So you are hardcore enough to brave the elements this winter and ride to work.  Good for you!  It’s so much more difficult to motivate yourself to ride in the morning when you know that Mother Nature is not going to gently embrace you with a thousand warm kisses of the sunrise.  No instead, during these commutes you will be slapped repeatedly across the face and made to feel as if someone is throwing fistfuls of razorblades at you with deadly, ninja-like accuracy.  So if you are powering through, good for you, be proud, you are truly awesome.

Here is the deal though… you need to say thank you to your most loyal of friends, your trusty metal steed for braving the weather with you.  In fact, you may not realize it, but your bicycle is taking almost as much punishment (if not more depending on how well you are at crossing ice patches) as you are.

3 tips for getting your bike through the winter commuting season: 

1.  Cleanliness

I’m from the Midwestern United States, and around these parts we use a nasty combination of sand and salt and even an ice melting solution on the roads pretty much all winter.  This stuff wreaks havoc on all sorts of parts of a bicycle.  The chain, the brake pads, the wheels, the frame…left unattended, I’m confident that my bike would slowly melt into a puddle of shiny goo a la Terminator 2 (only without reforming into an evil robot from the future).

Every day you should wipe down your bike after you are done commuting.  If you don’t have a solution to use (I prefer Simple Green) just go with warm water and a little soap.  Wash your rims; wipe down the underside of your frame (if not the entire frame, at least get the parts where there is clear splash back.  It’s pretty much a given that at the end of a long winter you will need to at least invest in a new chain and brake pads (not a guaranty, but a might as well assume so just so you aren’t surprised).  Even though I expect to have to replace it I still give my chain a clean by holding a rag around it and gently spinning it through.  I only apply new lube every other ride…it’s up to you really, because after you clean your chain it could probably use lube every day.  But I’m stingy and my commuter is a beater.

2.  Be Prepared

In the summer I carry a small pump, patch kit, tire wrenches, and a multi-tool.  During winter I carry a lot more.

During winter riding, you can quickly find yourself in situations that could present more problems than just having to walk your bike a bit…you don’t want to be broken down in freezing temperatures with no way to fix something.

Make sure you know how to repair your chain, brake lines and pads, and change flats.  If your chain allows for it, carry a master-link or two for quick repairs. Also consider carrying extra brake pads.  The stuff they put on roads gets all over your rims and then of course your brake pads…the can corrode fast.  For winter, I recommend a self sticking patch kit, as opposed to the standard vulcanized patches I use during warmer months.  I am never confident they will save a tube indefinitely, but they will at least allow me to re-inflate and get to my destination and out of the elements faster than waiting on glue to dry.  I also highly recommend fenders.  When it’s warm, I don’t mind getting wet from rain…in fact I kind of like watching the water spin off my tires, but winter is a different story.  Fenders also help save your frame and components.

3.  Ice is Slick

It’s a common misnomer among drivers as well, fatter tires don’t mean much on ice.  You might be inclined to think a mountain bike is better for a winter commute, and while that may be true sometimes, I feel that most of the time it isn’t.  With less contact surface area on the road, I feel like my road bike slips more than my mountain bike.  My skinny tires can carve through snow and slush like a knife, while my 29er Monster Bike tends to slide from side to side all the time.

However, keep in mind that snow and slush are very different from ice.  It’s darker in the morning during winter, the road is dark, and ice can appear to be just a bit of wetness on the road until…whoops…I fell over.  If it’s below freezing, assume there will be ice on your commute.  Like Wiggo or the Missile, try to hold your line and ride straight as much as possible.  Find a place in the lane where you are comfortable and stay in that spot.  Don’t jerk or swerve or even change lanes if you don’t have to.  It takes a little more self-control in the winter to hold the lane, but it’s more critical than ever, in my opinion.

When you make your turns don’t try to ride like you are racing a kit…leaning into it will typically not go well if you hit even a small patch of ice.  However if you stay upright and turn with your handlebars, you should have a much better chance at staying upright.

Like I said, if you are powering through the nasty cold weather, good for you! It is a little bit of a different ball game to commute in the winter months, but if you can follow these few suggestions you should come out a stronger cyclist in the spring.  Be careful, take care of yourself and your bicycle, and you will be just fine.

Aaron

Do you have a lifelong commitment to the Bike?  I received a comment to our 2013 “#LuckyYear” post from Derrick Fogle who explained his “lifelong commitment”.  I liked the sound of it and immediately asked if he’d be interested in supplying a guest post on the subject.  He jumped at my suggestion, and I’m pleased to bring you his article on “A Lifelong Commitment to the Bike”.

A Lifelong Commitment to the Bike

By Derrick Fogle

From the very first time I ever realized my dad had “let go,” and I was riding a bike on my own, I loved it.

I loved the mechanics: pedals, chain, gears, rotation, balance. I loved the feeling: wind in my face, going farther and faster on my own power than ever before.  I loved what it meant to me: Freedom. It was love at first bike.

It wasn’t a commitment, at first.  It was just love, and convenience.  My parents just wanted to get me to school. I  loved riding my bike, and I loved taking the longest ways home, exploring the world on my own.

