Commuting to work by bike

Just grab yourself a scooter for $1667.

ruggedmaker36 said:Just grab a scooter for $1667.

I mean, you aren't exactly going to work up a sweat on a scooter, right? 😁
Plus, those cheap scooters for $1667 are usually pretty flimsy; you get what you pay for. But hey, let's not get sidetracked...

I hadn't really given much thought to the highway situation... I’m usually driving from Philly over to the outskirts of Jersey, and honestly, I spend the entire trip just crawling alongside other cars. It takes me about 40 minutes every single time.
No matter which route I pick, I always end up stuck right next to a sea of vehicles. So, it makes me wonder—does it actually make a difference if you're driving alongside four lanes of traffic versus just two? The path I take right now is definitely the shortest distance, but still...

So, how was everyone's ride in this heatwave? Honestly, pedaling through this is still way more bearable than being trapped in a bus or a car without the AC blasting, right? And don't even get me started on gas prices—cycling is just a total win. I feel like I actually pedal faster when it's this hot, probably just because my brain is desperate to reach some shade as fast as possible.😁

Honestly, things were going great when I woke up at 7:00 AM this morning 😁
But now, here I am, still stuck at the office sitting in the AC even though my shift is basically over... I just can't bring myself to face that heat outside! 🙂

I took the bus yesterday and let me tell you, there was absolutely no way... In this kind of heat, being packed in there with a bunch of people? Ugh, it was way too hot.

Facts👍
I'm on the clock this afternoon, but I'm already looking forward to that evening cruise home. Honestly, hitting the road after work feels just as good as the morning commute.

For years now, my bicycle has been my primary way of getting around Philly, where I live and work. Like many of you, I’ve had to deal with the whole sweating issue. My strategy is pretty simple: in the morning, I’m incredibly mindful of my pace, keeping things steady so I don't arrive at the office drenched. But once I'm heading home? I honestly couldn't care less if I'm soaked through. My biggest headache used to be wearing a backpack; my back would just become a swamp every single time. I finally sorted that out by mounting a basket on the rear of my bike, so now the bag just sits in there instead of against my spine.
That being said, I’m curious about this specialized cycling apparel everyone talks about. I’ve never actually pulled the trigger on buying any. Does it truly help minimize sweating? I saw someone online claiming it has to be polyester, but my gut tells me that you'd just end up even sweatier in synthetic fabrics. Or am I totally off base here?
What has your experience been like with this kind of gear?

Jack Johnson4 said:Hey, I’m curious about those specialized cycling kits. I haven't really tried them yet. Does it actually help you sweat less? I read somewhere that they have to be made of polyester, but wouldn't that just make you sweat even more?
What has your experience been like with this kind of gear?

Honestly, you’ll sweat about the same amount in polyester as you would in cotton... though maybe a tiny bit less in the synthetic stuff. The real kicker is that polyester dries way faster, which means it does a much better job of wicking moisture away from your skin.
Personally, I don't bother with the super-specific "cyclist" outfits because, let's face it, they look pretty ridiculous and are overpriced for what they are. Instead, I just grab standard polyester athletic gear meant for general workouts. As long as it allows sweat to evaporate quickly, I'm happy. Luckily, there's plenty of high-performance activewear out there that works perfectly without looking like a neon caricature.
You can find some more info over here:
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=415443

So, I was biking home from work last night right in the middle of a massive thunderstorm, and honestly, it was pretty terrifying. The lightning was absolutely tearing up the sky, and there I was, just out on the road. Aside from being soaked to the bone, I walked away totally fine, but now I’m wondering—what are the actual odds of getting struck while riding a bike? It was intense, and I'd love to know if I should be genuinely worried about doing that again.

Well, in theory, nothing can go wrong since the bike is on rubber tires; however, of course, that is strictly in theory 😬

We’re all in this together... 🙂
For me, I mostly bike to work—though my commute is pretty short these days (just from Brooklyn over to Broadway). If I’m not feeling the bike, I’ll just walk; the main thing is staying active...

sheeva, if you're commuting from Aurora, your best bet is to ride out toward Walmart, cut through Queens, head through the Industrial District, then hit Broadway, Savannah, and finally Midtown. There is way less interference—no traffic lights or sidewalk hopping—and honestly, in Queens during the morning, you can actually hear the birds singing... It's an incredible route, easily a hundred times better than cutting through Oakland and hitting Times Square and all that mess...

I used to live in Aurora and worked out in the Industrial District, so I was on my bike almost every single day. It was such a beautiful route—a perfect way to wake up in the morning and decompress in the afternoon... Especially during the summer, when you can just cruise along next to that endless, agonizing line of people trapped in their cars, cursing everything under the sun 😁

Last year, I bought a bike thinking I’d finally commute to work this way—but after about two weeks, I threw in the towel. The sweating was just too much; I can't stand the thought of sitting at my desk for eight hours feeling gross... even though I tried being prepared with a spare shirt and wet wipes. For context, I have 11 miles, I live in Chicago, and I commute to Naperville via the Hollywood Hills route—that's about 34-22 miles every single day.

Lately, I've actually been feeling motivated to give it another shot, so I wanted to ask: do you all ride through the winter? A few miles wouldn't bother me, but 17 is quite a stretch—and what happens if it rains? A Raincoat? What about snow and slush... and how comfortable is it really to pedal around bundled up in heavy winter gear?

