Already a member?
Welcome to Brazen Careerist!
Emily Ma is using Brazen Careerist to share ideas. Join now to become a member and start networking with Emily Ma and other professionals just like you. Learn more.
Brazen careerist
Where ambitious young professionals connect and grow
Email
Print
If you are anything like me, rising gas prices have made you want to hop on a bike to run errands instead of always relying on a car. I have loved bike riding ever since I spent a summer in a little Italian town where that was the main mode of transport for most of the inhabitants.
When I returned to the US, I decided I would try to adopt a similar lifestyle only to find that American drivers, pedestrians, and infrastructure are much less forgiving to bike riders. Over the years I've learned how to have a safe and fun two-wheeled adventure.
1. Get the Gear, but Ditch the Bell. You should spend enough money on a quality ride if you plan to use it with any frequency. A less expensive bike can be unpleasant, or even painful to ride, and lessen the chance you'll use it - which would be a bigger waste of money.
My biking must-haves:
- A cushy seat and full suspension if you can afford it, city riding involves some jumps and bumbs going over sidewalks, or areas where there are none. Suspension will lessen the impact on your spine, and keep your butt from going completely numb.
- I suggest a hybrid (cross between road and mountain bikes), because the riding position is upright which I find more comfortable, and the wheels are heavy-duty enough to handle gravel, dirt, and grass. However, the frame is light-weight enough for longer rides.
- Get a helmet and wear it snug. Don't make me tell you the story about a girl, her bike, and how her brain ended up seeing daylight. Even at 10 mph, you can do serious damage and your noggin is your most prized possession. Also, there is not a single helmet that will make you look cool, so don't bother trying. Find one that fits your head and move on.
- I suggest a rear-mounting bike rack and bag to carry stuff. I learned that a handlebar basket can be extremely dangerous. For example, a heavy item like a watermelon can roll around and steer you off-course unintentionally. Watermelons in back!!
- Get a long, and heavy-duty bike lock system. I like my chains long enough to wrap around the frame, both wheels, and possibly a tree trunk as many places won't have a spot for your ride to hook up to. Stop signs or parking meters are easy to steal from, many thiefs can lift a poorly locked bike right over the top.
- The bell is meaningless, anyone who hears it just checks their cell phone, you might want something a lot louder, but I wouldn't know where to get that. Anyone have some ideas for making noise on your bike? Please let me know!
2. No One Likes You. People in cars are unaware at best, and at worst, assholes encased in tons of steel and glass with lethal force. Do not assume they will see you, and do not assume that if they see you they will have the desire or the reflexes to stop for you to pass. People in cars hate people on bikes. I know, I'm one of them. So when the tables are turned, I make sure my manners are impeccable. I don't ride at dusk, I use hand signals, I slow down at cross-streets and wave with excessive gratitude if someone lets me by, even though I may have the right of way. And to make pedestrians happy, I let them know if I'm approaching and don't cut across lawns. Check your state's laws for cyclist rights and responsibilities.
3. Watch Out for "Two-Wheel Willy." Even though bike riding is becoming more hip among the eco-conscious, you are going to meet a lot of people who are riding bikes out of necessity, not choice. As in, they cannot afford a car or had theirs taken away from them by a court of law. So if they see you scooting along, with all that new gear you just bought, their idea of recycling might be taking your stuff for their use. Just keep your eyes open, take care not to linger too long in unfamiliar places, and don't leave anything attached to your bike unattended unless you wouldn't mind losing it.
4. Pretend You Are In a Foreign Country. You might drive the same routes every day, but don't expect the first time you ride them to be a charm. You will need to take things slow, find out where the renters who throw glass bottles on the sidewalk live, find out where the sidewalks end, or take note of dangerous blind spots you should avoid. Also, areas that seem completely benign in a car could be quite dangerous on a bike. Who the heck is hanging out in that alley, or how did that car jump out from behind that building so fast? Watch out for any driveway, like I said, people in cars are not looking for you, so you need to look for them.
Those are my tips for a happy and safe bike ride! With a few practice runs, you should know your routes like the back of your hand, save energy, money, and get some fresh air! Yay!
For more timely, relevant, and engaging articles,
subscribe to Brazen Careerist.
- Why You Might Be Better Off Without a Job After College
- A New Kind of Business Mover and Shaker
- How To Find a Writing Partner Who Can Help You Achieve Your Goals and Make More Money
- The Anti-Stalker’s Guide for Converting Online Contact into Real World Collaboration
- Continuing Education: Extending Learning Beyond Your Campus Years
Comments
06.16.08
Bravo! I'm a bike commuter by necessity, and it is the BEST way to get to work. I get all my exercise in (22 miles round-trip), I can get errands done during the week on my ride home, and I am fit and feel a lot less stressed about my job.
There are handlebar mounted bullhorns you can get - but I don't have room to mount one, given my headlight (a TRUE must-have), and trip computer take up most of the space. I prefer to yell BIKER! at cars that I fear may not be aware of my presence.
Oh, and BTW, I think the helmet is my #1 hairstyling tool - seriously! I clip up the front of my hair for the ride, but then when I get to work and take it down, the front is smooth and straight, and the back is wind-styled with a cute flip - gotta love it!