As a teen, like almost anyone, I wanted a license, and a car.  I still loved riding, but thought a car would give me even more speed, power, and freedom.  At 16, I got my license, and had a 6-month love affair: with speeding tickets, and an accident.  Poof! My license was gone.

My bike, my first love, was patiently waiting.  I mentally slipped a ring around that brake handle: I made my commitment.  It was partly for self-preservation: It didn’t matter how far or fast I rode my bike, the cops didn’t care.  And I loved riding.

I blissfully rode throughout college; spent summers riding the mountains in Colorado.  But then came jobs, and pressure to get a car.  Every time I did, and started driving, it was a disaster.  Speeding tickets.  Road rage.  I was a danger to myself, and everyone else.  I changed jobs, chose housing, whatever I had to do, to honor my commitment to ride.

Next came an awareness of the environment, global warming, and “wars for oil.”  My wife changed jobs too, we ditched her car, and lived in KC for several years without one.  I also read the studies about health: staying active keeps you healthy, improves quality of life, especially in the later years.  These were just more reasons to commit to what I loved: riding a bike.

The wheels kept spinning, the years rolled by, and the miles added up.  From -20 to 110 (F); snow, rain, whatever.  I rode.  I rode for transportation, but I also rode for pleasure.  That bicycle was still my freedom, and I still loved it.

Children brought cars back into my life, and sometimes I got lazy, sloppy, and drove when I didn’t need to.  But it never lasted long.  Stuck in a car, stuck in traffic, I became a monster.  The pedals, the wheels, my own power, and wind in my hair always lured me back, like a sweet lover.

Today, I own cars, and I drive cars, but mostly just for utility.  I still ride to work and back every day.  I still love it, believe it’s more important than ever.

Today, I brag about the results of my lifetime commitment to cycling: Over a quarter million miles, over 150,000 being direct “car displacement” miles.  I’ve not burned over 10,000 gallons of gasoline, not emitted over 20 tons of carbon, saved myself about $100,000 and who know how many speeding tickets.  I’m still incredibly active, incredibly healthy.  I spend time outdoors, using my own body, seeing nature, not traffic.

Yes, I talk about the benefits of my lifelong commitment to cycling: to me, to the environment, to future generations.  But to be honest, none of those are really why I’m committed to riding my bike.

There’s only one real reason: I just love to ride my bike!

Okay, so who else is with Derrick?  Who’s made the lifelong commitment to riding a bicycle?

You’ve never seen me review bicycle lights here before, and that’s because I don’t ride at dusk, dawn, or in the dark…..until now.

When we were living in Austin (and in Canada prior to that), I was able to ride pretty much when I wanted to and always had tons of sunlight shining on me. So I never needed any type of lights on my bike to keep me visible and safe.  But here I am on the island of Grenada now and there’s a few reasons why I’m in need of being seen.

Darkness: We’re a whole lot closer to the equator here in Grenada so it gets dark earlier and the sun comes up later all year long.  Yeah, the sunrise and sunset doesn’t really vary during the year and is pretty consistent with a 5:30am rise and 5:45pm set.  With a shorter amount of daylight comes a greater need for bike light.

Commuting: As you may or may not know, I’ve been wanting to become car-lite or car-free for a long time.  Now that we’re in Grenada I’ve made a big step forward in this direction and am able to use my bike for getting around.  More time on the bike equals more need for lights.

Schedule: With Mocha Spoke on the go and opening soon, there are days that I need to get going early or am out late on my bike.  This is probably the biggest reason I need lights on my bike.

Roads: Caribbean roads are definitely not the smoothest ones out there, so being able to clearly see where the holes and debris are is absolutley vital.  As I’ll explain in a minute, the light set-up I have on my urban bike provides all the lighting I need and more.

My Lights

Before I left Austin, I was outfitted by a couple great companies who wanted to make sure I stayed lit up while out riding.  A big thank you goes out to Topeak and Gemini for what they provided for me.

Gemini DUO LED Light System

This light seriously has the power to turn nightime into daylight.  This 63g Light Head comes with your choice of a 2-cell or 4-cell battery pack to power up this bad boy and can be mounted on your bike or helmet.  By default the DUO comes programme for three different light adjustment settings, but can be personally altered to provide anywhere from 10 to 100% brightness so you can customize the amount of light it gives off.

There really isn’t much for street lights here in Grenada so when it’s dark…it’s very dark.  The Gemini DUO sure does help me out when I’m riding in situations like this.  The 2-Cell battery pack also provides a nice amount of run time.  At 100% power the light can go for about 1.5 hours and at 10% it can last up to 17 hours.  For a full breakdown of run times, click here.

This light totally rocks, but it doesn’t come cheap.  The retail price starts at $229.99, but I’d say you’re getting a nice amount of lumens per dollar.

Topeak Highlite Combo

When the guys at Topeak asked what I’d like to try out, I told them to send me something for a guy just getting started with commuting in the dark.  They sent me their highlite combo which includes a WhiteLite™ II for the front and a RedLite™ II in the back.

The front light does not require a battery pack and it’s super small and easy to carry around.  I use this one when I’m not needing the blinding light of the DUO. Because the back light is small and can stay on my seat post, it’s always there when I need it.

