tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post5483184527194201694..comments2024-03-18T08:41:35.438-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: Changing CommutesVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-31963863961925677862012-07-30T23:30:25.062-04:002012-07-30T23:30:25.062-04:00Johan T: Yes, a road bike is a very nice longer di...Johan T: Yes, a road bike is a very nice longer distance commuting bike, as long as the frame will take at least 1" tires and, for me at any rate -- for I hate carrying anything on my back -- it will accept a saddlebag or panniers. I commuted on numerous road bikes, though these were usually older steel bikes that would accept 25 mm tires with fenders. In fact my current commuter (well, nice commuter, since I also have a multipurpose Fargo) is a custom Rivendell with custom rack, SON dynohub and Edeluxe light as well as full size pump and sufficient kit to cope with any expected commuting breakdown.<br /><br />Phil Miller: said Rivendell, as with most of my other commuters, is in fact a fixed gear: 72" on the cruise side with a 64" bail out that I've not yet used. No mountains, but some steep hills, many long, gradual climbs, and much windiness. Solution: pedal slower. (I'm 57, and no spring chicken -- winter duck, more likely.)<br /><br />Grace: when I first started a cross-town 16 miles each way commute (don't do that any longer) as a feisty young 40-something, I also was anxious about the distance, but quickly got used to it. Really, a 10 mile commute is about ideal for me, but 16 miles -- and 10 of this was gradual but steady climbing up from ABQ's river valley toward the Sandia mountains -- turned out not to be anything particularly epic. My biggest problem was *not* making each ride a time trial. I rode this distance largely on fixed gears for a good 8-9 years.Bertin753https://www.blogger.com/profile/02860648732848589740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-80496185011381155652012-07-30T16:32:22.737-04:002012-07-30T16:32:22.737-04:00Grace, hills are not the only form of resistance y...Grace, hills are not the only form of resistance you need gears for. Wind is another, and especially affective if you are riding upright.Phil Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06588332937109449568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-12059561133016228372012-07-30T11:34:34.207-04:002012-07-30T11:34:34.207-04:00Veloria - I'm curious - when you were using th...Veloria - I'm curious - when you were using the Paper Bicycle (for commuting I'm assuming), what was average trip distance? I'm especially intrigued by that bike and the whole single speed idea in general (less is more right?!). I live in Chicago and Matthew J's comment about commuting on a single speed makes me more and more interested to try it. BUT...I'm looking at about 8-9 miles each way and while Chicago is FLAT FLAT FLAT, I'm still a little hesitant to commit. Matthew J if you're still following, how long is your commute?Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02953283368313451864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-66401233921094165462012-07-30T08:57:00.715-04:002012-07-30T08:57:00.715-04:00When I started commuting longer distances I found ...When I started commuting longer distances I found that I prefer going in road bike clothing (but spd shoes) and changing at the workplace. That way I always wear dry clothes at work and it's comfier during the ride. I pretty much pick my route so I will be able to go fast for a good bit of it so I will arrive sweaty to work.<br /><br />As long as one doesn't slam the stem I think a roadbike/cx works fine in the city takes up less space on cycle paths and saves time on the long bike paths/roads. If I need to carry something I use a backpack.<br />A cx can easily be used during the winter with studded tires and a dynamo front wheel although I believe a 29er (possibly with fenders) would be even more ideal.<br />If I biked in long normal pants I'd probably want a chain protector.Johan Tnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-13392266237708143692012-07-30T08:29:10.906-04:002012-07-30T08:29:10.906-04:00Couldn't you just arrive early, change from bi...Couldn't you just arrive early, change from bike clothes into a suit and then change back when it is time to go? If you have to look conservative all the time then cycle back and forth in tweed run clothes and change into a suit at the workplace.Johan Tnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-17178185055703335082012-07-30T03:23:46.681-04:002012-07-30T03:23:46.681-04:00it's a valid point, but the longer one has a b...it's a valid point, but the longer one has a brompton the more one realises the depth of its design - one part being that it's very seldom necessary to lift it, one can almost always roll it on easywheels, we all need to learn from our own experiences i suspect, and it sounds as if you've found a way that works for you, the only sweet thing i'll add is that with a larger front chain ring a brompton with rohloff gives the most useful mountainbike spread of gears :o)derfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15596980838764306792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-84002592859100728052012-07-29T19:25:19.916-04:002012-07-29T19:25:19.916-04:00If you are now the head of this organization, the ...If you are now the head of this organization, the solution is very simple: just make it known that the Boss has changed the "acceptable company dress" paradigm. Or else.Bertin753https://www.blogger.com/profile/02860648732848589740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-79458613295729707982012-07-29T16:03:20.469-04:002012-07-29T16:03:20.469-04:00That has to be the steepest grade ever - 400 feet ...That has to be the steepest grade ever - 400 feet up in 660 horizontal feet! Are cars allowed on this road?