Comments on: Taking the Plunge http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/08/05/taking-the-plunge/ The Online Magazine of Austin Cycling Culture Tue, 15 May 2012 00:59:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Alicia http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/08/05/taking-the-plunge/comment-page-1/#comment-284 Alicia Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:04:16 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=88#comment-284 Thanks for the great article. Here are a few extra thoughts: 1. If you think you HAVE to drive to work because you have to drive for work, talk to your boss. I do need to drive for work sometimes, and often I am providing transportation to other people, so it's not work I can do on my bike. My boss and I came up with a schedule and in four months, we haven't run into any problems we couldn't work out. I don't bike every day, but I do bike every week. 2. No shower at work. Talk this up at lunch and you will find a lot of allies for installing a shower at work. People who work early, who work late, who want to go to the gym at lunch time, etc. will all be grateful for a shower. So, just because you think no one at work is a bike commuter (that is the case at my office, too), it doesn't mean that anyone will be against installing a shower. We are going through some red tape at my office, and it hasn't been installed yet, but I haven't found it to affect my biking to work as much as I thought it would. I dry off at the office and then change into work clothes. 3. It's too far. My round trip is around 22 miles and I thought it was going to be too far -- it's not. I am not in perfect shape and I do not have an expensive bike and I am here to tell you that even riding uphill almost the entire way home is very doable. Even before I had a light-weight bike, I could do one way in 45 minutes. In my car, it took about 30 - 35 minutes depending on traffic. And now when I get home, I don't try to cram down a snack and then head to the gym; I'm completely done for the evening -- it's worth the extra 10 minutes it takes me to get home. If the day is really hot, or I am extra tired and don't think I can make it the whole way, I stop at Chilito's on Manor Rd. for my own personal happy hour (it's only happened once during all of last summer). Thanks for the great article. Here are a few extra thoughts:

1. If you think you HAVE to drive to work because you have to drive for work, talk to your boss. I do need to drive for work sometimes, and often I am providing transportation to other people, so it’s not work I can do on my bike. My boss and I came up with a schedule and in four months, we haven’t run into any problems we couldn’t work out. I don’t bike every day, but I do bike every week.

2. No shower at work. Talk this up at lunch and you will find a lot of allies for installing a shower at work. People who work early, who work late, who want to go to the gym at lunch time, etc. will all be grateful for a shower. So, just because you think no one at work is a bike commuter (that is the case at my office, too), it doesn’t mean that anyone will be against installing a shower. We are going through some red tape at my office, and it hasn’t been installed yet, but I haven’t found it to affect my biking to work as much as I thought it would. I dry off at the office and then change into work clothes.

3. It’s too far. My round trip is around 22 miles and I thought it was going to be too far — it’s not. I am not in perfect shape and I do not have an expensive bike and I am here to tell you that even riding uphill almost the entire way home is very doable. Even before I had a light-weight bike, I could do one way in 45 minutes. In my car, it took about 30 – 35 minutes depending on traffic. And now when I get home, I don’t try to cram down a snack and then head to the gym; I’m completely done for the evening — it’s worth the extra 10 minutes it takes me to get home. If the day is really hot, or I am extra tired and don’t think I can make it the whole way, I stop at Chilito’s on Manor Rd. for my own personal happy hour (it’s only happened once during all of last summer).

]]> By: Mark Stosberg http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/08/05/taking-the-plunge/comment-page-1/#comment-61 Mark Stosberg Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:45:52 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=88#comment-61 Great article! The link to the <a href="http://www.simpleliving.net/pdf/ehtlcar.pdf" rel="nofollow">PDF</a> was especially interesting, but the link to "bike picker" is broken. Great article! The link to the PDF was especially interesting, but the link to “bike picker” is broken.

]]> By: marcus http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/08/05/taking-the-plunge/comment-page-1/#comment-11 marcus Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:13:30 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=88#comment-11 Paul, thanks for your comments, very good information, and much appreciated. Paul, thanks for your comments, very good information, and much appreciated.

]]> By: Paul Dorn http://austinontwowheels.org/2008/08/05/taking-the-plunge/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Paul Dorn Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:00:31 +0000 http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=88#comment-10 One of the big challenges for many wanna-be bicycle commuters is safety. As most experienced bicycle commuters know, the perception of danger is far, far greater than the reality. But a <a HREF="http://bikecommutetips.blogspot.com/2008/07/bicycling-increases-so-does-injury-rate.html" rel="nofollow">few basic techniques</a> will greatly reduce your risks when bicycle commuting: - Know your bicycle. Learn how your bike handles: how it stops, accelerates, turns, and shifts. Gaining confidence in your bicycle handling skills will greatly improve your safety. - Keep it working. Keep your bike well-maintained and you will avoid many problems. - Pre-ride inspection. Before you ride, give your bike the "ABC Quick Check": Air, Brakes, Crankset, Quick Releases. - Be seen. Ride predictably, with traffic in the street not the sidewalk, where drivers can see you. - Be heard. Communicate with hand signals, bell, horn, and smiles. - Be assertive. Timid riding invites abuse. Define your space. Don’t be bullied. - Be alert. Watch for hazards: potholes, debris, open car doors. - Speed kills. Fast is fun, bu ride in control at all times. - Be smart. Obey traffic laws. Or the law of traffic. Know your limits. Happy bicycle commuting. It has all the benefits mentioned above. And it's way, way fun. Paul Dorn Sacramento, CA One of the big challenges for many wanna-be bicycle commuters is safety. As most experienced bicycle commuters know, the perception of danger is far, far greater than the reality. But a few basic techniques will greatly reduce your risks when bicycle commuting:
- Know your bicycle. Learn how your bike handles: how it stops, accelerates, turns, and shifts. Gaining confidence in your bicycle handling skills will greatly improve your safety.
- Keep it working. Keep your bike well-maintained and you will avoid many problems.
- Pre-ride inspection. Before you ride, give your bike the “ABC Quick Check”: Air, Brakes, Crankset, Quick Releases.
- Be seen. Ride predictably, with traffic in the street not the sidewalk, where drivers can see you.
- Be heard. Communicate with hand signals, bell, horn, and smiles.
- Be assertive. Timid riding invites abuse. Define your space. Don’t be bullied.
- Be alert. Watch for hazards: potholes, debris, open car doors.
- Speed kills. Fast is fun, bu ride in control at all times.
- Be smart. Obey traffic laws. Or the law of traffic. Know your limits.

Happy bicycle commuting. It has all the benefits mentioned above. And it’s way, way fun.

Paul Dorn
Sacramento, CA

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