Biking to Work

[AP]

Do any of you do this? Any tips? Do you wear your work clothes or shower at the office? How far is your commute?

[DoctorTaco]

I bike commute almost every day. I have a short commute (2 miles) and I come into downtown from the north, so it is mostly downhill on the way into the office. As such I don't get very sweaty so I just wear my work clothes.

Before you start commuting definitely ride your route on a Saturday or Sunday morning when there is very low traffic to get a feel for it.

I have a bike with a rear rack to carry my work stuff/laptop in a pannier. I do carry around a change kit for my tires. I've only gotten one flat in 4 years of bike commuting, but on that day I was VERY glad I carried the kit.

[dankrutka]

Bike to work everyday with a backpack, but it's less than a mile.

[AP]

What bike does each of you ride?

[Bill Robertson]

I rode to work most of the time I worked at the Kerr-McGee Tech Center at 150th & Portland. I’m lived near 39th and May. It was about 9 miles with the route I took. I pretty much time trialed almost every day so I was a sweaty mess. We had a locker room and shower. I had 24/7 access to the building so I took fresh clothes and got the clothes to be laundered on weekends. I rode a Vitus, a Cannondale and a Klein, all road bikes.

[dankrutka]

What bike does each of you ride?

Took a picture just for you.

[AP]

Thanks

[aDark]

Prior to changing jobs I biked to work from the Classen Ten Penn neighborhood (closer to Penn) to downtown OKC. It was a breeze, and gave me a boost of energy for the rest of the day. I highly recommend it. I no longer spent the first 20 minutes of work sipping coffee and getting mentally prepared for the day. With the bike ride, I had already achieved that state and was ready to get after it.

As to clothes, I am a lawyer and am expected to be in a suit and tie every day. As such, I would ride to work in gym clothes and then visit the downtown YMCA for a shower and change there. On very nice days I would ride in my work clothes as much of my ride was downhill. As for the bike, I bought a used Felt V100, as I wanted disc brakes and enough clearance for larger tires for future gravel riding. It was ideal for the commute as it sat upright and made riding in a suit jacket semi-comfortable. The only "issue" I could never resolve was how to ride to work in my dress clothes and avoid helmet hair.

Good luck! I miss riding to work a lot!!

[DoctorTaco]

What bike does each of you ride?

http://www.breezerbikes.com/bikes/details/uptown-8

I ride a dedicated commuter bike. It has a rack, built-in generator and rear and head lights, a chain gaurd (keeps your work pants and shoelaces from getting sucked into the greasy chain), and a bell (helpful for alerting pedestrians). I love having a commuter bike, but it is much slower than the road bike I usually ride.

[trousers]

Great looking bike Dr.

[cinnamonjock]

I biked to work every day when I worked in Auto Alley. It was less than a mile so I never built up much of a sweat, but I always loved it. I got an old wine crate from broadway wine merchants and put on the back

[dankrutka]

Great looking bike Dr.

Ha ha. Thanks! My dad is a big triathlete in the state. If you're a triathlete in Oklahoma then you've probably run into him. He's started a number of races and organizations over the years. Anyway, if I tell him that I need a new bike, he always finds me a good deal.

[AP]

Completed my first morning commute. 7 miles and loved it. I might be signing a different tune in the middle of winter or summer, but today, it was awesome.

[dankrutka]

Completed my first morning commute. 7 miles and loved it. I might be signing a different tune in the middle of winter or summer, but today, it was awesome.

Love to hear your updates on how it goes. Seven miles is a decent distance. Are you showering at work? Any other changes to your schedule?

I've generally found biking to work such a peaceful experience. It just allows you time to slow down before starting your day. It's amazing how much more you notice about your surrounding environment on a bike as opposed to a car.

[AP]

I am showering at work but it hasn't really changed my schedule much since I am just deferring that part of my schedule. I had to leave 20 minutes earlier than usual to account for increased time.

[cinnamonjock]

DId you have any trouble with traffic? I've been told to get out of the road a few times while riding. Cars don't know how to act around bikes yet

[AP]

I was riding at around 6:30 so there weren't very many people on the road. No issues this morning.

[Plutonic Panda]

Check out this cool bike for winter and cold conditions:

[Bunty]

I would go to Wal-Mart on the podride. It won't be for sale until mid 2021. Price not yet set.

[Bunty]

DId you have any trouble with traffic? I've been told to get out of the road a few times while riding. Cars don't know how to act around bikes yet

So I try to drive on the sidewalks. But you gotta be watchful of cars wanting to turn into curb cuts.

[dford2]

Check out this cool bike for winter and cold conditions:

I would ride one, if I wasn't 6'4" and 265 lbs