and have put it on hold while the local DOT finishes resurfacing the main road connecting my town to the one I work in. Now that its a lot warmer, and they are wrapping up work on the road, I'm giving more consideration to what I wear for overall comfort (ride, changing for the office, shoes, etc.) and other equipment to transport the days tools (laptop, phone, lunch).

As if drivers aren't crazy enough with normal width lanes..

 

[maximumrob]

Plannerman,
I commute in one of those Wolverine day-glo green construction worker shirts and a pair of gym shorts. If I ride several times during the week, I'll throw on bike shorts to ease the pressure on my crotch.

I'm still a pedal masher and use a trail running shoe. I can actually walk in them but they don't flex down over the pedals since I ride as hard as I can for the duration of the commute.

It's so hot down here that I take a complete change of clothes for work right down to the undies. I work in an office environment that's business casual.

Hope that helps!

 

[Plannerman]

Yes, thanks!

I think I'm going to move towards bringing a change of clothes/shoes, as well. It's getting hot here in Southern California, too

 

[maximumrob]

Haven't checked in to this thread for a while because I just haven't ridden for a while. It's been hot as blazes down here. I'm not willing to commute by bike unless the morning temperature is <85* and the evening temp is <105*. This week looks to have mornings in the low 80's and evenings in the low 100's. That I can handle.

Though I haven't done this yet, I intend to ditch the smallest front ring as well as the largest front ring. That'll leave me with a 1x8 configuration and some reduced weight. Unless there's a very strong headwind, it'll work well enough.

I still haven't talked myself into clipless pedals and biking shoes.

More to come!