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-21009526591555134692012-07-29T14:12:43.540-04:002012-07-29T14:12:43.540-04:00you called it a brommie, that clearly means you lo...you called it a brommie, that clearly means you love it :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-903987002770649282012-07-29T11:09:01.190-04:002012-07-29T11:09:01.190-04:00I stumbled on rayon shirts while in Malaysia. That...I stumbled on rayon shirts while in Malaysia. That's what the locals wear. They also don similar loosely flowing crop pants. I prefer rayon for cycling shirts. Glad to see some one else appreciating the benefits. I tried to buy rayon fabric to make my own shirt, but sadly our nearby fabric store didn't carry it.anniebikeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09761205231523083781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-52829845326765879632012-07-29T09:33:25.239-04:002012-07-29T09:33:25.239-04:00@derf - (Based on my short experiments with a chea...@derf - (Based on my short experiments with a cheap, heavy folder) A folder is the one bike where I think a non-racer should be a weight weenie. Often enough you pick the bike up and lug it, and that happens far more often than you face a hill that would require the extreme low-end of a Rohloff on a 16" wheel -- and for such a hill, walking will also do.dr2chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16320828055999939449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-95435513923821612012-07-28T23:33:05.076-04:002012-07-28T23:33:05.076-04:00There's a downside to a Rohloff on a folder, a...There's a downside to a Rohloff on a folder, and that is the weight. I tried an experiment with a very cheap folder I bought on Craigslist to see how I would like it on a business trip. It was mostly a success, but the bike itself was too darn heavy. And it was too darn heavy for me, who (see links above) hoists a 65-lb bicycle into a vertical position for storage. When you have to carry the bike around as part of your commute, the weight matters. When the weight of the bike is supported by its wheels, I am not a weight weenie, but when it is yanking my arm out of its socket, I am.<br /><br />Rohloff on a commuter makes sense when you haul cargo up a hill.dr2chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16320828055999939449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-22664551786270383572012-07-28T20:23:21.189-04:002012-07-28T20:23:21.189-04:00Its not just distance. I end my morning commute wi...Its not just distance. I end my morning commute with a 400 foot elevation gain in about an eighth of a mile. After doing this climb on heavier bikes for far to long, switching to a road bike was a BLOODY REVELATION.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-35707838150630312352012-07-28T17:50:23.979-04:002012-07-28T17:50:23.979-04:00but I imagine most of you brompton owners have had...but I imagine most of you brompton owners have had the pleasure of having a bike with you in a situation you wouldn't normally (a foreign airport, train station, hotel etc.) and so being able to explore a city or town or place in a way you couldn't possibly have without? add a rohloff and, while you don't have a super light racer, you have something exponentially more powerful than before, it doesnt have to be one thing or another in lifederfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15596980838764306792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-28318688992473746982012-07-28T17:21:09.965-04:002012-07-28T17:21:09.965-04:00@V - Bike now, roughly
Outdoor storage, back in ...@V - <a href="http://dr2chase.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/about-my-cargo-bike/" rel="nofollow">Bike now, roughly</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr2chase/6841947383/in/set-72157629232476153/" rel="nofollow">Outdoor storage, back in the pre-dummy days</a><br /><br />Main thing is, the cargo bike is heavy. Rear hub is pit locked, front gets u-locked, nobody's going to sling it over their shoulder and go jogging down the road.dr2chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16320828055999939449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-285111581231080542012-07-28T15:43:39.856-04:002012-07-28T15:43:39.856-04:00We do indeed live in a golden age for commuter opt...We do indeed live in a golden age for commuter options, and one type of commuting bicycle definitely doesn't fit all scenarios.<br /><br />One point that hasn't been mentioned.....even the better Dutch bikes aren't all that well-built, and for regular, longer commuting, tend to be fairly high maintenance. I'm basing this on having owned a handful of Gazelles when living in Paris and South Beach (Miami).<br /><br />7-9 speed internal gear hubs do have noticeable internal resistance--almost like riding through a thin layer of mud. Rohloffs do not. Rohloffs are also probably the closest thing to a perfect bicycle component: great function, superb reliability, almost maintenance free, near unlimited useful life.