c/bike-commuter-hacks

The rain cape looks silly but beat my full fenders on the 520 bridge last Thursday

I used to swear by a $140 set of fenders through the Seattle winter, but after getting soaked from below on the bridge deck spray last week, I grabbed a $12 poncho from the gas station and rode dry the whole way home, anyone else ditched the hard gear for something you can fold into a pocket?

Rain jacket failed me on the BART bridge last Tuesday, now I pack a backup poncho

I was riding over the Bay Bridge path into SF when the sky just opened up. My so-called waterproof jacket soaked through in like 15 minutes, and I showed up to work looking like a drowned rat. Turns out the zipper seam was the weak spot, not the fabric. I grabbed a $6 emergency poncho from a gas station in Oakland and it worked better than the $80 jacket. Anyone else have a gear fail at the worst possible moment on a commute?

That guy at the bike shop told me I was ruining my chain by cleaning it too often

He said I was washing off all the factory grease and making it wear out faster, but after 6 months of barely wiping it down I got grit in my derailleur and had to replace the whole thing for $60, so has anyone else had a mechanic give bad advice that cost you money?

That one rainy week where everything went right on my commute

Last Tuesday it was pouring and I thought I'd be miserable, but I finally tried those fenders I'd been ignoring in the garage and my back stayed totally dry the whole 8 miles... Has anyone else had a piece of gear suddenly make a bad weather ride feel almost easy?

That 'shortcut' through the park nearly cost me my front wheel

I tried cutting through Riverside Park to skip three stoplights on my commute, but last week a tree root ripped my tire off the rim going downhill. Now I'm sitting here with a bent rim and a 40 minute walk to the bike shop. Anyone else have a supposed time-saver that turned into a total disaster?

Coworker told me my bike lights looked weak and now I ride totally different

Last week a guy at work pointed out my little blinkies were barely visible from 50 feet away in the morning fog. He showed me his Cygolite setup and I picked up a 600-lumen front light the same day. Has anyone else had a random person change your commute gear just by speaking up?

Hit 1,000 miles commuting this morning without realizing it

Checked my bike odometer at the office today and saw 1,001.3 miles since January. I started biking to work to save gas money, but now I actually look forward to the 10 mile ride each way. Has anyone else accidentally hit a milestone that snuck up on you?

Worst commute ever was last Tuesday when my chain snapped at 6th and Main during morning rain

Had to walk 8 blocks to the nearest bike shop in soaking wet shoes and they didn't even have the right chain in stock, has anyone else had a commute fail that just kept getting worse?

That coworker told me bike lights are a waste of money for city riding

My coworker Dave said reflective vests are plenty and lights just get stolen. I rode without a front light for 3 months through downtown Austin. Last Tuesday a car turned right into the bike lane on Congress Ave and I barely swerved in time. Got a $30 Cygolite Metro the next day and now I feel dumb for listening to him. Anyone else get bad advice from someone who doesn't actually commute daily?

Finally figured out why my handlebars were always slipping after 2 years of commuting in Chicago

Rant: Those clip-on LED lights are garbage, bought a real headlight after getting honked at 4 times in one week

Got chased halfway through my commute by a loose dog last Tuesday

I was riding through that bike path behind the old grain mill on River Road when this big golden retriever just comes tearing out of nowhere barking like I was a burglar. I pedaled so hard I almost dumped myself into a drainage ditch trying to get away. Anybody else had to deal with unpredictable animals on their route and found a way to handle it without crashing?

Switched to fenders after getting soaked 3 times this month

I used to think fenders were just extra weight and hassle, but after getting drenched on my 12 mile commute to Portland three mornings in a row, I finally caved and bought Planet Bike Cascadias for $40. They actually keep my work pants clean and dry, and I don't have to shower at my desk anymore. What's your go-to brand for keeping dry on wet roads?

I used to hate wearing a helmet until I saw a guy eat pavement on a pothole

Ngl, I was that person who never wore a helmet on my daily 15 minute ride to work downtown. I thought they were uncomfortable and I felt like people looked at me weird. Then last Tuesday I was stopped at a light and watched some dude hit a deep crack in the asphalt on Elm Street. His front wheel just folded and he went face first into the curb. Blood everywhere, ambulance showed up, he was out cold for like 5 minutes. That image stuck with me hard. Now I wear a MIPS helmet every single time, even for short trips. It's not even about the law or looking cool, it's about one bad pothole ending your day forever. Has anyone else had a close call that made them change their mind on safety gear?