I use the back RedLite more than either of the front lights because it’s nice to have blinking away behind me no matter what time of day I’m riding in.  It becomes even more valuable the darker it gets outside.

This combo pack retails for around $20.00 so it’s a good basic starting point for getting started with riding in darkish conditions.

Who’s Riding in the Dark?

Okay, so there you have it….this is my story of a guy who is excited about spending more time on his bike and how I’ve prepared for the dark conditions I was previously not exposed to.

How about you?  What experiences or advice do you have to share?  Maybe you’re just in the thinking stages of getting out for some early morning or late night rides…what questions do you have?

We’re always happy to help out any way we can, but you can also get some great information on lights and riding in the dark from Gemini and Topeak as well.

It is pretty easy to get up in the morning, grab a cup-a-joe and hop on the bike to ride to work…when it’s warm out.  However, cold weather presents an entirely new group of challenges.  It seems like the colder it gets, the harder it is for me to just get out of bed, forget riding to work.  More gear to keep you warm means more time to get ready, means more time to  talk yourself out of the bike ride.  Long or short, riding to work in the cold weather adds a whole new element to your commute.

You may not be a big fan of spending money on fancy skin suits, cool commuter shoes and bags, or any gear like that.  When it comes to commuting, some gear you can do without, but in the cold weather months, you shouldn’t be putting your safety at risk to save a few bucks.  Yes, riding in the cold is more dangerous than riding in warm weather.

Wearing too many layers causes you to sweat, sometimes without you even knowing it.  The stop and go of commuting doesn’t often lend itself well to maintaining a constant body temperature, meaning you get really hot for a few blocks, start sweating, then stop and cool down at the next light.  This can happen in warm weather plenty as well, but when temperatures dip below freezing, suddenly your cool downs could put you at risk for a variety of ugly consequences, especially if you have a good sweat worked up.

It’s important to get some gear that can keep you warm without making you overheat at the same time.  Winter gear is expensive, but fortunately you don’t need to go out and waste money finding the right stuff to solve that problem, because you can come here and read what has already been tested.  Here are four items I have found are 100% worth the money and are sure to keep your temperature even on your ride to and from work.

Pearl Izumi Pro Thermal LS Jersey:

Think of this amazingly warm and wind-resistant article of clothing as a cross between your favorite fleece and a bike jersey.  Made using a Minerale thermal fabric, this full zip jersey is heavier than a wool jersey and every bit as comfortable as your favorite pull over.  Like most cycling jerseys it comes with the standard three pocket back to ensure easy access to your commuter snacks and gear on the ride.

This jersey also has a fantastic breast pocket for your cell phone that has a slit on the inside to feed your headphones through so they don’t dangle out in the cold or get caught on your bike while riding.

Like all Pearl Izumi gear it does run a little small, so don’t be afraid to go a size big so you can add a long sleeve t-shirt layer underneath. It won’t do the trick by itself when temperatures get down to freezing, but the simple addition of a turtleneck or long-sleeve t-shirt is all it takes to ride in the coldest of weather.

Endura Dexter Windproof Gloves:

Gloves might be one of the most important things you can spend money on for a winter commuter.  Even with temperatures in the 40′s, riding without warm, insulated gloves has left my fingers feeling more numb for far longer than I am comfortable with after arriving.  Something about the combination of slowing blood flow from leaning on your handlebars a little more because you are tired, and the wind battering you can make your fingers the very first thing to suffer.

Endura’s Dexter gloves are the best glove I have found for commuting.  You can’t just purchase a cheap pair of gloves from Walmart…the wind cuts through more than you would guess.  These gloves are insulated and warm with great grip and feature tightly woven fabrics that keep even those high-winds from Sandy at bay.  Far superior to anything I have tried from Giro, Smartwool, or even the leather of Knog.

Smartwool PHD Ski Medium:

Your feet are equally important to take care of.  Smartwool are pricey, especially for socks, but they are worth every penny.  The PHD Ski Mediums are an over-the-calf sock so they keep your entire leg warm.

I find that while leg-warmers are nice, there really isn’t much need for anything more than jeans from the knee to the waist.  If you need to, drop to a lower gear, or get a fixie to commute on…spinning will warm those knees up right quick!

There isn’t much that needs said about these socks to be honest.  If you have never owned a pair of Smartwool socks, just buy any pair at all and you will never be able to wear a normal sock again.  If only they had toe socks…I would be in heaven.  I love Smartwool.

Beard Head:

Your torso, your hands, your feet, and lastly your head.  As a bald guy, proper headwear in the winter is critical.  Now, you could go and get a standard balaclava if you wanted to.  They fit under your helmet (which you should always wear) and are typically pretty darn warm… but that just isn’t any fun.

I discovered the magic of Beard Head a long time ago.  Not only am I bald, but I also don’t have any facial hair…nor have I, nor will I (Google Alopecia Universalis if you are interested).  That’s why the idea of a knitted hat that provides me with a beard is way more awesome than a boring old balaclava.  My wife purchased me my Beard Head many years ago when she got tired of me complaining about not being able to participate in Movember.

It is now a part of my winter riding outfit.  The hat fits perfectly under my helmet (this is the original model by the way) while the beard and mustache keep my face perfectly warm.  In all seriousness this hat is seriously the best thing I could have ever found to ride with.  It blocks out nearly all the wind while really keeping my face warm, but also the hand-knitted fabric allows me to breathe normally without the hat getting all moist from my breath!

