Commuting to work by bike

Arthur Ross said:So, what’s actually better in the long run—a backpack or panniers?
For work, I usually carry jeans, some tees, socks, an extra cycling jersey, shorts, sometimes some paperwork in a folder, maybe a snack, my wallet... and stuff like that.

I'm no expert.
I guess a backpack seems like the better bet since it doesn't mess with the back of the bike, but I've never actually ridden with panniers, so I'm just guessing here without any real experience.

I don't see why you'd have to choose. Just grab some panniers at Walmart for $20, strap them on your bike, and ride them until they fall apart. If it fits, shove it in the panniers; if not, toss it in a backpack.

hiddenviper17 said:I guess I’m just not that great. 😁

The only part that actually trips me up is the bridge over V. Holjevac, though I assume that isn't much of a deal for you guys. 😁

Plus, my knee has been acting up for three days now. 😢

Don't sweat it too much. Are you getting ready for Tour de France? For me, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge felt like climbing the biggest mountain ever back when I first started. Just keep riding, and eventually, it'll all click.

So, I usually bike to work during the season—roughly from April through October. My commute is basically from my place out in the suburbs over to Downtown, which takes me about 35 minutes. Toward the end of last year, though, I started dealing with some back issues—a herniated disc—and now I’m second-guessing whether biking is actually a smart move. My doctor told me it’s fine, but honestly, I’m still not entirely convinced. Does anyone have any advice or personal experience with this?

Nathan Castillo8 said:What mileage? What route?

I'm from Pittsburgh 😁

cosmicbison50 said:I usually bike to work every season (April to October). My commute is from my suburban neighborhood to Downtown and takes about 35 minutes. At the end of last year, I started having back issues (herniated disc) and I'm not sure if biking is a smart move. My doctor said it's fine, but I'm still unsure. Anyone got advice?

whatever you do, just keep your back straight. works for biking too, then you won't have any issues.

Harold Myers91 said:I'm from Indianapolis.😁

The question hasn't changed. 🤷

Andrew Wells58 said:Don't let it get to you. Are you training for the Tour de France? For me, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge was my version of climbing Mount Everest. Just keep riding and you will get there eventually.

It's the frustration of having to carry my bike over the Brooklyn Bridge that gets me! 🙂

Ugh, don't even get me started on my fitness level. Just looking at a hill makes me want to pass out, seriously. My mileage is a total joke—it takes me like half an hour just to get from Mount Everest to my suburban neighborhood, which honestly feels like a win, haha! Last year, I could manage getting Downtown in maybe 20-25 minutes if I stuck to the sidewalk, because god forbid I try the actual road and get run over. I guess I'll stick to the shoulder on some of those backroads, but yeah, let's not pretend I'm prepping for the Tour de France. I really just need to tone up enough so I can do a round trip ride and ninety minutes of Vinyasa yoga in one day without feeling like my muscles are dying. Side planks and those weak-ass tricep dips are killing me... I can barely even type 😂 I definitely need to work on my arms and legs.

Donna Wells74 said:Don't even get me started on my mileage—I'm talking from Mount Everest to a Suburban neighborhood....

It’s wild that our paths haven't crossed yet. Seriously, I haven't run into a single other female cyclist who rides this exact stretch 🤷
from my neighborhood to the university campus...
anyway, if you spot a brunette around 5'11" on a Specialized, give me a wave so we can finally meet!

Ugh, girl, if I actually rode regularly, you wouldn't even see me 😁
On the weekends, usually Saturdays—sometimes I'll head back Sunday afternoon on my bike if my folks aren't hogging it.
Sometimes I'll do a quick loop after work, but it’s nothing consistent. Anyway, I'm just a 160lb mess on a navy blue Jamis MTB 😁, probably oblivious to everything around me, so you might have to yell if you don't see me 🙂

P.S. Yeah, yeah, I know this is the "bike to work" thread. I mean, I plan to, I just need to fix up my old beat-up rig first. I'm terrified someone will swipe my good one; we have "parking" outside the building, sure, but even if the receptionists are watching from inside, I don't really feel like leaving it at the mercy of street thieves for 8 hours. Mmm, new brakes, tires, chain, derailleurs... maybe I won't even need all that.

Jose White18 said:The question still stands. 🤷

It's 10 bucks, and honestly, I don't think the route would even matter if I told you, considering you aren't from SK.

hiddenviper17 said:I’ve adjusted my seat height just enough so I can almost touch the ground with my fingertips. 🙂 I’m definitely not going any lower than that. 🙂

Usually, knee pain is a telltale sign that your saddle isn't at the right height, or perhaps your bike frame is just a size too big or too small for you. What kind of bike are you riding?

Donna Wells74 said:Oh, honey, if I actually rode on a regular basis, I wouldn't be in this mess! 😁
On the weekends, mostly Saturdays—though occasionally I'll ride back on Sunday afternoon if I can manage to snag the bike from my folks.
Sometimes I'll squeeze in a quick loop after work, but don't call me an athlete. It's far from a routine. For context, I'm about 5'3" riding a navy blue Jamis MTB 😁, and honestly, I tend to get a bit tunnel-visioned when I'm out there, so please yell if you see something coming and I haven't noticed. 🙂

P.S. And yeah, I know we're technically talking about "commuting by bike." I do intend to start doing that, but first I need to fix up my old beat-up rig. I’m a little nervous about leaving my current one out; our building has a "parking area" outside, and even though the receptionists can see it from inside, I'm just not comfortable leaving it at the mercy of street thieves for eight hours straight. Mmm, new brakes, tires, chain, derailleurs... hopefully, I won't have to replace everything.

