Commuter Bike Considerations: Riding to Work is Not the Tour de France

[ghostgum]

Just read an interesting article at
http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/

Thursday, April 20, 2006
Commuter Bike Considerations

I've been giving a series of talks about bike commuting. This is pretty much what I said t today's talk at the Seattle Bikestation.

Commuter Bike Considerations: Riding to Work is Not the Tour de France

By Kent Peterson, Bicycle Alliance of Washington

 

[Donga]

ghostgum wrote:
> Just read an interesting article at
> http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/
>Riding to Work is Not the Tour de France
>
> By Kent Peterson, Bicycle Alliance of Washington
>

Maybe not for him. I've never experienced social golf, either.

Donga

 

[[email protected]]

ghostgum wrote:

> Just read an interesting article at
> http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/
> Commuter Bike Considerations

A great post. Also good is wikipedia's article on the utility bicycle.

What makes a great Utility bicycle? (trips less than 30 minutes)

Good frame fit for height and reach
Step-through / low-mount frame, to allow for a rear basket on the rack
Strong rear rack
Front and/or rear basket for groceries
Sit-up position for high road visibility and vision
Comfortable handlebars for bike control in the above position
Drum brakes for weather proofness and ease of maintenance
Hub dynamo and front light for "never forget" lighting
Hub gears / single speed for ease of maintenance
Chain guard, skirt guard, mud guards and flat pedals for street/office
clothes cycling
Front and rear quick release LED lights for visibility
Reflective tape on mudguard rears for visibility
Sash-type reflective belt of vest for visibility in street clothes
Dutch style rear wheel lock + extension cable for integrated security
(must be mounted within the rear triangle, see Sheldon on locking)
Stong bolt-on (preferably double) kickstand to allow for easy loading
of groceries without needing to lean the bike against anything.

I'm sure other people can think of some more useful stuff for this kind
of riding. Personally I love seeing this kind of bike on the road with
a happy cyclist who has kicked the car-reliance habit. You don't need
"all of the above". You don't need hub-based drive, brake or lighting
systems. But it makes it easier to leave out in the rain all the time!

This was what I was looking for in a bike 8 years ago when I started
riding to commute. I almost imported a Heavy Duty dutch bike fitting
most of the above when I needed to get a general purpose load bike.
Its a kind of bike use which is applicable to many people immediately,
particularly in the inner city, and easy to approximate with slicked
recycled mtbs or hybrids. Its also a kind of bike use which encourages
confident riding, learning to ride correctly, and living with a bike as
your major transport. It also engenders love of bicycling, which can
lead to touring, club riding, off-roading or sports racing.

I wish more manufacturers out of Japan and Holland pushed these bikes
as general-purpose bikes for the public, as it would greatly expand the
number of satisfied every day bicyclists and increase our density.
Unfortunately, they are inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and
last almost forever, so they're not high on the manufacturers output
list, and are currently out of fashion.

yours for happy cyclists of all types,
Sam R.

 

[gplama]

Commuter Bike Considerations: Riding to Work is Not the Tour de France

its a one day classic... EVERYDAY....

 

[eddiec]

There's a lot of common sense there I'll admit, and my current bike reflects a lot of (but not all of) that...

But does it really matter if someone wants to commute on a Superbike, or a 8inch travel downhill beast, as long as they enjoy it and keep doing it? I mean, as long as they keep riding, who cares? If they find it works for them, great - and in time they may change their bike or setup or approach as they learn what works better, or they may not! Either way, doesn't matter...

Creating 'requirements' about what you should be commuting on just discourages people. Of course, riding a completely inappropriate *can* be discouraging as well, but is not necessarily so - All about just helping people find their groove...

