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Commuting to work by bike

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 02:15:29 No.1832275 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By: >>1832284 >>1832314 >>1832409 >>1832430 >>1832475 >>1832484 >>1832608 >>1832662 >>1832762 >>1833071 >>1833823

What are your tips, suggestions, and experiences with commuting to work by bike?
Do you stop at stop signs? Do you run reds if it's safe to do so? Is the sidewalk nothing more than a bike lane?
I'm going to be commuting to work by bike for the next year and the city I live in does not have a large cyclist population nor are the drivers friendly/cautious of cyclists. For those who commute by bike what are some suggestions and never-do's for commuting?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 02:20:53 No.1832279 Report

Quoted By: >>1832306 >>1832315 >>1832321 >>1832430

Make sure you have rack-storage for your stuff, do not suffer with a backpack
Make sure you have fenders if you ride in the rain often, do not suffer getting wet, road spray is the worst part of riding in the rain
Make sure you have low enough gears if you ride up big hills, you do not want to have to do big efforts.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 02:32:54 No.1832284 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832275
When I saw the thumbnail I thought it was sub-human thing facing frontward.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 04:41:47 No.1832306 Report

Quoted By: >>1832321 >>1832601

Yeah, I obey traffic laws during the commute. Filtering is a gray area in my state, but I don't do it because car drivers get jealous.

>does not have a large cyclist population nor are the drivers friendly/cautious
Cycling to work isn't common where I am. The good thing is that a morning commute is very ritualistic. Every day a person goes the same way at about the same time. People will get used to seeing you in a week or so, and most will get over their laziness & learn to get in the other lane to pass.
It's been a long time, but I have had several people go into a rage around me. They're already on track to be late, and in their mind they twist it to "this cyclist is making me late REEEEE". One guy threw his can of Pepsi at me, several people have thrown their cigarette lighters, etc. It happens, there are trashy people everywhere.

>>1832279
>do not suffer getting wet
You could spend as much money as you have.... and you'll still get wet. That's part of the soul of cycling & motorcycles.
I go the opposite way with this, take no precautions against it & just always change when I get to work. I work in a small machine shop, so there's zero overlap between work clothes & cycling clothes.

The sun usually isn't up during the morning commute, so I wear a windproof jacket for visibility & warmth. When I get to work I change in the locker room & hang my stuff up to dry. I keep a spare set of clothes there, just in case the morning stuff isn't dry by evening. Climbing back into wet gear is absolute shit.

>do not suffer with a backpack
OP if you have a little list, make this #1. Cross out whatever else you wrote. Life is too short to be miserable. And riding with a backpack is surely a form of misery.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 06:48:04 No.1832314 Report

Quoted By: >>1832388

>>1832275
Where I live, everyone assumes you're waiting out a DUI suspension by commuting to work on a bike, wearing a high visibility vest is pretty much mandatory too if you don't wanna get run over first thing in the morning.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 07:09:26 No.1832315 Report

Quoted By: >>1832318 >>1832377

>>1832279
lol what's the hate with backpacks? I really hated having a dirty bag after riding once with paniers.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 07:36:32 No.1832318 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832315
It stops you from venting your body heat.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 08:18:08 No.1832321 Report

Quoted By: >>1832329 >>1832340 >>1832375 >>1832383 >>1832393 >>1832649 >>1833171

>>1832279
>Make sure you have rack-storage for your stuff, do not suffer with a backpack
>Make sure you have fenders if you ride in the rain often, do not suffer getting wet, road spray is the worst part of riding in the rain
>Make sure you have low enough gears if you ride up big hills, you do not want to have to do big efforts.

>>1832306
>Climbing back into wet gear is absolute shit.
>OP if you have a little list, make this #1. Cross out whatever else you wrote. Life is too short to be miserable. And riding with a backpack is surely a form of misery.

my god cyclists are some of the softest faggots to ever soil the earth. i don't think i've ever seen a larger congregation of fusspots, delicate dandies and serial complainers in my entire life. i wish i didn't love this homosexual sport so much because i'm desperate to dissociate from all of you and it pains me that i get lumped in with the rest.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 09:41:30 No.1832329 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832321
Voluntarily suffering road spray doesn't make you a badass, it's just stupid.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 12:04:16 No.1832340 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832321
fuck off then, faggot.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 14:17:40 No.1832375 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832321
I'm a hard man, I actually LIKE water spraying up my ass.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 14:20:40 No.1832376 Report

Quoted By: >>1832379

I love running red lights, riding on the sidewalk, and cutting across people's front lawns.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 14:20:52 No.1832377 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832315
you can have a backpack just put it in a basket

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 14:26:11 No.1832379 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832376
>riding on the sidewalk
lol, pussy

