Comments on: What is bike commuting “expertise?”

By: Ted Lemon

Ted Lemon — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 03:39:09 +0000

It would be awfully nice if we could get bike clothes that didn’t make us look like bumblebees. But if you’re going to do a long bike commute in warm weather, it’s probably not a bad idea to consider wearing the fancy clothes even if you don’t like the way you look in them, because you’ll have a hope of arriving at work dry, rather than dripping. Just change into something different when you get to work. You don’t need to wear the clown shoes, although you might want to consider shoes with recessed cleats at some point of bike commuting becomes more of a habit.

I completely agree that regular riders won’t know what to say to n00bs before sending them off into the wild on their own. Things that are built into our muscle memory are not second nature to someone who hasn’t ridden a bike in years. This is why you should ride with your friend and mentor them. They can ask you questions right then, as they run into trouble, and you can observe what they are doing and give them advice relevant to the present moment, rather than lecturing them at length about what they *might* encounter and, probably, getting it wrong.

I was surprised that I had to explain to my wife how to pedal standing up, and I was surprised by some of the risk-avoidance behaviors that she engaged in that actually increased her risk. There is no way I would have known to advise her against these behaviors, because it would never have occurred to me that anyone would do any such thing. TBH, I can’t even remember what she did anymore, just that I had to advise her not to.

By: TrentJ

TrentJ — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:14:22 +0000

Having crashed for the first time after a year of bike commuting (broken rib – 17 mile commute 1 way – my own stupidity, unrestrained pannier shoulder strap got caught in the tire) and being part of a small community of bike commuters here in Indianapolis, ‘expertise’ is simply experience, which is no different than the experience you get with the 4 wheel commute. The primary difference being the route for me doesn’t vary with 2 wheels as compared to 4. Every day I ride to work, something happens that reminds me its a commute and not a ride. Some bit of frustration that you would blow off when on just a bike ride, but ticks you off on the commute.

To me, the primary qualification for a bike commuter is simple the courage to bike commute in the first place. For most folks, bike commuting is way out of their comfort zone, so starting is the hardest part. No holy grail of how to bike commute exists, cause I’ve looked.

After commuting for a year by bike, I can simply say I wouldn’t trade it. Its never the same thing twice, its fun, its exhilarating (riding in downtown traffic), and a great way to stay in shape, or get into shape in my case. Now back to Triple Rush on the Travel Channel…..

By: Big John

Big John — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:44:39 +0000

I am an avid cyclist and I would love to be able to commute to and from work daily ! the problem is that living in Downey ca. and commuting to Gardena ! as I have to go thru compton and gardena where a majority of the drivers do not have a liscense and they drive like it ! but thats the minor problem in these areas ! for the organized crime terrorist gang situation here in these areas is out of control ! as a country we send our military all around the globe to stop this kind of people but let it flourish right here ! go figure ! and as far as going green ! provide safe patrolled commuter paths 24 hours a day and just in my little world there would be about 80 less vehicles polluting the air and crouding our conjested streets and highways day and night ! I mean just imagine the amount of fossil fuel that would not be burnt ! but we must remember those same fossil fuels line our gov. officials pockets with another kind of green !.Hense again bicyclist will not fill their pockets so we don’t even get a glance ! could we even dream in this country of daily LA. marathon numbers of people commuting daily ? bye bye fossil fuel dependency ! and then you betcha some real fuel efficient affordable vehicles would show up to try and get us off our bikes ! and my commute would be 36 miles a day an easy ride for an avid rider , oh and I work second shift so I commute home at 11pm. and no matter where where one lives we all know the cockroaches come out in the dark !

By: Kelvyn

Kelvyn — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 20:23:43 +0000

I’ve been riding roughly 8 miles round trip to/from work in Philadelphia for about 6 years now. Though I’ve been an avid biker since my teens, I had to learn a few things the hard way, i.e. always have weather-appropriate clothing, learning alternate routes that avoid windy bridges and treacherous merge points, the timing of traffic lights, avoiding doors etc. I’d re-emphasize John’s earlier comment about making eye contact with drivers, its saved my skin more than a few times. There’s been a huge increase in daily bike commuters here since I began riding, and I find my biggest obstacle is often newbie riders as much as the 4-wheelers. We’ve got everything from the 75-year-old dude smoking and riding two miles an hour the wrong way, to the yuppie girls in high heels (Venti Latte in hand) that get stuck in their pedals.
When potential riders ask me though, I emphasize the positive benefits of fitness, saving $$$, helping the planet etc, and offer to help them identify appropriate routes, gear, etc.