 

[Tamyka Bell]

eddiec wrote:
>
> There's a lot of common sense there I'll admit, and my current bike
> reflects a lot of (but not all of) that...
>
> But does it really matter if someone wants to commute on a Superbike,
> or a 8inch travel downhill beast, as long as they enjoy it and keep
> doing it? I mean, as long as they keep riding, who cares? If they find
> it works for them, great - and in time they may change their bike or
> setup or approach as they learn what works better, or they may not!
> Either way, doesn't matter...
>
> Creating 'requirements' about what you should be commuting on just
> discourages people. Of course, riding a completely inappropriate *can*
> be discouraging as well, but is not necessarily so - All about just
> helping people find their groove...

I like your thinking - so maybe it should be thought of/labelled as a
list of things that may make your commute easier, should you be finding
it frustrating.

Tam

 

[Travis]

gplama wrote:
> ghostgum Wrote:
> >
> > Commuter Bike Considerations: Riding to Work is Not the Tour de France
> >
>
> its a one day classic... EVERYDAY....

I'm with you Lama,

Nobody likes spending time commuting. Best to get it over with as
quickly as possible. I've trimmed five minutes off my average time over
the last few months, still got another 40 to go...

Travis

 

[[email protected]]

Dear ed and Tam,

my list was more a "nice things" list, much like most bikes are suited
to most purposes.

I'm happy to see anyone enjoying any bike. "The only bad bike is the
bike which hurts you when you ride it, or which you don't enjoy
riding." feels like my current motto.

Australian Cyclists' letters section has recently had a spate of
letters writing in on the theme that every bike is a good bike, and
against cliquism and "must ride this type"ism. I'm really glad to see
that riding culture in the magazine is friendly towards all kinds of
riding and uses.

But, after saying the above, I cringe when I see someone who wants or
needs a utility-type cycle riding a fully suspended mtb, or a
race-geared road bike. MTBs can make great utility cycles when set-up
right. Roadbikes can make great utility cycles when set-up right. But
I get concerned when K-mart or cultural pressure steer people to ride a
bike that's bad for their real interest: good bikes which are right for
your riding for everybody.

variety is the spice of cycling life,
Sam R.

 

[DeF]

[email protected] wrote:
> ghostgum wrote:
>
>> Just read an interesting article at
>> http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/
>> Commuter Bike Considerations
>
> A great post. Also good is wikipedia's article on the utility bicycle.
>
> What makes a great Utility bicycle? (trips less than 30 minutes)
>
> Good frame fit for height and reach
> Step-through / low-mount frame, to allow for a rear basket on the rack
> Strong rear rack
> Front and/or rear basket for groceries
> Sit-up position for high road visibility and vision
> Comfortable handlebars for bike control in the above position
> Drum brakes for weather proofness and ease of maintenance
> Hub dynamo and front light for "never forget" lighting
> Hub gears / single speed for ease of maintenance
> Chain guard, skirt guard, mud guards and flat pedals for street/office
> clothes cycling
> Front and rear quick release LED lights for visibility
> Reflective tape on mudguard rears for visibility
> Sash-type reflective belt of vest for visibility in street clothes
> Dutch style rear wheel lock + extension cable for integrated security
> (must be mounted within the rear triangle, see Sheldon on locking)
> Stong bolt-on (preferably double) kickstand to allow for easy loading
> of groceries without needing to lean the bike against anything.
>
> I'm sure other people can think of some more useful stuff for this kind
> of riding. Personally I love seeing this kind of bike on the road with
> a happy cyclist who has kicked the car-reliance habit. You don't need
> "all of the above". You don't need hub-based drive, brake or lighting
> systems. But it makes it easier to leave out in the rain all the time!
>
> This was what I was looking for in a bike 8 years ago when I started
> riding to commute. I almost imported a Heavy Duty dutch bike fitting
> most of the above when I needed to get a general purpose load bike.
> Its a kind of bike use which is applicable to many people immediately,
> particularly in the inner city, and easy to approximate with slicked
> recycled mtbs or hybrids. Its also a kind of bike use which encourages
> confident riding, learning to ride correctly, and living with a bike as
> your major transport. It also engenders love of bicycling, which can
> lead to touring, club riding, off-roading or sports racing.
>
> I wish more manufacturers out of Japan and Holland pushed these bikes
> as general-purpose bikes for the public, as it would greatly expand the
> number of satisfied every day bicyclists and increase our density.
> Unfortunately, they are inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and
> last almost forever, so they're not high on the manufacturers output
> list, and are currently out of fashion.
>
> yours for happy cyclists of all types,
> Sam R.
>