<br /><br />For men, longer commutes/more challenging terrain and formal business attire are somewhat difficult to combine. I've commuted under any number of conditions in any number of locations, but was recently appointed head of a large organization where suits/ties are the norm, and I'm still not sure how to integrate this with cycling to work.msrwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16405671873250914126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-49085497711871273612012-07-28T13:51:38.682-04:002012-07-28T13:51:38.682-04:00Derailleurs are finicky are need lot's of adju...Derailleurs are finicky are need lot's of adjustment. Derailleur chains need frequent replacing and are getting real expensive, too. Changing rear tire flats are a pain with derailleurs. Dished wheels are weaker. And if you've heard horror stories about cable guides on top tubes I'm surprised you haven't heard horror stories about derailleur accidents!! Does this sound like I'm a Rohloff owner? :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-42576031312309162402012-07-28T13:23:47.933-04:002012-07-28T13:23:47.933-04:00The Sturmey FW has a lower low and a nice progress...The Sturmey FW has a lower low and a nice progression. It's identical to the first four gears of a Sturmey 5.<br /><br />I worked at a shop that was able to get, for two seasons, special edition Raleigh Sports fitted with the FW. We sold 800 of them. Never had a complaint. Over time with that fleet it became apparent they were distinctly more reliable than the AW and easier to keep in trim.<br /><br />Now vintage only of course but not scarce.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-88721470160138750422012-07-28T13:14:51.022-04:002012-07-28T13:14:51.022-04:00dr - Interesting, glad to be wrong. Curious about ...dr - Interesting, glad to be wrong. Curious about your bike now.<br /><br />GRJ - There was not so much a mind changing on that one, as personal experience overruling advice I was initially given. Fairly early on I realised that I disliked 7-8 speed hubs. I like the feel of 3-speeds, but beyond that something feels off to me and I prefer derailleur gearing.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-63892151736202269752012-07-28T12:55:29.941-04:002012-07-28T12:55:29.941-04:00"But personally if I can't make do with 1..."But personally if I can't make do with 1-3 speeds, then I prefer derailleur gearing. I just do not see what's wrong with derailleurs"<br /><br />Waitaminute...you changed your mind on this too.Ground Round Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09103163385322185034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-57459336479560549812012-07-28T11:37:11.780-04:002012-07-28T11:37:11.780-04:00I have a number of bikes my latest acquisition a e...I have a number of bikes my latest acquisition a electric Gazelle with a 250 watt motor In the front wheel. <br />Can be set up up so it it is like riding on the flat regardless of terrain, load , or wind <br />If have to travel 20 miles with work kit and be presentable far and away the best choiceStevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03850164036427971265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-79006356206149711312012-07-28T10:59:28.510-04:002012-07-28T10:59:28.510-04:00I, for one, am very interested to see future posts...I, for one, am very interested to see future posts on this topic. I am a registered nurse who visits patients in their homes and have done this by bicycle for the past 1 1/2 years. To complicate matters, I don't have an office and I live in Portland, OR, where the weather is....challenging. I have come up with all sorts of tricks to arrive at my various destinations looking professional, smelling fresh, and staying dry. One of my favorites is putting on a skirt or dress, folding the skirt portion up into my rain jacket, then pulling rain pants on over my lower half. Once I arrive at my destination I can pull the skirt down and wiggle out of the pants, all without needing a private place to change. Merino wool has become my best friend--I don't know what I'd do without it!ampyalihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04149048751388393415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-79542048229959252232012-07-28T07:41:27.935-04:002012-07-28T07:41:27.935-04:00I need a cromo bike with at least 27 speeds and wi...I need a cromo bike with at least 27 speeds and wider gearing to commute here. We have a lot of hills, many 15 degree plus in steepness. I prefer a more aggressive position, but upright. My tire width preference is 25-28c because of distance. I prefer double-butted cromo or Reynolds steel frames.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-3061148036325915772012-07-28T06:27:31.918-04:002012-07-28T06:27:31.918-04:00I've found two things - one eccentric and a ta...I've found two things - one eccentric and a tangent: in England arriving dry and unsweaty is bloody hard (it rains all the time), a wide rimmed hat (Tilly's do just fine) and half rain coat (Barbour makes some) works a treat as a "bicycle umbrella" and - then - there's nothing as sweet as riding in the rain - the second thing is that a rohloff is less efficient than properly maintained dérailleur (is your deraileur properly maintained? really? mine aren't), but its marginal, and its completely changed the character of my brompton, from a pussycat into something like a tame tiger.derfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15596980838764306792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-61028909309079130832012-07-28T05:06:47.998-04:002012-07-28T05:06:47.998-04:00Agree with Velouria.
The Rohloff was designeg an...Agree with Velouria. <br /><br />The Rohloff was designeg and works wonderfully for adventure cycling. It is overkill for most commuters.<br /><br />Here in Chicago i commute happily on a single speed. My tour bike has a 44 gear up front and for most tours a 5 speed 14 -34 freewheel in back. For my big cross country tour i used a 6 speed Mega range, 14 - 38. <br /><br />Dont overthink the amount gearing needed for daily riding. You will be musch happier long run.Matthew Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10408057524387021992noreply@blogger.com