I’ve got exactly 6.2 miles of commuting to do to get to work in Downtown Miami and back.
I don't bother riding in the rain, so I just take my car or hop on the bus. We get some nasty windstorms down here during the winter, but honestly, it’s hardly worth making a big deal out of.

As far as staying warm goes, you just grab yourself a decent windbreaker and you won't need to layer up like you're heading to the Arctic.

Up until now, I’ve just been taking the short route from my place over to work in the Upper West Side. During the summer, though, I used to go all out and bike the whole way. Honestly, it was mostly because of the backpack situation—I tried using one of those pannier baskets for a while, but it was a total nightmare. I don't know if it's just me being difficult, but the bike handling feels completely different with a basket on there. Anyway, the basket is a thing of the past; I couldn't deal with showing up to the office with a sweaty back. My little routine was just hitting the wet wipes, reapplying deodorant, and swapping out my shirt once I arrived. Right now, my bike is taking a break because it's a bit too chilly for me in the mornings. (Okay, fine, I’m officially becoming a grandma). I’m curious, though—what’s the best route from Gainesville to Central Park? I tried cutting through Boston toward San Francisco, then turning where the cars head toward Coca-Cola, following the road through Frankfurt, and finally heading through Green Valley... Is there a better way, or am I already doing it the most efficient way?

I've been biking to work more often than driving lately—not like it's some massive trek or anything, just a quick ride. 4.0 milesGot my rain gear ready—everything from head to toe—plus a tarp for the bike... honestly, there's just something about riding in the rain that hits different.

Betty Palmer8 said:Last year, I bought a bike thinking I’d ride it to work every day, but I gave up after about two weeks. Honestly, I didn't want to show up all sweaty and gross, sitting at my desk for 8 hours straight... even though I tried being prepared with a spare shirt and wet wipes. For context, I have a 11 miles, I live in Washington, D.C., and work in Arlington, taking the route through Georgetown, which is about 34-22 miles miles every single day.

I’m actually feeling motivated to give it another shot lately, so I wanted to ask—do you guys still ride during the winter? A few miles wouldn't be a big deal, but 17 is a bit much, especially if it starts pouring. Should I rely on a Raincoat? And what about when it snows or turns into slush... how miserable is it trying to pedal while bundled up in heavy winter gear and stuff like that?

I live in Atlanta and work in Washington, D.C., and I still bike to work as long as it’s dry and not too windy. It's great, though the absolute worst part is those early morning rides when it's foggy and still dark out. Basically, the cold isn't even the biggest issue; rain and wind are the real dealbreakers, so if those hit, I stay home. You don't actually need massive layers under a winter jacket; usually, just a regular shirt underneath does the trick. A hat is mandatory, though, because freezing your ears and sinuses is no joke, and obviously, you need gloves. On my lower half, it's just sneakers and pants, and that's it. I always keep a Raincoat in my backpack. When I'm heading home, I don't really care if I get a little damp, but if it's raining and I'm headed to the office, I'm calling it quits. Managing the clothes situation is a bit of a hassle, but it’s totally worth it. Biking is awesome!

Kevin Rivera41 said:I actually bike to work more often than I drive, and it’s not even a massive trek one way 4.0 miles. I’ve got cycling shorts that hold all my rain gear from head to toe, plus a bike cover; honestly, riding in the rain isn't even a big deal for me!!

What kind of bike cover are we talking about here? Does it wrap the whole bike and the rider? And what about your pants—don't they get totally trashed if it starts pouring?

Kate Roberts10, I just use a tarp for my car—keeps it dry when it's parked—since my bibs tend to leak a bit during those heavy downpours. I've got rain pants you can throw right over whatever you're wearing, some windbreakers, and shoe covers that live in the trunk... so there's zero worry about the rain, and any mud that splashes on me is easy enough to just wash off or wipe away.

Ugh, man, this bike is absolutely incredible! 👍
I was doing some math earlier, and I’ve got 9.3 miles on my commute... It’s actually not a bad ride at all 🙂

@taylorswift: I haven't had a chance to try out that route you mentioned yet. I really need to pull up the map and see exactly how you planned it out... but hey, thanks for the tip regardless! 🙂

@wearyotter81/">@@wearyotter81

I have no idea which part of Philadelphia you're starting from. Generally speaking, though—you head toward the Walmart (they just finished that bike path near the new development too)—hit that traffic light and go straight, then take a right at the intersection. From there, you just follow the main road through the outskirts until you hit the Industrial District near General Electric. It’s a bit of a pain because a certain stretch of the road in the Industrial District—just before you reach the Mall of America—forces you to stay on the main thoroughfare. You pass by the Home Depot, following that service road all the way to the lights near the overpass over the Worker's District. Don't turn at those lights; instead, keep going straight past Whirlpool and Honeywell, cross over the Worker's District, continue straight past Pfizer, and eventually, you'll hit Main Street. Head toward Broadway, cross over (there are two underpasses there), and you'll find yourself in Highland. From there, just follow the Midwestern route toward the Library of Congress, and you'll be in the Suburban District...

Man, this guide is a total mess—I should probably put "Don't Panic" on the front cover 🙂

If you really need it, I can map out the route on a digital map and send it over to you.