It’s amazing, and I love it.  Go out and buy one (be sure to check out the variety of mustaches if you would like to mix it up).

And that is all there is to it.  My top 4 items for a winter commute that are worth every penny.  If you want to ride in the cold, don’t ask questions… just go buy this stuff and thank me later.  Keep the rubber side down and don’t be afraid of those low temperatures!

Aaron Madrid

Top photo c/o www.indianalivinggreen.com.

For this month’s Loving the Commute I decided to take a moment to talk with a fellow commuter. If you would like to be a part of Loving the Commute, I would love to talk to you, send me an email (aaronthestrong@gmail.com) or reach out to me via twitter (@Aaronthestrong).  John is a good friend and also helping me to start a local Cycling Advocacy group for our town.  Enjoy our little conversation about John’s love of the bike and his commute!

Aaronthestrong: Who is John Fry and what kind of bike do you ride?

John Fry: I’m the father of 2 boys and the husband of the amazing Katie Fry. I like Purdue sports, drinking beers, camping and talking about how to improve the town I live in. I ride a 1994 Trek 850 Mt. Track XC as my commuter – getting around town bike. That’s possibly the world’s longest name for a bike, so it’s nicknamed ‘The Goodwiller’ because I bought it at Goodwill 2 years ago.

ATS: Why did you decide to start riding your bike to work?

JF: Truthfully, it was Twitter.  I follow a few organizations and people who talked about riding to work and I decided to go for it.  I was also looking for a consistent way to stay active, but never could find the time with 2 kids at home.  Riding to and from work seemed to be the easiest way to get exercise during the week.

ATS: What is your favorite part about commuting by bike?

JF: I like the feeling of starting the work day on a bike, it really gets you connected to were you live compared to boxing yourself inside a car.  Luckily, I can take two very different routes to work.  One is 100% on the road, the other is closer to 80% trails.  I can stop and look at the Wabash River, take pictures of Bald Eagles, get attacked by ducks and geese, wave at other walkers and bike commuters.  Or I can race cars over the bridge and mash it up Salisbury Hill if I want.

ATS: What is your least favorite thing about commuting?

JF: Nothing really.  I use to hate the hills, but now I love them. Sometimes I eat too much at lunch and feel too fat to ride a bike, but that’s more of an eating problem than a commuting problem.

ATS: Commuting is just a means of transportation, what kinds of cycling do you like to do outside of commuting?

JF: I love mountain biking.  This past year I competed in the entire DINO Series.  I’m not very good (yet), but it helps keep me dedicated to riding for fitness, instead of just commuting or family rides.  I suggest everyone try at least one bike race in their life, I bet it won’t be your last.

ATS: What is the best piece of advice about commuting you could give to someone thinking about starting to ride their bike to work?

JF: Don’t give yourself any excuses not to go in the morning, get everything ready the night before.  Also, get a rack to carry your stuff.  I never did, but I still plan on it.

ATS: What’s the deal?

John Fry: I know, right?  I’ve got a question for your readers.  I have a slick tire on the front of my commuter and a low tread MTB tire on the back.  One day I was riding and thought “Shouldn’t I switch these around?”  Traction on the front, surface area on the back?

Thanks for joining me, John!  If you are interested in talking to John you can find him on twitter @ElectricElm.  I am always looking for new and exciting stories about commuting so if you have one, don’t hesitate to reach out to me!  Thanks for reading and keep the rubber side down!

- by Aaron Madrid

I love to ride my bike.  I can say that most of the time my train of thought eventually leads back to some aspect of cycling.  I started commuting by bike as part of a fitness goal.  I’ll never forget the feeling I had the first time I rode my first commute to work on my first adult bike.  Two bikes and thousands of miles later and I’m still pedaling, only now it’s for a little bit of a different reason.  I decided that this month it would be fun to revisit just why it is that I ride to work, and why you should too.

1.  Above all else, my commute gives me an excuse to ride my bike.  Sadly my commute is rather short these days, but all the more reason to ride it as much as I can.  As I have gotten more aggressive in my riding I have found it harder and harder to find the amount of time I would like to spend in the saddle available to me.  As a father and husband my family will always come first, but no one will ever tell me not to go to work, so how I get there is up to me.

2.  Don’t be fooled, I  am not a morning person.  In fact, my lack of ability to function at even 50% in the mornings is probably the largest deterrent to my morning commute.  Fortunately I work at a wonderful place that doesn’t require me to be punctual, at least overly punctual.  If I am a few minutes late I can always just work a few minutes late to make up the time.  The truth is, behind my family and by cycling, work is the number three thing on my mind at all times, so a few minutes doesn’t hurt anyone (Passageways.com for all your intranet needs).  Of course, there is also that magical beverage called coffee which I am a huge fan of.  Once I overcome the urge to be lazy and hop on the bike, I am almost instantly happy I did.  Riding to work makes my entire day better.  I get to work and feel energized and ready to work.  My brain is already firing on all cylinders and I’m ready for whatever the day brings.