By: John

John — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:03:33 +0000

Hi,
Everyone nearly has a bike they could use to commute on, most will tell you its in the garage with a flat tyre!
Buy yourself puncture resistant tyres, mudguards in Britain or fenders in the US to keep the water off you from the road, a waterproof jacket and leggings in case you get caught in the rain, a rack for your bike and a bag to put on it with all your bits in.
There you are, a commuter cyclist ready to take on the great outdoors and begin to live a new life.

John.

By: xiousgeonz

xiousgeonz — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:09:27 +0000

I think that most (not all) of the “reasons” are not really reasons; they are problems that probably have solutions.
My theory is that commuting *does* actually require experience and expertise, and people don’t realize that, so that if they get started and things go wrong, they attribute it to bicycling, not to the newness.
Richard’s lost guy is a case in point.
THere are *so* many details I’ve learned about commuting in general and specifics of my commute (lane position, lane position, lane position, exactly how each light cycle runs as I approach & where the potholes are, and tons of little things that I am not even aware I’m paying attention to — much like happened learning to get around in that cage thing).
Another complication is that, like driving, everybody brings their own personality and needs to the task and people have assorted opinions about What Is Best (lane position for one ). So, I absolutely rely on a mirror — yet some woudl think “oh, too dorky.”
I wince when somebody says that there’s nothing to riding a bike. Okay, maybe y’all just knew it all when you started… but y’all probably didn’t start driving and think “oh, crap! It’s all happening too fast!” either…

By: AK Hunter

AK Hunter — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 02:11:09 +0000

Oh, I don’t think it’s rocket science (however, since the Wright Brothers began by making bicycles, I suppose you could say it’s the granddaddy of rocket science), but when I started I sure learned a lot from my friends who had been biking a long time. And now, I enjoy the opportunity to help make someone else’s commute safer, faster and more pleasant. Expertise? I dunno. Experience. You betcha.

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 22:10:44 +0000

I am considering a 13 mile round trip commute through tough neighborhoods with an unavoidable 3 mile stretch of 45 mph roadway. Safety has always been my concern – I’ve driven these streets long enough to see every kind of bad driver – drunks, drug addicts, kids that can’t see over the steering wheel and cop cars doing
50 the wrong way down a one way without lights or siren and the gang bangers they’re chasing -
now the texters yikes!
I’ll be the crazy old white dude on that cool
bike… I’m going to do it anyway – any tips?

By: Alice

Alice — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 04:29:15 +0000

As a casual recreational rider considering a commute, I can tell you excatly what stops me from commuting, all of which I consider skills.

First, stopping without falling over. I am really bad at that. I know it comes with practice, but I’m not a little kid anymore- I get hurt when I fall over. The last time I stopped and fell over I messed up my knee so bad I couldn’t walk for a week and I couldn’t run for six months.

Second, clothing. I know it’s possible to commute in the clothes you wear to work, but it is more difficult that it seems like it should be to commute in a skirt (all I wear in terms of bottoms) without showing the world your underwear. Tighter skirts are easier to keep down, but then it’s hard to get on and off the bike.

Third, worrying about my bike while it’s locked up on a city street all day long. I can’t take it inside.

These three things combined make taking the bus MUCH more simple, which is why I keep doing it.

By: BluesCat

BluesCat — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:56:38 +0000

People seem to be really interested in MY bike commuting to work, but it starts with the fact they’re really intrigued by the bike I ride: a recumbent.

There are two show stoppers for bike commuters in Phoenix:

1. The Distance – A lot of folks I talk to live in one of the outlying communities, and work in the central Phoenix area. This means their commute is around 30 miles, round trip, as the crow flies. So finding a safe route would mean tacking on at least another couple of miles which would mean HOURS on the road.

1. The Heat – If you don’t have access to shower facilities near your office, riding in the summer mornings, when the temp is above 100 degrees, means you’ll offend everybody with your BO.

Bicycle commuting expertise? Experience.