Comments on: Bicycle Commuting in Dallas http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:00:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: storage stockport http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/comment-page-1/#comment-167806 storage stockport Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:49:24 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/#comment-167806 Great comment, love the design of the site too. Great comment, love the design of the site too.

]]> By: Jim Messick http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/comment-page-1/#comment-100468 Jim Messick Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:18:42 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/#comment-100468 The bike to work is one of the pleasures I enjoy here in Dallas Texas. The ice cold in the winter and the blazing heat in the summer, I look forward to my daily ride to work-yes my co workers comment about the safety aspects and the weather conditions and my potential hazzards yet all in all they think it is a cool thing. I prefer to bike over using my jeep and would like to do a bike trip from here to visit my son in San Diego Calif. The ride to and around White Rock lake is very nice and I wish Dallas had more trails to more destinations- You have to watch out for the vehicles who think you should be on the side walk and not on their road-we are seeing the increase in bike riders as the gas prices go up and down-jim The bike to work is one of the pleasures I enjoy here in Dallas Texas. The ice cold in the winter and the blazing heat in the summer, I look forward to my daily ride to work-yes my co workers comment about the safety aspects and the weather conditions and my potential hazzards yet all in all they think it is a cool thing. I prefer to bike over using my jeep and would like to do a bike trip from here to visit my son in San Diego Calif. The ride to and around White Rock lake is very nice and I wish Dallas had more trails to more destinations- You have to watch out for the vehicles who think you should be on the side walk and not on their road-we are seeing the increase in bike riders as the gas prices go up and down-jim

]]> By: Joe http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/comment-page-1/#comment-66228 Joe Sat, 22 Dec 2007 12:39:10 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/#comment-66228 I live in Dallas and agree with Chris that a shower (and deoderant and clean bike clothes) before the summer morning commute keeps the smell away. All the bacteria, old skin, and residues are washed off, and all you have when you get to work is fresh sweat, which, if you are lucky genetically, has no offensive odor. There may be some people who are unfortunate and will still smell. I have had several critical people tell me I did not, so I don't worry anymore. A little "Vornado" fan in the office cools me off so fast when I'm changing into work clothes that I almost freeze. I have showers available, but my current routine seems easier for me with no downside. WARNING: Many people will assume you smell just by knowledge of the fact that you commute. They will want to hear that you shower, and may be offended if you don't, even though they never smelled a bad odor or even get close to you. In fact, it's the people who don't work near you who may tell others that "he rides and doesn't shower." I spread the rumor that I shower if I break a sweat. That seems to keep everybody quiet since I never actually stink it up. Those close to me see I never shower but tell me it's all cool. I live in Dallas and agree with Chris that a shower (and deoderant and clean bike clothes) before the summer morning commute keeps the smell away. All the bacteria, old skin, and residues are washed off, and all you have when you get to work is fresh sweat, which, if you are lucky genetically, has no offensive odor. There may be some people who are unfortunate and will still smell. I have had several critical people tell me I did not, so I don’t worry anymore. A little “Vornado” fan in the office cools me off so fast when I’m changing into work clothes that I almost freeze. I have showers available, but my current routine seems easier for me with no downside. WARNING: Many people will assume you smell just by knowledge of the fact that you commute. They will want to hear that you shower, and may be offended if you don’t, even though they never smelled a bad odor or even get close to you. In fact, it’s the people who don’t work near you who may tell others that “he rides and doesn’t shower.” I spread the rumor that I shower if I break a sweat. That seems to keep everybody quiet since I never actually stink it up. Those close to me see I never shower but tell me it’s all cool.

]]> By: Chris http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/comment-page-1/#comment-65996 Chris Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:14:39 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/#comment-65996 I've found that a reasonably healthy diet mixed with clean clothes and plenty of water and you won't smell. The sweating keeps the toxins flushed out of your system. I’ve found that a reasonably healthy diet mixed with clean clothes and plenty of water and you won’t smell. The sweating keeps the toxins flushed out of your system.

]]> By: Patrick http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/comment-page-1/#comment-65993 Patrick Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:34:36 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/#comment-65993 Sweat dries within 30 minutes of arriving at work for me. I just put a towel on my chair and dry off in the bathroom a bit. After 30 minutes with a fan in my office, I'm dry enough to go change into my regular work clothes. I thought I would stink, but I take a shower before work, just like I would driving a car. I've asked guy friends at work if they notice a smell, and they are honest hopefully when they say no. Give it a try next summer and see. I live in Austin, and it's very hot in the summers (6 months of summer, 6 months of cooler weather, then it's back to summer again.) I've never taken a shower at work, and now that I can, I still think it's too inconvenient. Riding in 27 degrees? Now that takes some balls.:-) Sweat dries within 30 minutes of arriving at work for me. I just put a towel on my chair and dry off in the bathroom a bit. After 30 minutes with a fan in my office, I’m dry enough to go change into my regular work clothes. I thought I would stink, but I take a shower before work, just like I would driving a car. I’ve asked guy friends at work if they notice a smell, and they are honest hopefully when they say no. Give it a try next summer and see. I live in Austin, and it’s very hot in the summers (6 months of summer, 6 months of cooler weather, then it’s back to summer again.) I’ve never taken a shower at work, and now that I can, I still think it’s too inconvenient. Riding in 27 degrees? Now that takes some balls.:-)

