July 7, 2013

“Johnny”….”here”….”Monica”…”here”

Good morning class! Now that we are all here, I want to start class with a fun bike commuting fact: There is a higher ratio of men with beards that bike commute VS men that [are super lame and] drive cars to work. Those who ride their bikes have bigger and fuller beards, better legs and date/marry more attractive women than their car-commuting-comrades…looking better in spandex doesn’t hurt either. So, what does one ride to work on? Anyone? That’s right, Suzy, they ride bicycles; or as they are commonly referred to, “rigs”. And that is what we are talking about today: THE RIG

Today’s lesson on bike commuting is brought to you by big red….if you don’t chew big red than F$@% you” (trademarked by Ricky Bobby of Ricky Bobby Corp) Just like everything in life; Boats, Houses, Cars, ect., there is no ‘perfect’ bike. I would love to tell you where to buy this perfect bike’s make and model for all that you want, and all you have to do is choose the color you like and the size that’s right for you, but that’s not how it works. I would advise that you buy a real bike from a genuine cycling store (or REI) and tell them what you want the bike for, rather than some cheap knock-off at Target, Walmart or Costco. It is okay if you have no clue what to look for or how to buy your rig, as a genuine cycle store or REI will have employees that can walk you through all of the fine-details that will make your “rig” the perfect one for you.

When choosing a bike, there are so many factors to consider; your fitness level, the distance you will be riding, where (hills VS no hills) and when you’re planning to ride (all year or spring/summer/fall) are just a few things to consider. The start of this quest should began by taking a look in your garage, because the best commuter bike might already be there right now. Depending on the type of bike you own, a few small adjustments / modifications could be all that you need to be on your way with very little $$$$. What type of bike do you have?

There are 4 major categories of bikes. You likely have one of these already, and they all have pros……what?…you don’t know the 4 major classes of bikes?…okay class, get your pen and paper ready:

4 Bike Categories:

• Mountain Bike
• Comfort or Commuter Bike
• Road Bike
• Cruiser Bike

And within each of these categories are SEVERAL subcategories that get more and more detailed and ‘finite’. Generally though, any of these “rigs” could be the perfect bike for you. The quality and/or repair needed on your current bike, however, may be something to consider VS buying a new bike. Each category has pros/cons, which I will talk about.

MOUNTAIN BIKE:

First things first. You do not need to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on this bike (or any bike) off the bat. If you are a newby to the biking world, don’t believe that spending $5000 on a bike is better than spending $500. You will NOT want or need the fancy ‘dual-suspension downhill’ bike for commuting. It will be uncomfortable and most of the power in your pedal strokes will be wasted(ie lots of effort with little forward movement). So, if that’s what you have now, I would suggest that you find something else. However, your standard front-suspension-only mtn bike can be a very serviceable commuting rig. I, personally, think mountain bikes are a little slow and heavy for longer commuting rides. But if you are riding less then 8-10 miles, round-trip, this doesn’t matter much. You will also have the adjustable gears for hills (if you have any). One nice thing about the mountain bike is that you can ride in just about all weather conditions relatively comfortably. That said, you may want to switch out those knobby dirt tires for a slicker (and faster) road-like tire. Another pro of the mountain bike is that you can ride on all sorts of different terrain (like if you have to go on bike-paths that are not paved or take short cuts through “nature”). You can pretty much ride on anything with a mountain bike, and they make a hearty and beefy bike, so it may be easier to deal with any obstructions you may encounter. You will also want to lock out that forward brake for urban riding, otherwise it will steal your forward momentum….what’s that? You don’t know how to do that? Well then, I will cover that at the end of this lesson.

COMFORT/COMMUTER BIKE:

These bikes are far less expensive, less prone to theft, easy to fix, more comfortable to ride with ergonomic frames and lighter than mountain or cruiser bikes. If you are going to be riding around 10 miles per day, then this is a better option then the mountain bike. They can be heavy and a little slower than other styles, and you may not gain any style points with other fellow riders, but all-in-all these bikes are perfect for the casual commuter. They can be a challenge in harsher weather, but they are still very sturdy bikes so you should be okay most of the year.

CRUISER BIKE:

Cruising rigs are all about style. They are the slowest and heaviest bike of the bunch, but man….they look so freaking cool! They are a no-maintenance type of bike, because they tend to be single speeds. They are easy to clean, comfortable and easy to pedal over short distances. But be warned; if you’re riding one of these, you’d better not have more then a handful of miles each way (think 6 or less in a day) or you may quickly hate them. The single speed means that hill-climbs will be more of a challenge because there are no gears to help assist you with easier pedaling. They can be more cumbersome as well, so think about your particular needs and goals. These bikes can also be a challenge in harsh weather, especially when there is snow or ice on the ground. If you have thicker tires on these bikes, then you should probably be okay.