Just get out there and ride as much as you can. Your stamina will catch up, your health will improve, and you'll naturally start paying more attention to your surroundings. 🙂

Duh, obviously. I just need to toss this bike over to my buddy's buddy's buddy for repairs first. 😁
Until then, I'm stuck with an afternoon stroll and some weekend cycling. 🙂 I actually have to head out to a Small rural town to swap out some tires for a friend. 🤣 Then she won't have any more excuses, haha!

jadetiger962 said:Knee pain usually happens if your saddle height is off or if the bike frame size isn't right for you. What kind of bike are you riding?

It is just one knee bothering me. 😂

I ride:
http://www.eiamalta.com/wp-content/u...r-2.0-bike.jpg
Frame size: 16.5

hiddenviper17 said:Only one of my knees is bothering me haha 😂

Is that on a straight leg? 😉

Anyway, you mentioned being able to touch the floor with your fingers while on the saddle, which I guess means your seat isn't quite high enough yet. Maybe you could try raising it gradually, bit by bit, until you get used to it. But honestly, the most important thing is training yourself to move correctly; otherwise, you might always feel stuck relying on those fingers touching the ground.

The old veteran is giving some great advice on how to get started, and there's even a little video here:

http://sheldonbrown.com/starting.html

Just practice your movement slowly. Once you get the hang of it, you can raise the seat a little more, and after a while, you'll be doing great.

Also, if your knees are acting up, maybe check if you're spinning at too high a cadence.

hiddenviper17 said:Only one knee is giving me trouble, haha 😂

My ride:
http://www.eiamalta.com/wp-content/u...r-2.0-bike.jpg
Frame size: 16.5

Nice, another navigator joins the fray. Speaking of which, where on earth did elephant go? I haven't seen them around in ages... 😢

Ideally, your seat should be high enough that when you have the pedal at its lowest point and rest your heel on it, your leg should be completely straight. On a bike like this, especially when you're moving at these speeds, it’s probably not quite as critical, but just keep in mind what Arash was saying about making sure you don't get caught in too high a gear. 🙂

Donna Wells74 said:P.S. Yeah, this is definitely one of those "commuting by bike" threads. I actually plan on doing it, but I need to fix up my old beat-up bike first. I’m a bit worried about leaving a new one out; our building has an outdoor parking area, and while the receptionists can see it from inside, I guess I just don't feel comfortable leaving it at the mercy of street thieves for 8 hours. Mmm, maybe I'll need new brakes, tires, a chain, or gears... we'll see if any of that is actually necessary.

See, I told you that you buy way too much gear and barely ride at all. 🙂 Now you can't even go for a ride because your bike is too expensive, so where does that leave us? 🙂 You’re basically like Bat Zivojinovic chasing Stefica Cvek in that old movie. It's all talk, all talk... you say you'll do it, but nothing ever actually happens. 🙂

I mean, we love having you hang out here with us, but until we get a report from a reliable source like Shangrica saying they actually saw you out on two wheels, we’re just counting you as a "maybe."

Andrew Wells58 said:Is that on the long leg? 😉
If your knees are acting up, make sure you aren't spinning at too high a cadence.

Go ahead and keep joking around. 😁 I really need to see an orthopedist. My right leg just isn't feeling right lately. My ankle keeps popping constantly, like a plastic doll's leg, so I need to find out why. My knee has always been fine, though.

I have already started working on my sit-ups. I began at the lowest possible level, but I can now lift myself about two inches off the ground. 😁

I typically drive between 10th and 12th gear. My lowest point hits around 4 (most definitely), while my peak reaches about 17 when I'm heading down through the Mayo Clinic area—what a traffic jam!

The elbow joint remains quite resilient. It functions perfectly. hiddenviper17 says:
The seat height should be high enough that your leg is completely straight when your heel is on the pedal at its lowest point. On a bike like this at these speeds, it isn't quite as critical, but just listen to Arash regarding avoiding excessive speeds. 🙂

I believe my leg is sufficiently extended, though I will attempt to increase the size slightly more.

hiddenviper17 said:I feel like my leg is stretched out enough as it is, though I'll try to get that gap just a little bit wider...

Not wider, taller. 😬

hiddenviper17 said:I usually cruise between 10th and 12th gear. My lowest is probably around 4 (big oof lol), and my highest—when I'm heading down through the Mayo Clinic area, which is always such a mess!—hits about 17.

I'm not really sure how many gears your rocket ship actually has, but from what I can tell, those numbers don't seem all that high. I guess the more important thing is whether it feels like you're straining against something heavy, like pumping water out of a well, or if it just feels light, like spinning a sewing machine or a hula hoop. (I mean, my analogies are probably thirty years out of date, but hey, we try 🙂 ) Maybe hitting around 50 RPM would be a decent starting point for you; if it isn't, I guess you should just shift down.