c/bike-commuter-tips

Read someone saying bike lights are just for night riding

Overheard a guy at a shop say he only uses lights after dark. I run a bright front light even at noon on my commute through Portland because car drivers notice me way more in shady spots. Has anyone else found daytime running lights cut down on close passes?

I finally had a perfect week of bike commuting then it all fell apart Friday

Last month I had four days in a row where everything went right. Monday through Thursday I hit all green lights, had clear bike lanes, and even got a tailwind on the bridge over the river. It felt like I was flying. Then Friday morning I got a flat tire from a piece of glass on Main Street, had to walk 20 minutes to a bus stop, and was 45 minutes late to work. So which is more common for you guys: the perfect streak or the disaster day? Has anyone else had a run like that that just made you want to quit or keep going?

Rode through my old neighborhood last week and barely recognized the bike lanes

I used to commute through Logan Square in Chicago about 10 years ago, and it was always a wild west situation with cars and potholes. Last week I took my old route just for fun, and wow they actually painted proper lanes with those plastic bollards separating traffic. There were even these little repair stations at the corner of Diversey and Kimball with air pumps and tools. Back then I had to carry a spare tube and patch kit everywhere or I was stuck walking 3 miles. Has anyone else seen big changes like this in their old commuting routes?

Loud bike bells are not better for safety on busy roads

Everyone in this group keeps recommending those huge brass bells that sound like a church tower. I went against the advice and stuck with a cheap plastic bell from Dick's Sporting Goods that cost $4. Last month I was riding down a busy street near downtown Portland and a car started backing out of a driveway right in front of me. My little bell made just enough noise for them to stop without me looking like a jerk. Those loud bells just make drivers angry and ignore you. Has anyone else noticed that quiet bikes blend in better with traffic than standing out?

The day I realized my helmet was two sizes too big

I've been biking to my job at the library downtown for about two years now, and I always thought my helmet felt a little loose but figured it was fine. Then last Tuesday, a guy at a bike shop in Portland stopped me as I was locking up and asked if I knew my helmet was basically a hat. He showed me how it should fit snug on my head without moving around, and I looked like a fool with it wobbling every time I turned my head. Turns out I had bought a medium when I needed a small based on measuring my head circumference properly. It explains why my neck always felt weird after a longer ride and why the straps never felt right no matter how I adjusted them. Has anyone else been wearing their helmet wrong for ages before someone finally called them out on it?

My coworker convinced me rain gear matters more than the bike itself

Talked to a guy named Dave who bikes 20 miles each way near Portland. He said his $200 jacket keeps him dry better than my $1200 road bike ever could. Has anyone else found that good layers beat a fancy frame in bad weather?

Is it safer to bike in traffic or on the sidewalk? I keep going back and forth.

I've been commuting by bike to my job downtown for about 8 months now, and this one thing really bugs me. Every time I ride in the bike lane, I get honked at or squeezed by cars, but when I hop on the sidewalk, pedestrians give me dirty looks and dogs lunge at my tires. A couple weeks ago I saw another cyclist almost get doored right in front of me, then later that same day a guy on the sidewalk nearly clipped a kid with his handlebars. I think drivers expect us to act like cars but pedestrians see us as dangerous vehicles, so there's no real good spot. I keep hearing people say 'take the lane' but that feels like asking to get hit. So what's your take, do you stick to the road or take the sidewalk, and how do you handle the dirty looks either way?

My clip-in pedals almost got me killed in traffic last Tuesday - switched to flats and it's a whole new world

I used to think clip-in pedals made me faster, but during a rush hour commute on Broadway in Denver I couldn't unclip at a red light and nearly ate a bus bumper. Swapped to flat pedals with good grip pins (like the RaceFace Chesters for $50) and now I can put a foot down instantly in any situation. No more panicking at stop signs or worrying about falling over with a car behind me. Has anyone else made the switch back to flats after a close call?

Appreciation post: the cheap tire pump I almost threw away

I used to think those $15 floor pumps from the hardware store were junk compared to the fancy brand name ones. But my neighbor let me borrow his after a flat on my way to work last Tuesday, and honestly it worked just fine. Added air in like 30 seconds and the gauge didn't even break. Now I keep one in my garage for my daily 5-mile commute and it's held up for 6 months. Has anyone else found a budget tool that surprised them?

Decided between panniers and a backpack for my 8-mile commute

I was going back and forth between Ortlieb panniers and just using my old backpack for biking to work. After a week of sweating through my shirt with the backpack, I bought the panniers and a cheap rack off Amazon for $80 total. Way better for my back and I can carry a change of clothes without getting nasty. Anyone else switch away from backpacks and find it worth the money?

Rant: Those "waterproof" panniers ruined my laptop last Tuesday

I bought a set of waterproof panniers for $80 off Amazon thinking they'd keep my work gear dry. The first big rainstorm hit on my ride across town and water seeped right through the seams. My laptop got soaked and cost me $200 to replace the keyboard. Has anyone found a bag that actually holds up in a downpour?