ROAD BIKE:

I think that these bikes are the best commuting bike and this is what I ride. They are SUPER light and fast, and you will travel a fair distance very quickly with minimal effort compared to any of the other styles. The downfall with these bikes is that they do require a fair amount of maintenance (20 mins a week for daily riding) and they can be less comfortable than any of the others. The tradeoff is speed and energy efficiency. If you are riding over 12 miles a day, you will be much happier with this choice for your rig. They can be a challenge in crummy weather…often tricky in winter conditions because of the very thin wheels without any traction. These bikes can also get pricey quickly, but the bottom line performance bike of any brand (think $500-$700 bones, plus a few mods) is more then enough of a bike to get you on your way. If this seems expensive, just think about how much your car costs to maintain, including gas. I have done the math and per month you can save over $300 riding a bike than driving a car. Plus you get the added bonus of getting fit and healthy.

MY PERFECT BIKE: THE SINGLE SPEED

My perfect rig would be a combination of speed and quickness of a road bike with the simple setup and style of a cruiser. There is a bit of a movement towards the single speed bike (only one gear). They are cheap, very reliable and easy to maintain and customize. The trick is that you already need to have the strength and skill to ride them, which you will only get by putting those miles under your belt.

Bike Modifications are a nice way to improve upon the rig that you have chosen. You will be surprised how effective just a few simple tweaks can be to your comfort and effectiveness getting underway. One simple and important modification: Lights..lots of lights.

Just about every time I go into a bike store, I look at lights and buy a couple. They are pretty cheap (between $5 and $25) and you can never have enough lights. You should look for at least one super bright light with a rubber gasket to block out rain. On my handle bars, I use lights for dawn/dusk riding. One is a rather large spotlight so that I can see, and the other is slightly smaller and has the option of strobe. Strobes are nice to have when moving through intersections in the dark, best to be seen rather than waking up in a hospital bed…or not at all. I also put another light under my seat, leaving the reflector in place also. This is the the light that cars expect to see. I’ve also found the lights that clip into your wheel spokes are nice to give a passerby a better sense of where you are. I have seen so many bikes out there with no lights, and I think that is just stupid. This basic setup in addition to the many lights on your bag (see previous post) will heighten your chances of not getting hit by a car.

Another mod that I suggest is to get a few different types of tires, for all conditions. Generally a set of slick tires and treaded tires are good to switch out seasonally so that you can ride more efficiently all year long. The name of the game is minimal friction, which will keep you moving faster with less energy exhertion. Knobby mountain bike tires definitely have there place, but roads, bike paths and sidewalk riding is not one of them (unless its winter). No matter what type of bike you have, your ride will be much nicer with slick and smooth road tires. You can find these in every shape and size for this exact purpose at any cycle shop or REI.

Lastly, no matter what type of bike you have, you will want to get a pair of clipless pedals (and matching shoes). They are very easy to install (5 mins) and you can certainly do this yourself. Most people fear the clipless pedal because…what if I fall? The bike will fall on me right? How will I get my feet out before I fall? You will be surprised how easy it is to get in and out with a little bit of practice (over a grassy area because you may fall once or twice). Once your fears are put to rest, you will see how much more power that you will gain, as well as speed and balance, using less energy. This will make your rides much easier and make you feel like a superstar on your bike because you will be moving much more efficiently.

OH and before I leave you, I wanted to go talk about more specific modifications to your bike (if you have a mountain bike for example). If you are going to spend any time riding a bike, you will need to acquire a few SIMPLE skills. With time, you will learn all that you need to keep your rig up and running. Sure, you can ride a dilapidated bike. I would personally be embarrassed by the squeaking and not confident that my bike would ever make it to its final destination. Just like anything, fixing your own bike is much cheaper.

Whether you are tuning up your current bike, or you have a brand new bike, I will always suggest having a pro give your rig a tune-up to replace anything that isn’t working well or is “cheap”. Even on new bikes, there could be some small “insignificant” pieces that are cheap. But, these things can cause big issues if they break. Often times a pro will be able to tell you what they recommend for your type of riding. Especially if you have an older bike that you want to ride again, its a good idea to get this tune-up for $50 to $100 max.

I would also buy a bike repair book (the best are “Zinn & Art of Bike Maintenance Books”). These books have bailed me out on my low skill set many times; with great pictures, and super easy-to-follow instructions. Bikes do require a little maintenance and bike parts are, fortunately, PDC (pretty damn cheap). Most things can be replaced or fixed with a low skill level.

So that’s it. As you progress and change with your riding ability, your bike will have to change with you. Either the one you own or a completely new style will suffice. So ride on my brothers and sisters….RIDE ON!!!