Commuting to work by bike

Drew Perez4 said:Thanks for the heads-up. That’s exactly what I was wondering—how to steer clear of the Buzin area.

One more thing: is there any chance of running into some aggressive dogs chasing bikes on that stretch? Honestly, that's my biggest worry.

Nah, you might spot a stray one here or there near the bike racks, but they're harmless. I haven't had any "close encounters" like that yet, but if I did, I'm ready. I always keep that pepper spray (the kind you aim for the eyes) in my backpack, just in case. God forbid.

velvetsurfer132, look, most of these are designed with men in mind, so you’ll notice the geometry leans masculine. Women’s frames usually have a lower top tube and a more slanted design, making it much easier to mount and dismount if you're wearing a skirt.

If you see a listing for a 19 or 21-inch frame, honestly, that’s way too small for an adult woman. Those sizes are really intended for teenagers or shorter riders, maybe topping out at 5'5".

For an adult, you should be looking for at least a 26-inch wheel setup; otherwise, the handlebars are going to feel frustratingly low. Don't get me wrong, they look like beautiful bikes in the photos,👍 but I strongly suggest heading to a specialized local bike shop. You want to buy from someone who will actually warn you if you're picking out a frame that's too small—if you don't get the fit right, you're going to end up with a massive amount of back pain.

nimbletinker10, you're right
but honestly, any men's bike can be adjusted to fit a woman perfectly... just some minor tweaks to the seat height and handlebar angle, and it's good to go.

And obviously, you really need to test drive a bike before buying it. Try out several different sizes to see which one actually feels right on you.
Here’s a quick chart to help you estimate which frame size might work best for your height:

http://bikeexchange.com/size-chart/

nimbletinker10 said:If you see a bike listed with 19 and 21-inch frames, it’s honestly a bit too small for most grown women; those sizes are really geared toward teenagers or anyone topping out around 5'5".

We really ought to be looking for 26-inch wheels for adults; otherwise, the steering geometry just feels a bit too twitchy and unstable.

I suspect you might be mixing up the fork height with the wheel dimensions.

A 19-inch fork is usually plenty for anyone up to about 5'11", but since I’m standing at a solid 6'7", I ended up going with a 22.5-inch fork instead, all paired with 26-inch wheels.

It’s not really about the drop height, but rather the frame size itself. That said, things get a bit tricky because every manufacturer handles sizing differently; what feels right in a 16-inch frame from one brand might feel totally different in an 18-inch frame from another. I ran into this exact thing when I was shopping for my own setup—I found that an 18" Kona felt perfect, whereas a 16" Haro was my sweet spot. An 18" Haro, on the other hand, felt way too massive for me compared to how the Kona sat.

My apologies if I miscalculated the proportions here. To clarify, when I mentioned "col," I wasn't referring to a specific brand or location—I was using the sizing designation for the bike frame and geometry. While wheel size definitely matters, the seat height and the frame itself are actually much more critical factors. Think of the wheels more in terms of cadence; a larger diameter just means you're spinning the pedals fewer times to cover the same distance. In fact, I personally ride a setup with two different tire profiles to test this exact thing.

jadetiger962 said:It’s actually the frame size, not the fork height.

Right, the frame—my mistake; I'm still getting used to all the terminology.

Michael Moore3 said:I’ve got a question for anyone who’s been commuting by bike for a while now:
how do you freshen up or clean yourself once you actually get to the office?

There are some pretty weird people at my workplace (non-cyclists, obviously) who, for instance, use the restroom to wash their hair and stuff. They’re basically local legends at the company for all the wrong reasons, so I’m terrified that if I start showing up all sweaty from the ride, I’ll end up being known as "that guy who washes up in the stall."

Anyway, does anyone have any constructive advice?

I used to bike for a while until it finally hit me that riding through heavy traffic isn't exactly great for your lungs, so I stopped commuting that way.
(Since you're breathing harder, your lungs expand more and you take in way more air than usual, and since I have to ride right along the road without a sidewalk, I'm basically inhaling exhaust fumes directly into my throat—so I gave up.)
So... nothing for me.
But generally, when I was doing it, I’d carry an extra shirt because I can't exactly go slow, and since I have a 4.4 miles commute, I’d usually get a bit sweaty on my back. I’d just give myself a quick rinse in the restroom and change clothes.
One of my coworkers owns cycling jerseys and shorts made of special moisture-wicking material, so he sweats much less, though he still carries a change of clothes and underwear with him.
That's about it.

Rebecca Chase73 said:How long does it take you guys to cover, say, 9.3 miles I mean, how long did it take back when you were just starting out?

Me, I’m doing the daily grind from Indianapolis to some small town in the Midwest—just commuting from the office to the house11 miles using the old route now that the bypass is all 7.5 miles, and it usually takes me about 30 minutes. It can drag out to 40 if the wind is kicking my ass, though I’ve managed to crush it in 23 once before—even if I was absolutely drenched in sweat in a split 🙄

velvetsurfer132 said:

This is actually really helpful, I had no idea

It’s such a pain on my bike because I can't raise the handlebars, so I can't adjust the height to whatever feels right for me. 😢

Quote:>

ironnomad12 says: Oh, this is great info! I had no idea. I’m struggling with my bike because I can't raise the handlebars, so I can't get the height adjusted to what feels right for me.😢>

Don't just take those measurements at face value, since sizing isn't standardized across the board. Your best bet is to actually test ride the bike.