My commute went from 45 minutes to 32 minutes after one simple fix

I spent months slogging through morning traffic on my bike, always arriving sweaty and late. Then I finally mapped out a route using the local greenway trails behind the old mill in Riverbend, and it shaved 13 minutes off my trip. Turns out I was just following the main road out of habit. Anyone else find a hidden shortcut that totally changed your ride?

Hit 1,000 miles on my commute yesterday without really noticing

I was checking my bike computer and saw I rolled past 1,000 miles just on my way to and from the office. Started this in February and it just snuck up on me... I park near the old train depot on Elm Street in Portland. Has anyone else hit a random milestone that caught them off guard?

Rant: My rear rack bolts vibrated loose on a 12 mile commute

Got to work Thursday and my pannier was dragging on the spokes because both bolts holding the rack to the frame had backed out halfway. Had to borrow zip ties from a coworker to get home - check your hardware at least once a month or you'll be digging through office junk drawers too.

Hot take: I used to think rain gear was a waste of money for biking

After getting caught in a surprise downpour last Tuesday on the way to a job in Portland, I was soaked to the bone and miserable for four hours of landscaping. A buddy at the bike shop sold me a proper waterproof jacket and now I actually look forward to rainy commutes. Has anyone else had a specific bad weather moment that changed their gear setup?

Been clamping my front wheel wrong for 2 years on my quick release

Was at a bike shop in Denver getting a flat fixed. Mechanic guy watched me put the wheel back on and just shook his head. Said I was leaving the skewer too loose and the wheel could pop out on a hard stop. He showed me how to really crank it so the lever leaves an imprint on my palm. 2 years of riding around half attached. Anyone else get told basic stuff way later than they should have?

Rant: People who don't signal at roundabouts on their bikes

Honestly, I nearly got taken out twice this morning on my commute through downtown Seattle. It's not even that hard to stick your arm out. I see drivers already annoyed at cyclists and when you don't signal, you just make it worse for everyone. How hard is it to point which way you're going before you cross? Has anyone else nearly gotten smoked because someone just swerved without warning?

Finally figured out how to carry a pizza on my bike without it ending up a mess

Last Friday I wanted to grab a large pizza on the way home from work but my backpack always flattens the box. Tried strapping it to the rear rack with bungee cords and it slid off twice before I got two blocks. Then I remembered I had a cheap hanging file box from the office supply store. I zip-tied that box to my rack, slid the pizza inside flat, and biked 3 miles home without a single slice shifting. Anyone else got a weird cargo hack that works better than what you can buy?

The day I stopped ignoring my bike chain wear

Three years ago I was commuting 12 miles each way in Minneapolis. I kept hearing a grinding noise but figured it was just winter grime. Then my chain snapped halfway across the Lake Street bridge in January. Had to walk my bike 2 miles in the cold to a shop. The mechanic used a chain wear tool and showed me my chain was stretched by 1.5 percent. Now I check my chain every 400 miles with a cheap gauge I bought for 8 bucks. Anyone else learned a hard lesson about skipping chain maintenance?

Thought rain pants were a gimmick until my first wet March commute in Portland

I bike about 8 miles each way to my job downtown. For two years I just wore jeans and changed when I got to work. Then last March we had that week of nonstop drizzle and I was soaked through by mile 3 every single day. A coworker lent me her old pair of REI rain pants and I couldn't believe how dry I stayed. Picked up a pair for $45 at the REI garage sale last weekend and now I get why people swear by them. Has anyone else had a piece of gear they ignored for way too long?

Got a flat tire from a staple last week on my ride to work

I was cruising down the bike lane on Broadway around 7:30 AM last Tuesday and felt that sudden wobble. Pulled over and found a roofing staple buried in my rear tire. It was a tiny thing but went right through the tread and tube. Cost me $15 for a new tube and 20 minutes to swap it out on the curb. Now I check my tires every morning before I leave. Anyone else finding random hardware in bike lanes lately?

Tried a full rain suit for my morning commute and got an unexpected shower of sweat instead

Used to think rain gear was optional for my commute, now I dont leave without it

I used to just throw on a hoodie and hope for the best when rain hit on my ride to work in Seattle. Then last November I got caught in a surprise downpour 3 miles from my office and showed up completely soaked for a big meeting. Now I keep a cheap Frog Toggs jacket in my pannier at all times and it makes a huge difference. Does anyone else have a specific piece of gear they never skip on their daily ride?

Took me 4 months to realize my bike lights were angled wrong

I kept getting honked at during my morning commute through downtown. Thought drivers were just grumpy. Then a friend pointed out my front light was aimed at the ground 3 feet ahead instead of out into traffic. Rear light was pointing at my tire too. Fixed both in 2 minutes. Has anyone else had a "doh" moment with something simple like this?

I finally stopped wearing a backpack after 3 years of commuting

I used to think panniers were for hardcore touring cyclists, not someone like me just riding 4 miles to work in Austin. But after throwing out my back twice last winter, I borrowed a friend's Ortlieb bags and tried them. The difference in bike handling was night and day, especially when I hit that hill on Lamar. No more sweaty back in 95 degree heat either. Has anyone else dealt with shoulder pain from a messenger bag and made the switch?