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 14:37:47 No.1832383 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832321
Well done mon ami. you sure showed them my fellow fixed gear rider

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 14:48:03 No.1832388 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832314
How will you recover from that $7 vest investment, anon?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 15:04:44 No.1832393 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832321
There is a fetish comunity for masochists.
you should join one and leave the cycling community alone.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 15:54:41 No.1832409 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832275
> Lights
> Helmet
> Can pass secondary streets red lights
> Fenders
> Rack or backpack
> tools
> buff
> you can take the whole lane but don't be an asshole
> the most important: make cagies to seethe

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 17:01:18 No.1832430 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832279
>>1832275
OP please learn from my mistake, do NOT cycle with a backpack. You're going to get a very uncomfortable wet and sweaty back.

Its especially bad if you sit in a desk chair and you lean back into it only to realize you're soaking wet.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 17:57:45 No.1832443 Report

Quoted By:

Get a comfortable slack geo steel framed late 80s ATB, put some conti slicks on it and ride.

Fenders if you're a faggot and a rack if you like other mens cocks in your mouth and arsehole.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 19:41:22 No.1832475 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832275
>Is the sidewalk nothing more than a bike lane?
they can be but not usually.
you have to go slow around any driveways and street crossings since walkers go slow enough that cars don't really have to look for them. they have no reason to look for anyone going faster than a walk. likewise if there's shops along the street you'll get doored or hit people exiting the shops if you go faster than a walk. and of course if there are people on the sidewalk, that's legally for them, it's not on them to notice you flying by and not bumble into you.

I have no problem using sidewalks as long as I go slow and yield.

however, if it's a long, visible stretch that nobody else is using, fucking go for it, tear ass.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 20:01:52 No.1832484 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832275
Just stay on the sidewalk and otherwise treat it like you are on foot. Only pull into the bike lane if there is a ped you need to pass or you have no other choice. Also get fenders for the rain and never leave any valuables on the bile especially tools

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 20:56:16 No.1832508 Report

Quoted By: >>1832518 >>1832521 >>1832569

Gravel meme or road bike for commuting? Not sure how well would a road bike deal with wet - 20% grade type conditions.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 21:16:58 No.1832518 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832508
Look at the gearing range and tire clearance offered on most current gen road bikes.
You have a 1:1 gear and can run 32s.

You're not going to find many if any tires that grip better up a steep wet sealed hill than a 32 gp5k.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 21:21:12 No.1832521 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832508
I'd consider a gravel bike though if you regularly want to do a lot of shopping with it.
run front/rear racks. Basically a full touring setup.

So something that has front bosses.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 21:24:52 No.1832522 Report

Quoted By:

Or ride in the wet a lot. To have 10mm+ clearance and the bosses for full fenders. A lot of 'gravel' bikes even won't have the correct bosses for that.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 22:30:55 No.1832546 Report

Quoted By: >>1832602 >>1832714 >>1832896

I wish I could bike to work but I have a severe knee injury so I have to drive. Can any leftist troons provide an alternative for people with physical disabilities?

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 22:48:34 No.1832559 Report

Quoted By: >>1834868

Everything depends a lot on the country/city/climate I would say.

>What are your tips, suggestions, and experiences with commuting to work by bike?
Find the best route with fewest stop lights etc. Especially in rush hour traffic will be high so if you can find a route with better flow e.g. along a river or something go for that even if its a few km more, you'll easily be quicker just because you dont have to wait at those stop lights and lose your momentum.
>Do you stop at stop signs?
No
>Do you run reds if it's safe to do so?
Not always
>Is the sidewalk nothing more than a bike lane?
Sidewalk is for pedestrians. I only use the sidwalk briefly if the road / bikepath are blocked e.g. by construction or if some garbage collection truck is blocking the road. etc.
>I'm going to be commuting to work by bike for the next year and the city I live in does not have a large cyclist population nor are the drivers friendly/cautious of cyclists. For those who commute by bike what are some suggestions and never-do's for commuting?
I recommend you always ride with a pulsing rear light so you don't have to worry about someone overlooking you. Always do a shoulder check for cagers taking a turn and not considering your speed correctly or overlooking the bike path altogether. Sometimes better to brake than be right and end up in a hospital. Do take space on the road so cagers see you. If they honk at you just ignore it. Their problem for choosing to sit in a cage.