06.16.08
@Jenn S.
That is awesome! Bravo right back at you. I yell too - but I like the idea of a bullhorn! And I never thought that the helmet would help my hairstyle. I've got bangs, so the helmet can be downright disastrous. Nothing cooler than sweaty bangs plastered to one's forehead!
Headlight is critically important if you find yourself in the dark, thank you for mentioning. I avoid night or early morning riding, but I know many people may have to do that. GREAT point!
06.16.08
I always wondered if this is truly practical for many people.
First, you have to live close to your work. I live 15 miles away from my office, and I cannot imagine how long it would take for me to bike to work. Most likely, it would take over an hour, while it takes 30 minutes to drive.
Secondly, there is the issue of sweating. I don't know about others, but I tend to sweat when I exercise. Arriving at work drenched in perspiration does not seem to be very professional. There are no facilities to shower (unless I want to pay extra for the health club, which is expensive).
Then there is simply the fact that you are travelling on roads designed for cars speeding along at 30-40 mph, and you are travelling 10 mph (if that). I just can't imagine that.
How do others get around these roadblocks.
06.16.08
@Scott M.
Great points. I don't bike to work, my commute is long and treacherous enough in a car. I'm sure I would be killed if I tried to bike. I mostly use the bike after work and on weekends, when I'm not under time constraints and if people see me sweat, I just suck it up.
I think the danger of cars to bike riders cannot be underscored enough. But, if you do plan to commute to work regularly, you will need to find ways to be extra safe, like wearing bright, reflective vests, attaching flags to your bike, getting rear-view mirrors, etc.
Other ideas I've read for daily commuters:
*Keep extra clothes at the office, or carry with you.
*Get an electric bike that has a rechargable motor, so you can still pedal, but aren't doing all the work, less chance to sweat.
*Explain to people you are sweaty b/c you ride your bike, they won't care, and they might even commend you for it. Obviously this depends on your office environment.
*Work from home! Hehehe.
06.16.08
I really like this post, M.
I bike out of both necessity (don't have or need a car), and fun as it keeps my heart beating which is just plain healthy in the mornings and afternoons. You're right that some cities are NOT very nice to cyclists, but I happen to live in a very bike-friendly one. Still though, it is unbelievable the things that some drivers will do just to stay in front of a bike that is limiting from their destination by about 10 feet.
* I think bells do the trick. You can get those single-strike bells that just BING! once or twice, rather than rrrriiing. Or yea, get a horn, but then you might sound like a circus clown.
* @ Scott, have you tried looking for a park-and-ride service so that you can park your car out of downtown, and bike the rest of the way? you may even save on parking cost as well as gas.
* As for sweating, yeah, extra shirt. Not much else you can do about that. It's only natural, and not the people at my office see me as a healthy worker who "gets shit done". No lie.
Have a good one. Bike hard!
06.16.08
@ Scott - oops, I guess that would be park-and-bike, but you get the idea. Dive halfway, bike the rest - depending on the comfort of your bike route.
06.16.08
@torbjorn
Thanks! And great suggestion on the park&bike, I have not tried that, but it might be a viable option for some.
You really like the bell? Maybe since your city is bike-friendly, they recognize the sound. It was like that in Italy, everyone responded to the bell like the parting of the red sea, I'd ring and a path would open up. Here, NO ONE notices. I'm telling you, pedestrians dig into their pocket for the celly.
I might have to kick it circus-clown style. It's obnoxious, but might do the trick.
06.16.08
The bell works. I've got it on my slower, chillaxed 'touring' bike only. When I'm on my road bike racing around I just call out, my voice box is my tool.
*funny about the mixed reaction to the bike bell. Cellphone!? ha!
06.16.08
Scott M brought up some good points that I would have as well, and both you Milena and Torbjorn have offered some viable solutions.
Where I am located, there are quite a few college students that bike, and the city is relatively bike friendly in that most of the main streets (at least around campus) have 4-5 feet marked off as a bike lane.
My biggest pet peeve though is bikers that think they're a car. Even with a designated bike lane there is still an abundance of bikers (typically not those commuting, but those biking ala Lance Armstrong) that think it's necessary for them to be riding in the middle of the street, using main intersections instead of cross walks, etc.
And while I've considered it, with temperatures usually 98+ here in Texas during the summer, you would be absolutely drenched by the time you got anywhere.
06.16.08
@Ryan Stephens
I agree that some bikes will rule the road too long or bike in lanes they shouldn't, however, sometimes they do it for safety. While "taking the lane" is annoying, it is legal in most places when there is no sidewalk available, and there is only one narrow lane on which to ride. Anyone out there who can offer more on this? I don't do road-biking.
Here's a link for Texas Bike Laws and here's an article on the concept of Taking the Lane which explains the sometimes annoying behavior of cyclists. If they stay too far right, they risk losing balance (I'm sure you've noticed most roads slope downward or become uneven on the edges) and letting cars pass too close-by could cause a precarious situation.
06.16.08
Interesting reply Ryan,
Here's the thing, as Milena said, it's not that they think they're a car - they're sharing the road for safety and efficiency reasons.