I finally switched from a backpack to panniers after 8 years of commuting

I used to think panniers were just for tourists or people carrying heavy loads. But after commuting 6 miles each way to my job in Portland for eight years with a sweaty back every single day, I gave in and bought a basic set for $60. The difference was huge - no more sore shoulders and my work shirts stopped getting that crease down the middle. It took me about two weeks to get used to the bike feeling a bit wider, especially squeezing between cars at stoplights. The only downside is I can't just grab my bag and run into a store, I have to unlock the panniers first. Has anyone else dealt with that hassle or found a quick-release solution that works?

My fenders made a bigger difference than I expected

I put SKS Bluemels on my commuter last month after getting soaked every morning for two weeks straight. The difference in how dry my work pants stay is night and day, plus my chain isn't caked in grit anymore. Anybody else find that fenders changed their whole ride more than other upgrades?

After 6 months of panniers, I finally see why my knees stopped hurting

I used to ride with a backpack to work every day for like 2 years. My knees always ached by Wednesday. Switched to a pair of Ortlieb panniers last spring and the difference was pretty much instant. After 6 months, I can actually bike 5 days straight without any pain. Anyone else notice how much a backpack messes with your lower body?

Vent: My pannier kept catching in my spokes on the Capitol Hill ride home.

After three flats in two weeks I finally realized my bungee strap was dangling, and now I tuck everything away tight. Anyone else had a near wipeout from loose gear flopping into your wheel?

Chat with a coworker made me realize my pannier setup was backwards

My coworker Jen saw me struggling to balance my bag on my rack and said 'why don't you just put the heavy side closer to the bike?' I had been loading my lunch and lock on the outside pocket for like 6 months. Has anyone else had a simple fix that made a huge difference in their daily ride?

Debate: Is it worth spending $50 on a rain cape for bike commuting or just use a poncho?

I read a stat from the Adventure Cycling Association that said rain capes cut wind resistance by 30% compared to loose ponchos. That surprised me because I always thought ponchos were fine for short rides. I found this in a blog post they put out last month about wet weather gear. But a cape costs like $50-$70 and takes up more space in my bag than a $10 poncho. Some days I hit rain for only 10 minutes on my 5 mile commute to work in Seattle. Is that extra cost worth it for better aerodynamics and coverage, or am I overthinking this for short trips? What do you use when it pours on your ride?

Random chat at a co-op stand made me rethink my commuting clothes

I was at a bike co-op in Denver last Saturday picking up a used rack. Some guy there noticed I was sweating through my cotton shirt and said, "You're wearing an oven, not clothes." He explained how synthetic or merino fabrics wick moisture way better for bike commuting. It hit me different because I'd just been wearing whatever was clean for 2 years. Anyone found a decent affordable brand that doesn't smell after a few washes?

Spoke with a mechanic at the local co-op who said my tire pressure was way too high for wet pavement.

He told me that after three crashes in the rain I should drop 10 psi off my front tire, has anyone else tried lowering pressure for slippery mornings?

A coworker told me my bike lights were a joke after dark, so I upgraded

I used to run those little button lights you get at the register. They worked fine on well lit streets. But last October I got stuck late at a client meeting and rode home along a dark bike path near the river. A coworker saw me pull in and straight up said those lights are only visible from 20 feet. I got a little defensive but then I looked it up. He was right about the beam pattern. I grabbed a pair of lights that put out 400 lumens front and 100 rear with a wide flood lens. Now I can actually see potholes and gravel before I hit them. The battery lasts about 6 hours on medium too. Has anyone else had someone give them a hard truth about their setup that actually helped?

Found a $15 mirror that saved me from getting doored twice already

Honestly, I was always one of those riders who thought mirrors looked dorky and didn't need one. But after nearly getting clipped by a car door on my way down 7th Ave in Portland last month, I grabbed a cheap little bar-end mirror for like $15 on Amazon. It's just a simple round one that screws into my grip, takes 2 minutes to install. Now I can see traffic coming up behind me without twisting my neck around, which actually makes me feel way more stable on the bike. I swear it's already helped me dodge two close calls with parked car doors opening. Does anyone else use a mirror or are you still riding blind like I was?

Was dead set against fenders until last Tuesday's downpour

I always thought fenders looked dorky and added too much weight. But after getting soaked head to toe on my 6 mile ride to the shop, I threw some SKS race blades on and honestly my back is way cleaner. Anyone else cave on something they swore they'd never use?