]]> By: Jay Fichialos http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/comment-page-1/#comment-65939 Jay Fichialos Thu, 20 Dec 2007 06:17:20 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/#comment-65939 I've been commuting 14 miles one way from the Keller to Southlake just west of the DFW airport for about a year and a half now. My route takes me through a number of different suburbs and apart from the constant road construction I've had great success with commuting here. I'm lucky to work at an office that has secure bike racks and showers, which makes it all the more convenient. Everyone talks about the heat down here, and yes it's hot in July and August. But I've found that if you're consistent and keep yourself well hydrated your body tends to adapt to the seasons. Right now all the folks in the office are talking about how crazy I am to be riding when it's 27 degrees... just like the heat, you adapt. If you get a chance while your in town, I'd highly recommend stopping by Trinity Bicycle in Irving and saying hi to Joey, a great little independent shop in the Dallas- Forth Worth area that's very commuter oriented. (I'm not an employee just a happy customer) http://trinitybicycles.com/ And if the boss doesn't go for the office bike drop me a line, and we'll find you loaner. I’ve been commuting 14 miles one way from the Keller to Southlake just west of the DFW airport for about a year and a half now. My route takes me through a number of different suburbs and apart from the constant road construction I’ve had great success with commuting here. I’m lucky to work at an office that has secure bike racks and showers, which makes it all the more convenient.
Everyone talks about the heat down here, and yes it’s hot in July and August. But I’ve found that if you’re consistent and keep yourself well hydrated your body tends to adapt to the seasons. Right now all the folks in the office are talking about how crazy I am to be riding when it’s 27 degrees… just like the heat, you adapt.

If you get a chance while your in town, I’d highly recommend stopping by Trinity Bicycle in Irving and saying hi to Joey, a great little independent shop in the Dallas- Forth Worth area that’s very commuter oriented. (I’m not an employee just a happy customer) http://trinitybicycles.com/

And if the boss doesn’t go for the office bike drop me a line, and we’ll find you loaner.

]]> By: Patrick http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/comment-page-1/#comment-65929 Patrick Thu, 20 Dec 2007 03:43:31 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/#comment-65929 I grew up in Plano, but now live in Boston. For my first job out of college, I seriously considered commuting by bike, though I never worked up the courage (in fact, I just now started). Some of the big things that you would have to worry about are the heat and the percentage of people with cars. It gets really hot in Texas, and stays that way for some time. If you are like me, you get pretty sweaty. Now, I don't mind, but I would need a place to shower. I don't know how many place of employment could accommodate this. Most importantly, pretty much everybody in Dallas has a car. DART is pretty unreliable, and the DART rail is very limited (it was not until I lived in Europe that understood what a decent mass transit system looks like). Not only that, parking is readily available and cheap/free (unlike Boston where you have to spend some serious cash to get a decent parking spot). Personally, I did not commute for those two reasons above. Though I could have showered at my place of employment, it "seemed like too much of a hassle". Commuting by bike was a much easier decision because those barrier no longer seemed so imposing. So best of luck getting people to commute by bike, because it is an uphill battle. I grew up in Plano, but now live in Boston. For my first job out of college, I seriously considered commuting by bike, though I never worked up the courage (in fact, I just now started). Some of the big things that you would have to worry about are the heat and the percentage of people with cars. It gets really hot in Texas, and stays that way for some time. If you are like me, you get pretty sweaty. Now, I don’t mind, but I would need a place to shower. I don’t know how many place of employment could accommodate this. Most importantly, pretty much everybody in Dallas has a car. DART is pretty unreliable, and the DART rail is very limited (it was not until I lived in Europe that understood what a decent mass transit system looks like). Not only that, parking is readily available and cheap/free (unlike Boston where you have to spend some serious cash to get a decent parking spot).

Personally, I did not commute for those two reasons above. Though I could have showered at my place of employment, it “seemed like too much of a hassle”. Commuting by bike was a much easier decision because those barrier no longer seemed so imposing. So best of luck getting people to commute by bike, because it is an uphill battle.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/comment-page-1/#comment-65893 Jennifer Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:35:48 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/#comment-65893 Whoops, nevermind. I was skimming. Whoops, nevermind. I was skimming.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/comment-page-1/#comment-65890 Jennifer Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:04:44 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/#comment-65890 Who/what is the source of that opening quote? I like it. Who/what is the source of that opening quote? I like it.

]]> By: David http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/comment-page-1/#comment-65884 David Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:29:19 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2007/12/19/bicycle-commuting-in-dallas/#comment-65884 The East Dallas Veloway will be a great thing for East Dallas. It will be the East Dallas version of the Katy Trail, and will spark residential development along it from Deep Ellum/Exposition Park to White Rock Lake. Think how cool it will be to live along the Veloway, and be a 5-10 minute bike ride to Deep Ellum, Fair Park and White Rock Lake! The East Dallas Veloway will be a great thing for East Dallas. It will be the East Dallas version of the Katy Trail, and will spark residential development along it from Deep Ellum/Exposition Park to White Rock Lake. Think how cool it will be to live along the Veloway, and be a 5-10 minute bike ride to Deep Ellum, Fair Park and White Rock Lake!

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