May I second these sentiments. About 5 years ago I wanted a
bike for commuting/general stuff. Being a bit of a bike snob,
I wanted something of reasonable quality. I didn't want cheap
unreliable hubs/gears/brakes/pedals. I really wanted a Dutch
bike but there where none around in Perth. In the end, I got
a hard tail MTB (27 gears!) and I got the shop to swap out the
suspension forks and put slicks on. I've since swapped the
rear cassette for a closer ratio road cassette. Still many more
gears than I need and needs more maintaining than I want to do.

It's good to see a more recent trend for "flat bar roadies"
which start to fill the gap, especially bikes like the Avanti
Blade 8 which uses a Nexus 8 speed hub. Should be more of
them. We'd see less miserable riders on full suspension MTBs
loudly humming along the bikes paths at 15kph, about to expire
from the effort. It would put me off riding, especially with
other riders on more appropriate bikes effortlessly sailing
past.

That's my rant for the day....

DeF.

--
e-mail: d.farrow@your finger.murdoch.edu.au
To reply, you'll have to remove your finger.

 

[Bean Long]

Travis wrote:
> gplama wrote:
>> ghostgum Wrote:
>>> Commuter Bike Considerations: Riding to Work is Not the Tour de France
>>>
>> its a one day classic... EVERYDAY....
>
> I'm with you Lama,
>
> Nobody likes spending time commuting. Best to get it over with as
> quickly as possible. I've trimmed five minutes off my average time over
> the last few months, still got another 40 to go...
>
> Travis
>
Likewise... If you have the chance to burn off a few calories then do it
I say!

--
Bean

Remove "yourfinger" before replying

 

[gpw]

I've slowly morphed my trusty '89 Repco Sierra MTB into a city bike
here in Zurich. Would have to say the must haves are self generated
lighting, full mudguards and a strong rack. One great thing they have
here is the fold out/collapsable shopping bag cage, which allows you to
carry one tall formed paper shopping bag or 2x beer 10 packs

Also changed down to a 6speed for simplicity and added a Brooks saddle
for fun.
http://homepage.hispeed.ch/gwalton/bicycles/Sierra.jpg

Cheers,
Greg

 

[BrettS]

Donga wrote:
> ghostgum wrote:
>
>>Just read an interesting article at
>>http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/
>>Riding to Work is Not the Tour de France
>>
>>By Kent Peterson, Bicycle Alliance of Washington
>>
>
>
> Maybe not for him. I've never experienced social golf, either.
>
> Donga
>
Hehehe, my thoughts exactly...

--
BrettS

 

[cfsmtb]

Nobody likes spending time commuting. Best to get it over with as
quickly as possible. I've trimmed five minutes off my average time over
the last few months, still got another 40 to go...

From a local perspective, fast commuters are causing more than a few problems on off-road bikepaths. The subject was raised at the last Yarra Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting, ie: anecdotal stuff like cyclists colliding, generally shite behaviour, small margin of error on tight corners and resulting injuries and broken limbs. Ok get fit, have fun riding to work, but for fcuks sakes can some peloton wannabees out there please take a reality check?

 

[Zebee Johnstone]

In aus.bicycle on Wed, 3 May 2006 19:17:59 +1000
cfsmtb <[email protected]> wrote:
> cyclists colliding, generally shite behaviour, small margin of error on
> tight corners and resulting injuries and broken limbs. Ok get fit, have
> fun riding to work, but for fcuks sakes can some peloton wannabees out
> there please take a reality check?

Luckily they don't seem to be around my part of the world.

Which is good, I have enough trouble with the ones who seem to be
riding along with their eyes everywhere but where they are going.

It is disturbing that such a high percentage of the human race seems
not to have enough processing power to look where they are going and
manage a straight line.