Can someone give me an honest quality assessment? I’m having a hard time making sense of this spec sheet versus what the shop actually had on the sticker tag.
I'm about 5'6", and this model has a sloping top tube, if that's even the right term.

Giant Escape
Size S
Rama 606
SR Suntour XTC fork
Shimano EZ-Fir plus shifters
Shimano Tourney Co51 dual Pull front derailleur - top swing
Shimano atlas CT95 7 speed rear derailleur
Tektro TK 845 Al brakes
Kenda K849 26*1.95 tires

Can someone break down the difference between krypton, LED, and halogen lights for me?
I need my batteries to last as long as possible. My main goal is just signaling my position; I mostly ride around the city, so I don't really need to light up the road.
I saw a kit at Walmart for $13 that includes both red front and rear krypton lights. The front uses two AA batteries, which makes me think they pull a lot of power?
Meanwhile, the halogen set uses AAA batteries, which seems weird to me because I know halogens are huge power hogs.

Rebecca Chase73 said:Giant Escape
Size Small.

Is that over at Turbo sport? If so, I’d steer clear if I were you—I heard through the grapevine that their service department is a total disaster right now. On a different note, looking at your height, I honestly think a size Medium would be your sweet spot. Of course, it really comes down to how the geometry feels for you personally. When you’re standing over the bike with your feet on the ground, you want to make sure there’s a decent couple of inches between your crotch and the top tube. Beyond that, just make sure you feel comfortable once you're actually perched on the saddle with your hands on the bars; you don't want to find yourself hunched over too aggressively.

Sean Reed8 said:Honestly, my main priority is just battery life. I’m mostly riding around the city, so I don't really need a massive beam to light up the road ahead of me; I just need lights that act as a clear signal so people actually see where I am.

If you're looking at visibility, LEDs are easily your best bet. You can just set them to a steady flash, and a single set of batteries will pretty much last you for months on end.

Thanks,
I'll keep looking.
Honestly, I just went to one of those specialty shops and the whole experience was a total nightmare. The selection was a mess and the service was just awful. I'm going to start checking out some stores over near San Francisco instead.

Thought I’d jump in, introduce myself, and brag a little. I’m living over in San Jose, and lately, I’ve been commuting to New York City on my bike. Right now, I’m just riding a standard Mountain Biking setup, but since I actually work at a high-end specialty bike shop, I managed to cut a deal with my boss. I'm getting my hands on a beast of a rig that's way above average—it should be arriving in the next shipment. Honestly? I might actually burst from the anticipation! 🙂
As for the commute itself, it takes me about 45 minutes. It’s a solid workout, too. Over the last two weeks, I’ve already started feeling a huge difference. My body is starting to change in ways that are doing wonders for my ego! 😬
(I went through a rough patch where I was basically a couch potato for about ten months. I used to be pretty active, though, so I don't look much to write home about right now... but give it time, hehehe...)
Anyway, it’s great to see other people here who get it. The more of us there are, the better! 😍

rapidheron7 said:I figured I’d introduce myself and share a little win. I’m based out of San Jose, and lately, I’ve been commuting to New York City by bike. For now, I’m riding a standard mountain bike, but since I work at a specialized bike shop and fitting studio, my boss actually hooked me up with something much more heavy-duty than your average ride. It’s arriving in the next shipment, and honestly, I can hardly wait! 🙂
If I stick to the same route, about 45 minutes is all I need to get a solid workout in. Honestly, over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been feeling so much better—I'm even starting to see some physical changes that are really helping my confidence. 😬
I went through a rough patch where I was pretty much sidelined for about ten months. Since I used to be quite active in sports, I'm definitely not looking like much of an athlete right now, but I'll be back in shape before you know it, haha.
Anyway, I’m really glad to see I’m not alone in thinking this way. The more people we have on the same page, the better! 😍

Nice work. Just watch out for your lungs—all that exhaust, lead, and heavy metal pollution is no joke. It’s pretty sketchy riding at full tilt right next to heavy traffic. 😢

Which bike are you thinking about picking up?

Ethan Garcia8 said:Nice work. Just watch out for those lung issues—exhaust fumes, lead, and all those other nasty heavy metals. Splitting lanes through traffic can get pretty sketchy. 😢

So, what kind of bike are you eyeing?

Well, regarding the heavy metal thing... I can't exactly ride around wearing a gas mask all day, right? 😁
I try my best to steer clear of the main highways, but let’s be real—you know as well as I do that sometimes you just have to hit them to get where you're going. 😉
The bike is a MacBook Pro 18"😁😁 😁

Can anyone point me toward a decent grocery store in San Francisco or somewhere nearby?

Check the listings in the local circulars or look around near the St. Peter's Cathedral area in New Orleans.