3.  I started cycling to get in shape.  High impact workouts were far from appealing to me and I remembered loving riding as a kid, so it made sense. The more I have learned the ways of the bike the more I have learned of the less than obvious reasons to ride.  The average person will lose 13 pounds riding to work in their first year for obvious reasons.  But did you know that adding 30 minutes of daily cycling will also save us (all of us) $544 in medical costs a year?  That doesn’t mean my commute saves me alone that money, it means it saves United States Tax payers that money.  I’ll let you do the math and save you the politics on that one.  A less thought about fact is that 50%-90% of emissions are caused by cars.  That probably explains why 1 in 2 people breathe polluted air every day.  Commuting by bike isn’t just healthy for the people who do it, it’s healthy for all of us!

4.  I live in a medium sized college town.  Each summer our city tries to accomplish all the road construction possible while the students are away from town.  Each fall our population increase by about 30,000 people.  That means our roads increase with quite a bit of traffic.  Living here my entire life I have grown used to this in some respects, but I still loathe it.  That was all before I started commuting by bike.  Studies show that riding a bike is 50% faster in heavy traffic, even following all laws and regulations (which you should always do).  So yes, I love flying through all those construction sites without having to stop and wait on confused drivers.  It is dangerous, but I feel like the danger is more in my hands than when I am in a car.

5.  Last but not least, commuting by bike saves me money.  Granted you can spend plenty on a bike to ride, and I’ll be the first to say just how many fun upgrades there are to purchase.  But all you really need are two wheels, a frame, some cranks, and a chain.  You don’t even need more than one gear if you dare.  The possibilities are endless for ways to find a bike to ride.  All you have to do is save a little cash for a bike and a helmet, and start riding (might be a good idea to look back at some of the previous LTC posts for more tips).  Gasoline, car insurance, car maintenance, all makes up one of the largest costs for most households.  Even just dropping from 2 cars to one, or letting one spouse drive while you ride can save you hundreds each month.

In short, I love everything about riding to work.  From being able to have a daily excuse to get out and ride, to the health benefits for me and those around me, to the financial benefits, and more; I love commuting by bike and think you would too.  Get a bike and a helmet a get out and ride!

It’s been a while since we have talked commuting gear in this little series so I thought it was time for an update.  It seems like there isn’t a day that goes by that some new and exciting piece of equipment that you simply must have is introduced to the market.  I blame Fancy and Pinterest for being able to assemble a seemingly endless supply of unique and overly priced awesome stuff.  However, let me be the first to tell you what you already know, you don’t need all that junk. I know, it’s a shocking revelation, and one that I did not come to easily.

I am a total gadget and gear geek, it’s no secret.  When new stuff comes out there is a small part of me that jumps up and down and gets excited like a 6-year-old on Christmas Eve.  Then there is the other part of me that has a wife who, thankfully, keeps me from spending all my money on the latest and greatest things I discover on the internet.

Since completing my fixed gear (and adding a brake) I have learned about a different aspect of commuting.  @Egggman once told me during one of my first #Bikeschool sessions that he loved riding a fixie because it was so simple.  In theory that made sense to me, but you don’t really understand what that means until you are riding one regularly.  There really is something about riding a fixed gear bike that captures the heart of what I think riding is all about.

For many, riding captures a feeling that we haven’t had since we were young.  Many of us rode a bike as children but at some point our two-wheeled adventures stopped.  I don’t know about you, but the first bikes I owned didn’t have gears either.  I didn’t worry about derailleurs or my bike frame weight, I just rode. Riding a fixed gear brings all of those feelings rushing back.  While I still love to go fast and am even looking to try my legs at racing (I will have just raced my first Cat5 road race by the time you read this), I have a new appreciation for riding thanks to my old 80’s model Schwinn Traveler.  I finally get what @Egggman loves about his fixie.

That said, I have made an adjustment in my commuting gear, as I haven’t been taking advantage of these daily rides to train for racing.  Early on in this series I introduced you to the awesome folks at Chrome and their awesome Kursk Pro commuter shoe.  A while back I acquired one of their famous commuting bags. Chrome is most famous for their customizable messenger bags, designed by bike messengers to be able to carry the large loads of commuters and messengers alike.  These higher dollar bags are worth every penny.  Chrome offers stock colours, but if you really want you can design your own bag to look however you want.  Frequently they often have sales on certain colours of bags allowing you to save some cash.  My Chrome bag is the only bag I have carried to work that has easily been able to fit everything I need to bring on my ride while remaining comfortable strapped across my back.  The strap offers incredible shoulder comfort and the unique design allows for easy on-the-go adjustments.  The outside of the bag is made from a thick canvas and is lined with a vinyl material that keeps everything inside safe and dry on those wet rides.

I also recently acquired a helmet from a popular company called BERN.  This company specializes in urban looking helmets that have a brim on the front making them look more like a baseball cap than a helmet.  While the company offers several models with different features, I went with the base, the Watt. Even at the base level this helmet is probably the most comfortable helmet I have ever worn.  For some reason I have a special place in my heart for cycling gloves and helmets, and I am really not too sure why.  I have more of both than I really need, but occasionally I find someone who needs one or the other and I get to pass them on.