All laws considered or not, are roads not public entities? Are they going much slower than a car would?
When I'm road biking on a tight road, I'm probably going just as fast as cars are - 30-40kph. Staying too far right puts you in danger of doors opening and people popping out to try to cross the road.
I've seen a terrible thing (almost) happen when a car tried to overtake me to my left on a 2 lane road. I was going about 40 and the driver needed to go about 60 to get past me. He had to swerve twice, proceeded to give me the finger, then almost hit a pedestrian crossing at a crosswalk cause he was so concerned with overtaking me. Had he passed me, he would have been right in front of me, behind the next car. Necessary? It was surely just built-up road rage.
My advice here is for drivers to be patient, and bikers to be aggressive enough because the road is also theirs. Bikers too should know their level, as to not actually piss off drivers.
We are, after all, people too. Whether we're exposed on a frame with wheels, or driving a one-ton potential steamroller, the road should be shared...where it's sensible of course.
06.16.08
torbjorn has the balance right - its about being aggressive enough to share the road (or take the lane), and sensible enough to really keenly watch the cars around you, and adhere to traffic laws as well. I can't claim to stop at every single traffic light - I start my commute at about 5:45am to avoid traffic, but on my afternoon ride, I definitely am a law-abiding biker.
Scott- I average 15-17mph during most of my commute, and the first 2/last two miles of my route I'm on one of those 40mph bike-unfriendly roads - its not fun, but it just takes practice to build your confidence, or finding an alternate route that is a bit less dangerous.
I carry my work clothes in my pannier bag, and have 5-6 pairs of shoes in my office, since I wear cycling shoes. I have a towel in my drawer, as well as hairbrush, facewash, foundation, perfume etc.
As for the sweating, I towel off, and then liberally apply talc which takes care of any lingering stickiness, and then put on my work clothes. For other women riders, I highly recommend Lush's "Silky Underwear" corn-starch based dusting powder for the post-ride sweat! :)
Oh,and my 11-mile commute takes me 45-50 minutes, depending on traffic.
06.17.08
Great post. I bike to work at least twice a month, but I usually keep my bike in the office and take it for an exercise ride after work.
My commute is 20 minutes for 4 miles.
06.17.08
@Ryan Stephens...
I am certain the bikes do not think they are cars or anything like a car... they know they are far superior. In many places cops will actually stop you for riding on the sidewalk as that is reckless towards pedestrians. And you also MUST dismount @ every single crosswalk regardless of what color the traffic lights are.
Why? Because bikes, in every state I have biked in, are considered road traffic. They are allowed access to the road just as cars, motorcycles, or mopeds are.
I road bike (and am pretty experienced... I biked from England to Hungary last summer, and bike all around DC/Maryland/Pennsylvania) and average about 20-22 mph.
@ Original post...
I couldn't disagree more about the big seats and the suspension... just a loss of energy that will make you more tired!
Bells don't work, though. I usually just give a friendly tap on their rear fender to remind them I am there if they start coming over.
06.17.08
Our solution to bike riders is to run them down! It is totally unsafe to ride a bike where I live. Most of the "Bike Trails" are on the road which are shared with the cars and, well, you get the picture.
If I were riding a bike I'd ride it on the sidewalk for safety! But then there are not always sidewalks in all locations and would end up riding on the street with the cars...
06.17.08
I agree that bike commuting is wonderful. However, after you do it for a long time you'll notice the following:
* A "cushy" seat is bad. It will constrict the tissue between the seat and your bones. You really want a hard seat with a little give. Your ass will adapt and you will be more comfortable.
* Carrying things on a front rack is MORE stable than on a rear rack. You have to, of course, tie it down if it is heavy.
* Suspension is useless. Suspension is for going downhill fast over obstacles. On a city bike, it just adds weight, expense and more maintenance-- at best. Most of the time suspension forks are so cheap, they don't even work right and you have to work harder. A much better way to get effective suspension in the city is to ride fatter tires.
* Consider a single speed bike or one with internal hub gearing. If you commute you want something super-reliable that won't flake out.
* Ride the right size frame. Most people are riding too low. To experienced riders, they look like gorillas on a circus bike. On a properly sized bike, you'll be able to ride much longer and more efficiently.
06.17.08
@Frank - I think you misunderstand my advice, which is not for hard-core riders. If you are a once-in-a-while rider, a cushy seat (I don't mean gel-filled and fuzz covered, like I've seen) but something less hard than a road bike seat, and suspension is very useful, as you probably won't be biking with enough frequency and or skill.
@h23 - I understand your preferences, but I can't imagine how suspension is useless for a rider like me. I've ridden on both types and found a dramatic difference in riding comfort. I have a back injury, so perhaps I notice it more.
I think the front vs. back carrying case must also be a matter of preference, again, since I've had both, I much prefer the back.
To each their own. Thanks for offering your views, it's great to hear from more experienced riders!
Got Something To Say?
Got Something To Say?
Not a Member? Brazen Careerist is a career management tool for next-generation professionals. Set up a free account today to comment on this post and start sharing your ideas. Learn more.
Login to view your networks!
 |
 |
|
 |
|
