Commuting to work by bike

Ha, I’ve got those new bathrooms installed at the office now—so at least I can actually take a shower there if I need to.😁 I completely forgot about that part...😁
At least, looking at my commute, I'll be heading down toward much lower elevations most days—so, theoretically, the physical strain should be minimal...😁

See, I told ya... Just a song. 🙂

Just wanted to jump in here and get this thread started! 😁

Finally started biking to work this past Monday. I’ve got a 11 miles commute one way, though I usually drive about halfway in the morning before switching over to my bike.

It’s roughly 4.4 miles to the office, plus time for changing, wet wipes, deodorant, and getting fresh clothes on... being the new 👍 guy, I'm still figuring it out!

The ride home through the city is so chill, no stress at all... honestly, it’s such a mental reset compared to sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic in a car. Luckily, my job is pretty awesome about it—they give me a secure spot for my bike, a big locker room with a shower, and a locker for my gear.

My biggest struggle is definitely how heavy my backpack gets since I have to lug my laptop and an extra pair of shoes around... but hey, no pain, no gain! 😉

Arthur Ross said:Ha, they just put in new bathrooms at the office, so now I can actually take a shower.😁 I forgot about that.😁
Work-wise, I'm spending more time driving at lower altitudes. Should be easier on the lungs. Minimal fatigue expected.😁

Uuuu, and you’re still asking? It’s nothing else. Just the bike.👍 Maybe snowshoes, or skis once the snow actually hits. Though you can probably just power through it with some heavy breathing and grit. I’ve hiked through deep powder up near Mount Rainier, so I know what it takes.

quietskipper17 said:My biggest headache is definitely the weight of this backpack—trying to lug around a laptop plus an extra pair of shoes is a struggle. But hey, no pain, no gain. 😉

I finally ditched the backpack for panniers. Picked up a rack and some mounting hardware on eBay—just enough to get it all set up on my bike. Now I just load up the bags and fly. I've even got that extra compartment for my laptop, helmet, and whatever else.

It’s something like this—if you can call it that.

wearyotter36 said:I finally ditched the backpack and switched to panniers. Picked up a rack on eBay and just bolted it right onto my bike. Now I just load up the bags and fly. I even have that extra bag for my laptop, helmet, and all that stuff.

It looks kind of like this:
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/7333/dsc04911z.jpg

I was thinking about getting panniers, but honestly, it feels a bit overkill just for that... maybe I'll just get one of those laptop bags that attaches to the handlebars instead...?

Man, lugging around a laptop and shoes—that’s already a lot for me, and I'm sure there's plenty of other junk to carry. Honestly, maybe having more space would just lead to me packing even more stuff to feel "comfortable," haha—but hey, you know what works for you best.

wearyotter36 said:Man, carrying just a laptop and shoes? That sounds like plenty to me, though I bet there's more you'd want to pack. Honestly, maybe if you had more room you'd carry even more stuff and be way more comfortable lol, but hey, you know what works best for you.

Well, right now I'm lugging a laptop and shoes plus two extra shirts, jeans, a belt, bike tools, a spare tube, a pump, my wallet, two sets of wrenches, deodorant, cologne, and a bunch of other little things.🤣

Actually, thinking about it now... maybe those shorts aren't such a bad idea after all.😂

It’s becoming clear that I need to seriously consider investing in a bicycle.
I actually went back to my other thread—the one where I laid out all my specific requirements under "which bike should I buy"—so now I am just sitting here waiting to see what everyone has to say...😁

Hey everyone!
I could really use some advice, opinions, or even just a quick suggestion. Ever since I mounted a kid's seat on my bike and started riding it on my morning commute, I've completely lost all my pannier space. Right now, I'm stuck lugging everything around in a backpack, and honestly, I'm over it.
I haven't had any luck finding decent front-wheel racks. I might actually be willing to settle for something like this

but I can't find any bags that actually attach to it. 🤷

Does anyone have any ideas, even if it's just a DIY improvisation?

John Palmer4 said:Hey everyone,
I could really use some advice or even just a quick opinion on something. Ever since I mounted a child seat on my bike and started using it for the daily commute, I’ve completely lost all my pannier space. Right now, I’m stuck lugging everything around in a backpack, which is honestly becoming a real pain.
I haven't had much luck finding decent front rack setups. I might even be open to trying something like this

but I can't find any bags that actually attach to it properly. 🤷

Does anyone have any ideas, even if it's just a makeshift DIY solution?

There are definitely bags out there, they just tend to be a bit pricier. Usually, you'd go with individual bags rather than a single connected set of panniers.

As for improvising, absolutely—it's possible. Back when I was riding an old bike with disc brakes, I couldn't fit a heavy-duty rear rack, so I moved everything to the front. I ended up fashioning a little custom bracket out of some sheet metal just so I could clip standard panniers onto it.