I have tried $30 dollar helmets and $300 dollar helmets and none compare to the comfort of this helmet.  I could actually wear it like a hat all day.  One of the best features of this helmet is that the lining is snapped in.  Bern offers inserts for this helmet that help you better prepare for the elements.  I already have a lining that simply snaps together in seconds creating a nice winter helmet that covers my ears and keeps the wind out.  I look forward to trying it out once the temperatures drop (if they ever drop).

Both this bag and helmet will set you back a little, but the quality is guaranteed.  Chrome always impresses me with the durability of their products.  They truly understand the abuse a commute can put on your gear as well as just how much space you need to carry everything with you comfortably.  Likewise, Bern seems to grasp our needs.  Bern helmets are slightly more expensive than some helmets, but not by much, and they prove their worth instantly.  Reliable and comfortable gear helps me enjoy my commute even more.  I don’t have to pre-pack my bag anymore to make sure everything will fit the night before, and my helmet keeps my head safe and ready in a snap.

When I was a kid I didn’t want to take time to think about stuff, I just wanted to ride.  Now when I wake up, I have some breakfast, enjoy a cup of coffee, and I am free to hop on the bike, clip in and ride my trails to work.

Photos c/o Chrome and BERN

Several months ago I decided to use some of the old bike parts in my garage to try to assemble my own fixed gear bike.  For those that don’t know, fixed gear bikes are not just for people with mustaches.  Fixed gear bikes actually started out as track bikes before slowly becoming the universal designation for bike messengers and hipsters.  Bike messengers adopted these bikes primarily because their inner-city travel didn’t require too much gear changing due to the stop and go nature of traveling in a traffic heavy area. As fixed gear bikes are simply composed of fewer parts, the bikes naturally require considerably less mechanical work and likewise, don’t have nearly the mechanical issues.

There is a big difference between a true fixed gear bike, and the more popular, commonly mislabeled, single speed bike.  Many manufacturers that sell pre-made “fixies” often really mean “single speed”.  A single speed bike typically has a freewheeling hub to allow for coasting, while a fixed gear has a fixed hub.  Meaning that on a fixed gear, when you pedal, the bike moves and when you stop pedaling the wheels stop turning… or at least they try to stop turning.  Some people are brave (read as crazy) enough to ride a fixed gear with no hand brakes, relying solely on their leg power to slow and stop the bike. Single speed bikes typically have to have a hand brake of sometime or you would never stop the bike.

If you look around online you can find a plethora of tutorials on a simple way to build a fixed gear bike from any old parts.  With only investing about $50 dollars, I have managed to recently complete my fixed gear using a frame from an old 1983 Schwinn Traveler.  I had never ridden a true fixed gear bike until I hopped on the saddle of this beast to give it a shot.  I decided a while ago that I needed to quit riding my nice bike to work, because the commute was just beating it up too much; my new fixed gear was the replacement plan.  I used some 700×37 sized hybrid tires (which fit perfectly thanks to the large frame) which made the whole thing look rather meaty.  Basically I decided I never wanted to be afraid of falling over on the unexpected patch of gravel again.

The one thing I didn’t do, primarily because I thought my now sculpted legs were hardcore enough to work fine for brakes, was apply a front or rear brake.  I hopped on the saddle and rode out of my driveway.  Now, any cyclist that has been riding fairly seriously for a while will likely be not be intimidated by the prospect of not being able to stop pedaling unless you actually wanted to stop.  Going to the gym and hopping on a trainer typically means a full hour of non-stop high cadence pedaling for me.  I assumed that this ride would be similar.  Of course, what you forget is that riding in the gym typically means you don’t need to randomly stop quickly.  I did a couple of laps around the block, and while it was a little strenuous due to the rather intense gear ratio I chose, I was confident that I could handle my 5-6 mile commute to work the next morning.  On the recommendation from an experienced track cyclist, I went ahead and also moved my clips to the fixed gear from my road bike because apparently you really do not want to slip off the pedals of a fixie whilst rolling at any kind of speed.  I was a little nervous, but excited.

The next morning I woke up bright and early, put on my short shorts and my favorite v-neck, and took the bike out to the sidewalk to prepare for the ride.  I also drank an extra cup of coffee and a bit of OJ to make sure I had plenty of extra oomph to keep those legs moving.  Just to recap… I was about to clip myself into a bike that had no brakes besides the stopping power of my legs, and ride through town, for 5-6 miles, uphill all the way.  Yes…stomach of anger, suitcase of courage, head of idiot.  The first mile was not a big deal. I felt comfortable with my speed and ability to keep up the pace.  My legs were feeling strong, pulsing with the power of coffee.  Then… up ahead in the distance… I saw a shimmering light… my head grew heavy and my site grew dim… I knew I would have to stop for the red light (drum break).

The 1,000 feet leading up to the light began the slight incline that is my hill to work, so naturally I lifted the hammer to allow gravity to naturally slow the bike.  I had seen a million videos of those guys on fixies slamming on the brakes and sliding their bikes to a stop, and yes, I am pretty sure that in my delusional mind this is what I was expecting to happen.  100 feet, 50 feet, 30 feet to the light… I try to tighten my legs to bring the bike to the stop, but besides the immediate pulsing of the veins in my legs… nothing happened. 20 feet, 10 feet, 5 feet… I‘m still moving forward.  I stood up out of the saddle pulling up with my left leg and pushing down with my right, hoping that my clips will stay engaged and my internal pleading with the bike to stop will somehow be heard…

I stop.

