You should really wear a helmet 24/7!! Also body armor. Listening to music on a bike is clearly suicide. Please do not take ANY risks. At all, ever.
Also, become an entrepreneur. Take the plunge. Live your dream.
Be happy Bike to work.
21–30 of 141 posts
Re: Be happy Bike to work.
#22I agree with almost everything said here. When I was living in San Francisco, though, my bike commute was only slightly longer than my bus commute (not because I am that fit, only because buses in San Francisco are terrible). SO MUCH less stressful! I did notice one thing, though: I wasn't reading as much or listening to podcasts as much anymore. I live in NYC now and fortunately I'm a very short walk to work. I can'…
Do it! I'm a NYC'er as well and getting a bike was one of the best decisions I've made recently. The city has gone wild with bike lanes, etc. and you'll be in good company.
And as for storage, a friend suggested something like this to me:
http://www.shelterness.com/diy-bike-wall-storage-racks/
Solves two problems - storage and wall art! ;)
Re: Be happy Bike to work.
#23As someone who will be commuting by bike soon, I have to ask: what do you do when it rains/snows?
You have a couple of choices:
1) Wear rain jacket and pants. Breathable waterproof gear is best; doesn't have to be gore-tex. Expect to spend at least $150 on a set, though. This is what I do. Bonus, keeps you warmer in the snow. Minus, makes you sweat if it's a warm rain.
2) Ride and just get wet. Change when you get home/to work.
3) Take the bus. As the Bike Snob NYC says, IIRTTB is the hipster way.
Re: Be happy Bike to work.
#24As someone who will be commuting by bike soon, I have to ask: what do you do when it rains/snows?
Rain makes it more fun. Just stop caring about getting wet clothes and buy a backpack with a waterproof cover.
Re: Be happy Bike to work.
#25One thing that I love about my bike commute is that it takes 50 minutes by car, in good traffic...up to 90 minutes if traffic is bad. When I ride by bike, it's always 65 - 70 minutes. I might lose 30 minutes of my day, but the 2.5 hours of total fitness more than makes up for it, not to mention the boredom of sitting in a car idling on the highway...which has obvious environmental impacts.
I concur, commuting by bike always seems to take the same amount of time, no matter what the traffic is like.
Re: Be happy Bike to work.
#26> "Be happy Bike to work" You're not a Londoner, I see.
It sure beats getting any form of public transport, being stuck in such a confined space, especially in the morning is horrific. the time difference is also huge; I can cycle the 7miles quicker than the tube or bus.
Re: Be happy Bike to work.
#27What about walking? Why the focus on biking?
Re: Be happy Bike to work.
#28One thing that I love about my bike commute is that it takes 50 minutes by car, in good traffic...up to 90 minutes if traffic is bad. When I ride by bike, it's always 65 - 70 minutes. I might lose 30 minutes of my day, but the 2.5 hours of total fitness more than makes up for it, not to mention the boredom of sitting in a car idling on the highway...which has obvious environmental impacts.
Long ride!
I love that my bike ride is much more consistent in time than driving or taking the train. Heavy traffic just doesn't slow me down much. Conversely, open roads don't let me speed up much either.
Re: Be happy Bike to work.
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
I used to bike to work in central London. It requires being alert, but it was far better than driving, taking the tube or taking a bus. I never wore headphones though. I would have considered that suicide.
Agree with the headphones bit. I can't believe it when people bike in a city with headphones and no helmet on.
It's a pretty big fine in NY (headphones) that's actually enforced. Also illegal in most cities AFAIK.
Re: Be happy Bike to work.
#30You should really wear a helmet 24/7!! Also body armor. Listening to music on a bike is clearly suicide. Please do not take ANY risks. At all, ever. Also, become an entrepreneur. Take the plunge. Live your dream.
What's the benefit of not wearing a helmet when biking?