Recommended gear: Lights. Fenders optionally if you don't like water. Definitely get cycling glasses, e.g. with photochromatic lenses which are all-weather ready. Helmet if you want to be a good boy/girl and care about your brains. Gloves can be nice, especially in fall/winter. The same applies to other weather/climate dependent accessories.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 29 Jul 2022 23:13:49 No.1832569 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832508
Road tires offer the best grip in wet conditions on roads. Which is still a lot less than on dry roads. Just don't go faster than you safely control in any case. Even pros in the TdF do crash on descents.
You can set up any frame with road tires though.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 30 Jul 2022 00:40:13 No.1832601 Report

Quoted By: >>1833085 >>1833703

>>1832306
>One guy threw his can of Pepsi at me, several people have thrown their cigarette lighters, etc. It happens, there are trashy people everywhere.
what the fuck is wrong with people, are you in the US?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 30 Jul 2022 00:40:33 No.1832602 Report

Quoted By: >>1832604

>>1832546
use really low gearing?
actually a legit need for a pedalec or throttle ebike?
do like Bacon and get a hand-crank recumbent?

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 30 Jul 2022 00:44:12 No.1832604 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832602
>cuck bikes
I’m not a boomer I don’t want to look retarded on my commute. Thanks I’ll just stick to my car

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 30 Jul 2022 00:50:01 No.1832608 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832275
it helps to sort of gamify your ride by imagining that every driver is actively trying to kill you. just sharpens you up and keeps you alert.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 30 Jul 2022 03:55:10 No.1832649 Report

Quoted By: >>1832662 >>1832735

>>1832321
/thread
Imagine crying about wearing a backpack, LMAO

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 30 Jul 2022 04:43:52 No.1832662 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832649
im so cool i dont even feel comfy cycling without one :0
>>1832275
know your local laws and remember people dont watch for bikes.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 30 Jul 2022 09:16:17 No.1832714 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832546
>Can any leftist troons provide an alternative for people with physical disabilities?
Leach off of your superiors and demand they bring everything to you.
Alternatively you can fix your body. You'd be surprised at what human adaptation can do when you're not a transhumanist piece of shit.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 30 Jul 2022 11:15:46 No.1832735 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832649
If one rode as slowly as you do, I guess a backpack is fine. Everyone who actually rides does not want a warm-wet fungal breeding ground on their back.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 30 Jul 2022 13:41:51 No.1832762 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832275
my best advice would be not to.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sat 30 Jul 2022 21:55:18 No.1832896 Report

Quoted By: >>1832897

>>1832546
https://bike-on.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/59bbe500a310ded80b9f1320.jpeg

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO 59bbe500a310ded80b9f1320.jpg, 96KiB, 900x600

Anonymous Sat 30 Jul 2022 21:56:36 No.1832897 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832896
sorry, am retarded

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 31 Jul 2022 12:22:04 No.1833071 Report

Quoted By:

>>1832275
Pick your route to avoid car traffic. In many cities you can absolutely use side-roads and, with a bike, be at least as fast as on the main without having to deal with cars.
When at red lights, remember that if you filter past everyone, chances are they'll overtake you again after. If you don't like that maybe going over that light thrid or so may be better.
Use lights when appropriate. Install reflectors. People won't brake for you if they cannot see you.
Riding on sidewalks may or may not be a good idea. With buildings right by the sidewalk there's often backyard-entrences etc. coming right out of the building onto the sidewalk. If a car comes from there the driver will not know about you until he's all over the sidewalk! That's not a problem if you're walking, you can just stop when you see a car crawling out, but if you're going fast on a bike you're gonna go flying. Guilt is unimportant here, you want to arrive unhurt. Hedges are dangerous for similar reasons.
Also beware of rushing past turning cars in the direction they are turning. High risk they won't notice you in time. Whether because they're stupid, they focused on a pedestrian or whatever, ultimately won't revive you.
Don't behave like an asshole in traffic. Whenever you demand someone else to avoid collision there's a risk they won't. The more often this happens, the higher the likelyhood of you eventually being pancaked. You don't want to be pancaked.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 31 Jul 2022 13:38:08 No.1833085 Report

Quoted By: >>1833450 >>1833703 >>1834868

>>1832601
US anon here, American drivers generally feel entitled to the road. Anything done to the road, even if it will decrease their commute time (round abouts in some cases) will result in continuous bitching on their end. God forbid you do a road diet. They won't be happy.

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 31 Jul 2022 19:29:05 No.1833171 Report

Quoted By: >>1833211

>>1832321
Fuck off shitlarper

Anonymous

Anonymous Sun 31 Jul 2022 21:48:31 No.1833211 Report

Quoted By:

>>1833171
touched a nerve gayboy?

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 01 Aug 2022 06:13:31 No.1833448 Report

Quoted By:

can you describe the roads youll be commuting on?
25mph suburban roads or 55mph suburban roads?
rural single lane highways, crowded 2 lane city streets,... or 55mph suburban roads?
what distance will you be commuting? 1.5 mile? 15 miles?

what country/state?