Wow… the first mile… the first red-light… and I am a little terrified.  I had come this far already and if I am anything, it’s stubborn.  Sure I could have rode back home and 4-wheeled it in… but I’m not AarontheQuitter… I’m Aaronthestrong.  “No big deal”, I told myself that as I approached the next light I would just increase my stopping distance by a mile or two.  The light turned green and I rode on.  Fortunately the next three lights managed to stay green as I approached with caution.  Then, halfway through the relatively crowded college campus I ride through, a light turned red.  This time it caught me a little off guard… I was only 500 feet out from the stop and moving faster than I had been at the first light. I was pretty sure that I was going to die.  I tried to extend my legs to brake like I had the first time.  I’m pretty sure my legs and bike both laughed at me.  The only thing I could do was hang a right at the light.  I was a little proud of myself, actually, for my ability to think quick and relieved with my handling skills when I leaned into the turn and kept myself in the tight bike lane and away from the SUV that was 3 feet to my right.  Still… this was dumb, and I was not feeling very good about my remaining commute.

I rode on.  The bike gods must have taken pity on me because the rest of the ride was uneventful.  I made sure to give myself plenty of stopping time at the next few lights and made it to work a short while later.  The entire trip took me only 3 minutes more than my average commute.  My legs felt like I had just left the gym after leg workout day.  The veins were pulsing in my calves and popping out at my knees.  It was one of the most intense rides I have had to date.

So what did I learn from my first fixed gear experience?  Well, brakes are important…for one.  I am pretty sure that if I had not gone with such large tires then perhaps I might have had a little easier time…but one thing is certain, I have no idea how those guys do the slide stop thing that always looks so cool.  I also learned just how important it is to stay aware during a commute.  You never know when something is going to happen and you won’t be able to stop or might have to react quickly to someone else.  The last thing I learned is that riding a fixed gear bike is not just something the “cool kids” are doing these days.  I have since ridden this bike quite a few more times around the neighborhood and I am pretty confident that it is going to be a great way to work on my leg strength and improve my riding skills.  If you have a spare frame, wheels, and a chain hanging around you can pretty much put together one of these rides.  At most you might need to throw down 30-40 dollars for a fixed hub rear wheel and cog, but those can be easily created on your own if you need to as well.  If you don’t want to ride one yourself, I at least recommend you swing out to your local shop and just take one for a spin, it’s an experience any cyclist will appreciate!

Loving the Commute Series

by Aaron Madrid

I have a secret to tell… I want to be a racer.  In fact, this fall I plan on competing in my first race at the Mass Ave Crit in Indianapolis.  I have some friends that are coaches, and hope to take advantage of their services some day, but until then I am resolved to search the internet for tips and tricks.  The biggest challenge for my training has been finding the time to get in the rides I believe are needed to improve my riding.  That’s when it occurred to me that I can just train on my commutes!

Unlike many commuters I speak to, I don’t have the benefit of a long trail that takes me to work.  Most of my route, especially if I wish to make it work on time, requires me to share the road with the 4 wheelers of my fair city.  However, that has leant itself well to my training plan.  One thing I have noticed is a common suggestion for most training plans, regardless of your end goal, is the ever painful interval. In truth, intervals are actually much easier on my commute than on most of my other rides.  Thanks to stop signs and lights, I frequently have the opportunity to sprint my legs off for a good distance before sitting again.

There is nothing I love more than pulling up to a stop light next to a moped, and then pouring my soul into the pedals as I sprint passed the driver when the light changes.  Of course, I don’t always win, but it’s a blast to try.  When I cross through town I try my hardest to stay out of the saddle from light to light so I am working on my endurance and power at the same time.  Obviously intervals require short breaks in-between bursts of work, but I find the lights usually comply well with my need to sit. The important thing to always remember is to stay aware. I have discussed at length the dangers of commuting.  Adding these intervals and a bit of focused training can actually create more danger for you if you aren’t careful and still obey the laws of the road. I’m not sure if it’s the look of anguish on my face or the sweat pouring from my brow, but I find when I am killing myself down a bike lane, drivers tend to feel my pain and give me a bit of a break.

Another thing I like to try to do is climb every hill I can find on the way to work.  I used to avoid the big nasties, but now I seek them out. Sometimes I will even take a longer route to work, just so I can test my legs on a big hill.  If you can tell your legs to shut up first thing in the morning as you climb, you can beat them every time.  Climbing is a great way to improve power and endurance as well, and has worked wonders for my riding.  It’s a short ride in for me, but adding hills ensures I need the morning shower.

Handling skills have to be top notch if you plan to commute by bike.  You never know when you will have to slam the brakes or dodge a sudden pothole that seems to have opened up from nowhere in front of you.  Your reaction time can only improve as you focus on your surroundings and your intervals.  I have even learned the art of the bunny hop, though I have yet to use it for more than the occasional curb hop.