I'm not sure how clear this is in the photo:

@John Palmer4/">@@John Palmer4, how much space are you actually looking for? I ended up grabbing some small hinge pouches on eBay—they’re only about five inches long—that attach right to the frame. They fit my wallet, an iPhone, a light rain shell, or even a t-shirt, plus a few odds and ends. I also keep a little tool bag tucked under the seat for my house keys and work keys, which covers all my bases. If you're trying to lug around a laptop or way more gear, though, it might get a bit awkward 😢

A few small items are fine by me, no big deal there.
But when I’m dropping the kid off at his grandma's before work and picking him up after, I really need space for his clothes, a water bottle, random gear, and ideally a little toy or two. I need serious room! I’m not even counting diapers—those things are way too bulky for panniers. 😬

jadetiger962 said:There are bags available, they just cost more. You could go with those separate bags instead of traditional panniers that stay attached to the rack.

I've searched and found nothing. 😢 🤷Any ideas where else I should look?
Honestly, price isn't even my main concern (as long as it's within a reasonable range), I just desperately need something to take the weight off my back during this brutal summer heat!

jadetiger962 said:Of course you can improvise! Back when I had an old bike with disc brakes, I couldn't use a heavy-duty rear rack, so I moved everything to the front on a specific rack and even rigged up a little metal roof so I could mount standard panniers.

I'm not sure if this is clear enough:

I have disc brakes on mine too. Should I expect a total circus trying to install a front rack? (The rear one works perfectly, even with the disc).

John Palmer4 said:I don't mind a few little things, honestly, I can deal with that.
But when I'm driving my kid over to his grandma's before work, or doing the same thing after hours, I really need some actual space for his clothes, a water bottle, random bits and pieces, and ideally a toy or two. I need room for everything. I'm not even worrying about diapers yet—those things are way too bulky to fit in panniers 😬

I've been looking everywhere and coming up empty 😢 🤷 any idea where else I should look?
At this point, I wouldn't even say it's about the price (as long as we're talking within a reasonable budget), it's just that if I could find something to take the load off my back during this brutal heatwave, I'd be set.

I have disc brakes on mine too. Should I expect a total circus if I try to get a front rack installed? (The rear one works like a charm, even with the disc setup)

Regarding those bags, I've spotted them over at Dick's Sporting Goods and ESPN.

I didn't run into any issues on the front, mostly because I had V-brake mounts available. You might run into a bit of a headache if you don't have them.

I guess I rarely take my laptop out of its case. It’s a great setup, but honestly, I always keep it tucked away in my backpack—it just feels like the safest way to make sure everything stays properly cushioned.

I picked up those mini sausages for the front bumper, and man, what a total fail. It’s like they're stuffed with nothing but paper napkins or something.

If anyone knows where I can pick up some decent front bike racks and mounts without breaking the bank, let me know. I'm all ears!

If that's the case, then we're looking at something pricey. Actually, way too pricey.
http://www.guardianplan.com/index.php/cPath/21_23_47

😵 😵

Plus, like 80% of what they have listed online isn't even available... 🙄

John Palmer4 said:Hey everyone.
I could use some advice or even just a quick suggestion. Ever since I mounted a child seat to my bike and started using it for the morning commute, my pannier space has basically vanished. Right now, I’m stuck hauling everything in a backpack, and frankly, it’s a pain.
I haven't had much luck finding decent front-wheel racks. I might even be open to something along the lines of

but I can't find any bags designed to clip onto that setup. 🤷

Does anyone have an idea, even if it's just a DIY improvisation?

solutions

1

2 http://www.bikenbeer.com/?p=209

3

Ronald Diaz said:So, I finally decided to bike to work for the first time today, and honestly? I'm pretty stoked about it. 🙂
I clocked in at almost 15 miles total, so I'm a little wiped out, but since I haven't really ridden much in over 15 years, I actually felt better than expected. My route goes from Borcec (just past Gannic) down toward the downtown area, so a good chunk of it is on decent bike paths through Boston, too. The only part that gave me a bit of anxiety was navigating Fifth Avenue near Wall Street with all those distracted pedestrians, but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it.
If I wake up feeling refreshed tomorrow, I'm definitely doing this again. 🙂

The thread has gone a bit quiet, so I figured I'd give it a little bump. 🙂
It’s been three months now (not counting my vacation break), and after covering quite a few miles, I have to admit—I don't miss my car one bit. In fact, I love it! I think I've only driven to work about five times total, mostly just when I had errands to run right after the shift. I managed to shave a solid 10-15 minutes off my commute, and I think it'll get even faster now that I've upgraded to a new bike instead of struggling with those old 2-inch tires on the pavement. 🙂
Overall, I highly recommend making the switch. I feel so much better because I'm actually staying active. I don't hit that mid-morning slump or need a third coffee just to survive, and I'm not completely dead by the time I get home, which is funny because you'd think it would be the other way around.

Honestly, I’ve been commuting to work by bike all August—maybe hopping on a bus or two if I have to—and I haven't missed my car one bit. It’s actually been pretty great.

Shakespeare - Briton.

The only real hiccup was when the heat hit those 95-degree peaks; I was sweating bullets, so I had to pack extra layers. But even then, it wasn't a huge deal since I can just work
in shorts, and I always kept a pair of slacks in my bag anyway, just in case an unexpected meeting popped up. I usually just carry them in my laptop backpack.
That was really the only downside, mostly because I’m lugging around a 17" laptop, which is a beast. Between that, the charger, and a few other bits, it starts feeling pretty heavy 😢 and I end up soaked in sweat
by the time I arrive.

But overall, huge thumbs up to daily bike commuting.