I often take the lane and make myself super visible when i am safe. if a car honks at me, i slow down to a stop in front of them and ask "whats the emergency" ...actually i yell and scream that and throw my bike at thier car.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 01 Aug 2022 06:14:32 No.1833449 Report

Quoted By: >>1833532 >>1833703

can you describe the roads youll be commuting on?
25mph suburban roads or 55mph suburban roads?
rural single lane highways, crowded 2 lane city streets,... or 55mph suburban roads?
what distance will you be commuting? 1.5 mile? 15 miles?

what country/state?

I often take the lane and make myself super visible when i feel a little unsafe. if a car honks at me, i slow down to a stop in front of them and ask "whats the emergency" ...actually i yell and scream that and throw my bike at thier car.

If i feel super unsafe, i walk in the gutter or something

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 01 Aug 2022 06:17:00 No.1833450 Report

Quoted By: >>1833703

>>1833085
>God forbid you do a road diet. They won't be happy.
right around the corner from my house, the city added protected bike corner thingies for a safer intersection.
1. they restrict the right turn on red right before my house
2. they make for a slow tight turn on a bicycle and ive been noticing cyclist just riding around them in the 'car lane'

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 01 Aug 2022 10:00:10 No.1833532 Report

Quoted By: >>1833672

>>1833449
50kph (30mph) suburban roads. Very hilly, no bike lanes. Gutters are clean thankfully except for gravel in some spots.
All single lane roads except for the occasional left and right turning lanes. Commute is 4km (2.5miles).
Atlantic Canada. Lots of rain, wind, and snowy/icy conditions January - May.
I typically ride with a flashing rear light and a steady front one. I'm debating picking up a high-vis jacket or wind breaker.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 01 Aug 2022 19:37:57 No.1833672 Report

Quoted By:

>>1833532
my advice is that if your going jogging speed (10kph or slower) then just ride on the sidewalk.
take the lane on the downhills.

i think a few pieces of high vis flair hanging off your seat or bag should suffice.... though i dont see the point if you already have a light

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 01 Aug 2022 19:45:32 No.1833677 Report

Quoted By:

Just ride on the sidewalk with some fixed gear old road bike

Also play chicken with semis and die

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO 2022-08-01-162730.jpg, 385KiB, 1598x1006

Anonymous Mon 01 Aug 2022 20:30:09 No.1833703 Report

Quoted By: >>1833728 >>1833834 >>1834868

>>1832601
>are you in the US?
Yeah, outside Cincinnati.
It's kind of wild, because for much of Ohio the terrain is suited to bike commuting ("flat" is the word), but the infrastructure isn't. I will say the shitty behavior was much less common when I lived in Columbus.

>>1833085
Yeah, it's a very short-sighted, sort of animalistic response. As soon as the slow down happens, people get mad at the first thing they see.

>>1833449
I tend to not ride on anything where the limit is above 35mph. I'll find an alternate route. Most of the roads I'm on are 2 lanes w/ parking on both sides. Even with signs that say "cyclists may use full lane", it's quite common that drivers have never heard the term "door zone".

>>1833450
A curb bumpout? There's an intersection like that back home, next to an elementary school. It's made a big difference in driver behavior there. Kind of hard to tell, but there are 4-way lights at this intersection.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 01 Aug 2022 21:36:49 No.1833728 Report

Quoted By: >>1833834

>>1833703
Blubouts are pretty good, they are good for long timed intersections specifically. You feel boxed in as you approach so you stop speeding

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 02 Aug 2022 01:42:03 No.1833823 Report

Quoted By: >>1834695

>>1832275
Are you sure a kick scooter wouldn't work

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 02 Aug 2022 02:59:49 No.1833834 Report

Quoted By:

>>1833703
>>1833728
i also drive and i like my right turns on red. minimizes time i spend needlessly idling..
though I think my truck is small enough i can make right turn on red through the bikelane

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 04 Aug 2022 11:51:27 No.1834695 Report

Quoted By:

>>1833823
Too much rain and snow for a scooter

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 04 Aug 2022 21:05:16 No.1834868 Report

Quoted By: >>1834947 >>1835123

>>1832559
>Sidewalk is for pedestrians.
>>1833085
>American drivers generally feel entitled to the road.
>>1833703
>Yeah, it's a very short-sighted, sort of animalistic response. As soon as the slow down happens, people get mad at the first thing they see.
Sure got a lot of people here who can bike 55 mph. Sorry to hear about the schizophrenics who think you're slowing down traffic.

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 05 Aug 2022 01:15:23 No.1834947 Report

Quoted By:

>>1834868
I am an american driver, I don't mind cyclists because usually they are not in the middle of the road like you imply

Anonymous

Anonymous Fri 05 Aug 2022 09:17:19 No.1835123 Report

Quoted By:

>>1834868
>they would rather leave the road to cagers and terrorize pedestrians

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