The final hidden benefit of training to race during a commute is all about the mental anguish.  As I mentioned, I have yet to compete, myself, but one thing I always hear the pros say is just how mentally exhausting racing is.  Commuting can be pretty darn mentally exhausting as well.  In fact, I like to think that the constant battle I wage with traffic on a commute is great preparation for the peloton ahead of me.  If you can ride a few feet from a speeding car or truck, you can ride closer to another cyclist, no problem.  Some people might say that pretending the car in front of me is my lead out at the Tour de France, might be an indication that my mental prowess is actually doing the opposite of improving, but I tend to disagree.  Be safe, keep a good head, and ride hard.

In light of recent tragic cycling events, this post is going to have a slightly different tone.  This post is aimed at the bike commuter and those of you driving your cars.  Unfortunately, I know that most of those who will read this spend much of their time on the bike and already know a lot of what I will say.  So first and foremost, I implore you, the simplest thing you can do is share this post.  I challenge you to send this post to at least one person you know that DOES NOT ride a bike regularly.  Email it, Facebook it, tweet it, post it to the ends of the earth.  Feel free to copy the text right out of the article and post it on your own and take credit yourself, because this isn’t about me or Lovingthebike.com, this is about all of our lives and the lives of those who care about us.

To Cyclists:

We have as much responsibility for our own lives, as do those around us.  It’s easy to point fingers at careless drivers, or yell and scream when someone gets too close, but as a member of the traveling public, we have a responsibility to minimize the inconvenience that we can present on the road.

Yes, I know, I just admitted that I indeed can inconvenience 4-wheel commuters when I ride my bike.  But, “I have a right to be on this road as much as you do!”.   Have you ever thought that to yourself as someone nearly took your head off passing too closely?  I assure you, I scream it in my head at least 5 times a commute, right or wrong.  Consider this, Speed Limits are recommended safe traveling speeds.  Lots or research, laws, time, and money go into ensuring these limits are fair and average.  One thing that many forget is that these limits aren’t just a maximum suggested limit, but a minimum as well.  This means that if you look over as you pedal past a 45 or 50 mph speed limit sign… chances are you are impeding traffic.   If you were you in a car, you could actually be ticketed for such an offense.  We live in a time when laws have not necessarily caught up with the trend of growing cyclists on the roads.  Many cities and towns are beginning to leap into the current world and provide bike lanes, and paths, but rest assured that the vast majority of local governments are not there yet.

It is up to you to make your biking community known to your local government, so get involved, start talking, make some noise, get noticed.  Change doesn’t happen on its own.  May is National Bike Month, it’s the perfect time to get noticed as most cities in the US are already hosting some sort of events.  Your city officials will be much less likely to ignore you this month than next.  Another small tip for raising local awareness, this month your local media outlets are also looking for stories on cycling…..so consider writing something.

I discussed planning in last month’s Loving the Commute.  Next time you plan your commute, try to plan it in a way that will minimize your effect on car traffic.  If drivers won’t heed our advice, then perhaps it’s time to try a different tactic and lead by example and show that we can compromise.  One day we will all have a rightful place on the road, but until then, take your safety into your own hands.

To Drivers:

Hello driver, I am a cyclist, and I would like to be friends.  I love to ride my bike to and from work.  That said, I realize that sometimes my being on the road in front of you can slow down your morning commute, and for that, I sincerely apologize.  I would like to take a moment and let you in on a few facts.  In my city, and many others in the USA, it is actually illegal for a cyclist to ride on the sidewalk.  It is for this reason that I ride on the road.  I am required by law to abide by all of the same laws as you  while in the road, which means that I will stop at stop signs and lights, and I will signal lane changes and turns.  I will do my best to maintain a speed that is as close the limit as possible.  I have even been known to speed occasionally (which I assure you is always for your benefit, not because it’s awesome.)

All I would like is for you to pay attention and follow the laws that you always have while driving.  That means you shouldn’t try to pass another vehicle (like a bicycle) in the same lane, or by crossing a solid line to do so (solid lines mean stay in your lane, dashed mean you can pass).  That also means that you shouldn’t follow too close or do anything while driving that could distract you from objects on the road in front of you (like a bicycle).  Perhaps you wouldn’t mind trying the following technique.  Pretend that the cyclist on the road in front of you is actually a large semi pulling a load of Zombie virus in a trailer that doesn’t have a lid.  Avoid it…at all costs.  Give it plenty of room.  Don’t yell at the driver because he or she might be a zombie themselves that will then follow you around the rest of the day hunting your brains for yelling at them.  Don’t try to pass unless you can make it without getting in a crash yourself.  I think if you take this approach then cyclists like me won’t have to be scared to ride their bikes to work.

More cyclists on the roads means lower health insurance premiums for you, improved road quality due to all our whining about potholes and less global warming due to our efforts to decrease the collective carbon footprint (not to mention eventually less traffic as more bike lanes are installed to make room for all the cyclists).  We can help each other, and it’s really not that hard.  Please consider it.  17,000 deaths or injuries occur in the cycling community each year and over 90% of them are due to drivers not following the rules.  Just obey the law, and be careful, and we can all get along.

We are talking about human lives here people.  Just be careful, be respectful, and be kind… my daughter and wife will appreciate it.

- Aaron

Image c/o www.rospa.com