I have been commuting using the same route for about three years. The ride is about 11.5 miles each way and takes 40-50 minutes depending on many things. Up until recently I have been a fair weather commuter and ridden mainly in the Summer when the days are long and I do not have to…
Commute by Bike
Commuting 101: Don't get sick!
This time of year in the northern hemisphere, things are really starting to cool off. As we head into the heart of winter, here are some tips to keep you healthy and in the saddle. Myth: Cold weather makes you sick. Fact: Cold weather can stress your immune system, but germs are what make you…
Review: SRAM Power Link Chain
I’ve spent about a year and a half with a SRAM Power Link chain on my mountain bike. I’m in the middle of my second winter of daily bike commuting with it. In harsh commuting conditions, frequent cleaning of the drivetrain is a must. Solution: The SRAM Power Link quick release chain. When you’ve got…
Maintenance
Maintenance is key to prolonging the life of your bike and your safety. Last night on my way home I had a close call because of my lack of maintenance. I was riding home on kept hearing a weird rattling soun. coming from my rear wheel/drivetrain. Not sure what was causing it and nothing really…
Obey or Not?
StreetsBlog recently asked “Are there in fact, good reasons to ignore traffic regulations when you can, because after all, they are really meant just for cars?” I guess I’m just the kind of person who obeys the rules the best he can. The article, and many of the comments that follow it, seem to say…
Introduction (with video!)
Hello! Welcome to my first post on Commute by Bike. I am excited to be among the new recruits to the site, along with Jeff, Chris, and Noah. I have been a bike commuter ever since my first job as a bike mechanic required me to ride over an hour to get to the shop….
Strida 5.0: The Shakedown
I’ve had a chance to ride the Strida for a full week of commuting. My bike commute is usually a 3 mile ride from the train station to my office, though last night I took it about seven miles across Silicon Valley. The single speed and light weight Strida 5.0 is perfect for short commutes…
Keep track of your riding
Well, I guess it’s my turn to post. I’m excited to be here among the other new writers and the familiar favorites. I’m a geek that’s obsessed with statistics and numbers. At the beginning of 2007, I created a spreadsheet to track my miles. I’d only been riding for 3 months, and my goal was…
New responsibilites and challenges
Happy New Year to everyone and I am looking forward to being one of the new members of the Commute by Bike team, just like Jeff. I sometimes like to think of the beginning of the year as a time to start things fresh, sort of a clean slate. Not really setting any resolutions, I…
Clif Bar's 2 Mile Challenge
I’m sure some of you may be familiar with Clif Bar’s 2 Mile Challenge, but I came across this again recently and thought I’d share it. This would make a wonderful New Year’s resolution for someone. Some of the data from the video: In the U.S., 40% of all trips are 2 miles or less….
Commute by Bike – Carson City
Hello and welcome to my first post on Commute by Bike! I have been a full time bicycle commuter since I moved back to Carson City, Nevada in November of 2007. For the past several years, I lived in the town to the south of Carson City, and had a 16 mile commute (32 mile…
Solar powered bicycle light
Hello everybody, and I hope you all are having a good New Year! Like Tim mentioned, a lot is planned here on Commute By Bike. We have some new writers and I think you’ll like what they have for you. My dad has been a fan of solar energy for over two decades and over…
Tried and liked in 2007
I’ve seen this subject on other bike discussion lists, forums and blogs. Go ahead and let the world know one or a few of the things you tried and liked in 2007. The object that comes to mind for me: Planet Bike SuperFlash — this rear blinky is amazing bright. Wow! What’s on your “tried…
XYZ Bike – Inaugural Ride
It is hard to believe that it has been almost three weeks since I took the XYZ Bikes Men’s Cruiser out of the box. Since that time a couple nasty ice storms, a week-long trip for work and Christmas preparations and celebrations have taken me out of the saddle. I had the day after Christmas…
New Shop!
The shop expansion at Wandertec, Inc. has just been completed. The best part was when they fired up the furnace. I will be getting everything organized in the next few weeks including moving over the CNC machine, setting up inventory shelving, and moving over the sewing equipment. Once that is wrapped up, I will start…
Bike Computer Concept – The Cerevellum
The Cerevellum head-unit and module system pictured here is not yet available to the public — but I’m looking forward to the day that it is. According to their website, (defunct ) the system eliminates the redundant digital screens found on (his) handlebars and integrates them into one user-friendly screen. The system will include a…
Strida 5.0: Out of box experience
I tried a Strida 3.2 folding bike on the show floor at Interbike 2007 last September and looked at the early pre-production 5.0 models. I liked it enough that I put a Strida on my Christmas wish list. Santa Claus arrived a little early to my household in the form of the FedEx man dropping…
Bicycle Commuting in Dallas
“We have this picture of cycling commuters as being like supermen, and that discourages other people from doing it,” said P.M. Summer, transportation alternatives coordinator for the city of Dallas. “When I came into this job, our thinking was we needed to enable cyclists to make 40-mile bike trips. Now my thinking is we need…
Bicycle Fenders
Fenders or mudguards protect your bike and your clothing from grit and grime when the roads are wet from rain and melted snow. Although they won’t keep you completely dry when it’s actually raining, fenders help tremendously to keep your backside and bottom side dry and clean. Good Fenders also protect your bike by helping…
Christmas lights on the bike
I bought some inexpensive battery powered LED Christmas lights from Walgreens, secured them to the Raleigh One Way with electrical tape and the result is a new incentive to ride! Right now, the batteries are strapped underneath my seat bag. If you run lights along your chainstay like I did, ensure the wires and lights…
Winter Riding Tips From Someone Who Knows
I’ve been sidelined by the Midwest ice storm so I’ve had to delay the inaugural ride of my XYZ Bikes Beach Cruiser. Actually, tomorrow marks a week of not riding for one reason or another. I wimped out, mostly; so here are some tips on riding in snow from one of the people who inspired…
New Shop on the Verge…
This week at Wandertec Bicycle Cargo Design: 1: Dug out from 2ft of snow. 2: Watched as the workshop is getting achingly close to completion. The shops is in a bit of chaos now as the buildings are being joined together. Once completed, I’ll be moving the ShopBot and sewing machines all into the same…
That's the way, patriot.
I posted about this video a couple of years ago, but it’s marking the rounds again and is worth a repeat. “That’s the way, patriot. Let the OPECs keep their gasoline. We’ll just tap into a far more efficient energy source.”
Bicycle commute news
Snow and ice has gripped part of the U.S. Midwest, but there’s still plenty of bicycle commute action happening. Seen in the news recently: Cycling is becoming more accepted among the middle class in India, where workers in the high tech industry are now seen bicycling across the traffic clogged streets of Bangalore. Since the…