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One year of cycling to work

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Re: One year of cycling to work

#101

Post by bbarn »

scottishfiction wrote: post #70
neves wrote: post #49

Great route! Maybe it isn't necessary in temperate climates, but the most important point is that he has showers at work. In tropical countries it is a must. If more workplaces had showers a lot more people would cycle to work.

I would say it's necessary in all climates - in colder climates you wrap up warmer, which means the same amount of sweat. On shower availability - all the companies (big and small) that I've worked for in Glasgow and London have had showers and cycle parking.

I've only had a shower in one of the places I've worked in the last 15 years I've been biking to work. I think the need for a shower is a common misunderstanding. One thing that helps immensely is having an entirely separate, bike specific set of clothes to wear in, and then you can change in a bathroom or dark room if needed.

I live in Chicago (so freezing and very hot at times in the year) ride 11 miles (~18km) each way, almost every day. I keep a pair of shoes, and a towel at work. I take a shower before I leave in the morning, and put deodorant on when I get to work. I rarely need the towel unless it's very hot in the summer. I have a space over a heater I dry out my clothes away from other people. (If anything, having a place to store bike clothes is more important than a shower IMO). I considered that I might be immune to my own smell, but I've had people ask me things like "How come you don't smell bad after riding" and honest friends I've asked and been told no. (The same friends that will happily tell me my outfits look ridiculous)

Re: One year of cycling to work

#102

Post by nytesky »

neves wrote: post #49

Great route! Maybe it isn't necessary in temperate climates, but the most important point is that he has showers at work. In tropical countries it is a must. If more workplaces had showers a lot more people would cycle to work.

I find that packing my clothes to change, toiletries, and then unpacking and trying to shower and change in the shared shower at work to be very time-consuming, and cuts I find that packing my clothes to change, toiletries, and then unpacking and trying to shower and change and we shared shower that were to be very time-consuming. Do you consider the time in the office while showering and changing as part of your workday, or do u work additional time To make up for it. And do you change back To bike clothes for ride home?

Showering and dressing at home is much quicker, saves at least 15 minutes a day.

Re: One year of cycling to work

#103

Post by bbarn »

zawerf wrote: post #3

Getting hit by a car within a year is an anomaly right? He brushed it off as his "only accident" like it's supposed to be more commonplace.

I have been doing it for ~15 years, and hit 4 times. I'd say if anything it's more common in your first year or two before you gain the experience to be able to predict driver actions by subtle signals.

Re: One year of cycling to work

#104

Post by bbarn »

deathanatos wrote: post #53
lj3 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I cycled every day for 7 years all over the San Francisco Bay Area without ever once being hit by a car or getting a door prize. I didn't run red lights and I maintained situational awareness at all times. And I was one of those guys who rode in the middle of the car lane even when a bicycle lane was available.

I also bike in the SFBA. I also drive there, too. > I didn't run red lights Thank you . As both a biker and a driver, I appreciate this. Too many bikers don't do this, and I've witnessed too many close calls for those that don't. I've been heckled by other bikers for stopping at red lights, so I know that sometimes this can be a pain to actually stick to.

It's the same as when driving a car. The real time savings of acting like a jerk is so small it's just not worth it.

Re: One year of cycling to work

#105

Post by bryanlarsen »

hobofan wrote: post #64
hycaria wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have 2km and walk but I'm contemplating if I should use my old bike...

I'd definitely recommend it. I had a 2km commute I walked for about a year, and then a similar length commute for half a year I rode by bike. In the time I walked, my fitness was really bad and I'd get pretty winded even by a small sprint (I didn't do any other sport). When I switched to bicycling, my stamina quickly improved, even tough it was not a long distance + I had the freshness impulse as described in the art…

I'd prefer to walk at that distance.

If I drive to work I get to work tense and/or angry.

If I bike I get there over-stimulated, and need some time to drop into the zone.

If I walk I get there relaxed and already in the zone.

Re: One year of cycling to work

#106

Post by bbarn »

dominotw wrote: post #23
lj3 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I cycled every day for 7 years all over the San Francisco Bay Area without ever once being hit by a car or getting a door prize. I didn't run red lights and I maintained situational awareness at all times. And I was one of those guys who rode in the middle of the car lane even when a bicycle lane was available.

> And I was one of those guys who rode in the middle of the car lane even when a bicycle lane was available. to avoid getting doored? Wouldn't this slow the traffic.

Bicycles are traffic.

Re: One year of cycling to work

#107

Post by oe »

SquirrelOnFire wrote: post #85
unicornporn wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've fallen thrice (that I can remember). Two of these times was when I was stupid enough to ride on ice with slicks. The third time I tried to pull some fancy trick up a curb (just stupid). So, I've scratched my jeans. Other than that: nothing ( touch wood ). Nowadays I run studded tyres in the winter and they're crazy effective. I don't recommend riding without a helmet or hövding, but this article gives you some i…

What tires do you use to ride on ice? I've wiped out on ice myself, and it has scared me off from riding when it is icy.

Marathon Winters are the only ones that seem to be effective against the copious amounts of sharp stones used here in winter to sand all cycleways. Otherwise I have managed without studs the previous winters. But five flats during 250km of riding was too much.

Re: One year of cycling to work

#108

Post by hocuspocus »

CalRobert wrote: post #89
trs80 wrote: post #37

>There are about 250 work days in a year in Baden-Württemberg, excluding weekends and public holidays. Of those I was missing for 34 days for vacations, being sick and doing home office. On 11 days I used public transportation, on 5 days a car. That leaves 200 days on which I cycled to work. Wish we had this here.

TBF, Germany is not an impossible place to get a work permit. They have the blue card as well, which is quite interesting.

That's an understatement :)

As a software engineer, the requirements are fairly trivial compared to pretty much every other developed nation in the world.

Re: One year of cycling to work

#109

Post by notauser »

77pt77 wrote: post #67
darklajid wrote: post #60

I commuted by bike (6km one way) in Tel Aviv, Israel and it was awesome. Great route, bike lanes/parks and a (tiny, but who cares) shower in the office. Did that for one year straight, just like the person in the article. Now I'm living in Singapore, a city that has a traffic problem and tries to reduce the cars on the streets. You'd think they would welcome bikes, but riding a bike here sucks. Big time. It's basical…

Biking in Singapore's humid heat does not sound pleasant at all.

It's actually really nice to bike in Singapore, provided you can shower at work.

I cycled every day for a month along a mix of park connectors (cycle paths) and two and three lane roads.

I only had one close pass from a car because on nearly all roads they have a whole extra lane to use to pass you in so if you ride assertively (in the middle of a lane) they just go around you.

And the park connectors are beautiful, fast tarmac with no cars at all. With some creativity you can link them up to create a great commute to most places. My route home went past a Riverside pub - I was on segregated cycle lanes the rest of the way home so I could easily stop for a beer with little risk.

You do usually arrive soaking wet from sweat or the rain. But that's a minor inconvenience compared to being cold! Biking in Singapore is warm, fast, and safe - much better than most places I've commuted.

Re: One year of cycling to work

#110

Post by tonyedgecombe »

dagurp wrote: post #61

Those of you who want to cycle but live far away from work or in a hilly area, get an ebike. I really think they are the future of commuting.

I have one and it is fantastic, I can dress for the destination as it's easy to ride without getting drenched in sweat. Also I'll take a pleasant or safer route even if it extends the journey. I'm usually doing 100+ miles a week on it.

The only downside is it does need more maintenance than my normal bike, chains only last for about 1200 miles for instance.

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