Zebee
- expecting to buzzsaw another bike any day now.

 

[PiledHigher]

That said driving to work is not the race track, but you are still
allowed to drive a high performance porsche, V8 ute with 300kW's etc..

Its nice that there are options that are 'more practical' for some
situations/people it is still nice to ride a nice light fast and
relatively expensive bike. I say relatively expensive because it might
cost something like 1/10th of the total cost of driving a car that
distance.

 

[Travis]

cfsmtb wrote:
> Travis Wrote:
> >
> > Nobody likes spending time commuting. Best to get it over with as
> > quickly as possible. I've trimmed five minutes off my average time
> > over
> > the last few months, still got another 40 to go...
>
> From a local perspective, fast commuters are causing more than a few
> problems on off-road bikepaths. The subject was raised at the last
> Yarra Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting, ie: anecdotal stuff like
> cyclists colliding, generally shite behaviour, small margin of error on
> tight corners and resulting injuries and broken limbs. Ok get fit, have
> fun riding to work, but for fcuks sakes can some peloton wannabees out
> there please take a reality check?

Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your point of view, I come
across very few cyclists on my daily commute, even though I mostly
travel along what would be major arterial bike paths. Just not that
many bike commuters in my area.

Perth has some nice bike paths, but bikes are nowhere near as popular
as they are in Melbourne where on a Saturday you can get huge peletons
forming spontaneously. In Perth if you want to ride in a bunch its
usually by prior appointment...

Travis

 

[monsterman]

its a one day classic... EVERYDAY....

amen llama!

 

[Grazza]

"DeF" <""d.farrow\"@your finger.murdoch.edu.au"> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> [email protected] wrote:

>> SNIP
>
> May I second these sentiments. About 5 years ago I wanted a
> bike for commuting/general stuff. Being a bit of a bike snob,
> I wanted something of reasonable quality. I didn't want cheap
> unreliable hubs/gears/brakes/pedals. I really wanted a Dutch
> bike but there where none around in Perth. In the end, I got
> a hard tail MTB (27 gears!) and I got the shop to swap out the
> suspension forks and put slicks on. I've since swapped the
> rear cassette for a closer ratio road cassette. Still many more
> gears than I need and needs more maintaining than I want to do.
>
> It's good to see a more recent trend for "flat bar roadies"
> which start to fill the gap, especially bikes like the Avanti
> Blade 8 which uses a Nexus 8 speed hub. Should be more of
> them. We'd see less miserable riders on full suspension MTBs
> loudly humming along the bikes paths at 15kph, about to expire
> from the effort. It would put me off riding, especially with
> other riders on more appropriate bikes effortlessly sailing
> past.
>
> That's my rant for the day....
>
> DeF.
>
Overtook a few of those 'dodgy' MTB riders this morning on my (now) regular
small group ride through Perth CBD (before climbing the col de Mount
Street). I agree they don't exactly give the motorists stuck in
nose-to-bumper traffic on the Kwinana Carpark much inspiration to buy a bike
and cycle commute instead!

Graeme

 

[Grazza]

"Travis" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> I'm with you Lama,
>
> Nobody likes spending time commuting. Best to get it over with as
> quickly as possible. I've trimmed five minutes off my average time over
> the last few months, still got another 40 to go...
>
> Travis
>

40 minutes or kgs? ;o)

Graeme

 

[Grazza]

"Travis" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your point of view, I come
> across very few cyclists on my daily commute, even though I mostly
> travel along what would be major arterial bike paths. Just not that
> many bike commuters in my area.
>
> Perth has some nice bike paths, but bikes are nowhere near as popular
> as they are in Melbourne where on a Saturday you can get huge peletons
> forming spontaneously. In Perth if you want to ride in a bunch its
> usually by prior appointment...
>
> Travis
>
In my experience you can join any group that seems to be going along at a
pace you can handle. Riders in the groups seem quite welcoming, especially
when you are willing to take a turn at the front.
I'm amazed at how many groups there are out early Saturday mornings going
around the river.

Graeme