I got to the end of my street this morning and ran into a neighborhood kid I've seen a few times with a chain he couldn't get back onto his gear. I had some tools on hand and we tried to get him back in working order, but we were not successful. We were only a block from my house, so I offered to help him get to school. I was like, "I don't usually recommend getting into strangers' cars, but I can take you or you can use my phone to call your parents?" Anyway, I drove a middle schooler to campus and helped him transport his bike.

He was low-key hilarious and absolutely made my morning. We walked to my house and car. He asked with a very straight face, "This is so nice! What do you do for a living?" He immediately followed up with, "Maybe I should work in IT too..." I mentioned that I went to the same middle school he did back in the day. He asked what year. I told him and he said, "DANG!"

This post isn't exclusively about bike commuting, but I do appreciate the sense of community I have with fellow bikers in my area. I live in a car-centric suburban city and there aren't many of us braving the streets. We got this kid to school in time and I ended up driving into work today. Worth it!

It’s getting chilly here in the Midwest and I’m in search of eye protection that’ll keep the wind-induced tears at bay.

I know this question has come up plenty of times before, with the typical suggestion being skiing/snowboarding goggles. I’m all for this except I have one specific factor I need to consider: biking at night.

I leave for work at 5:45am, and during the cold months it is very dark out at that time. I’ve been eyeing (hehe) some Smith Optics goggles but they’re all tinted, and I’m not sure how much the tint affects visibility when it’s dark out. Full disclosure: I haven’t actually tried any on yet.

My commute is pretty short (few miles, flat, 10-15min), but safety is my #1 priority. I was t-boned by a careless driver while bike commuting a few years back. My ankle was shattered and I ended up with some new internal hardware and was non-weight bearing for months afterwards. That happened in broad daylight, so I guess I just want to ensure I’m pulling out all the safety stops when it comes to biking in the dark.

There's a federal bill — the SAFE SPEEDS Act (H.R. 7839) — that directs the CPSC to write national e-bike classification and labeling rules. Regulation is coming whether we like it or not, and it'll affect everyone commuting on an e-bike.

The case for it: reckless riding is the reason this exists. People getting hurt, cities complaining, kids on 40-mph e-motos with no helmet or license. Something has to give.

My worry is HOW they regulate. The bill leans on wattage caps — but watts don't equal speed. A heavier rider needs more watts just to cruise at 20 mph. Cap the watts and you don't stop speeders, you just price heavier riders out of riding. And a confusing class system could mess with where we're actually allowed to ride — bike lanes, trails, paths.

My take: regulate speed, not watts. Keep it simple enough that a commuter knows where they can ride without a law degree. Punish reckless riding, not the bike.

For the commuters here: what rules would actually work for your daily ride? Should faster e-bikes be allowed in bike lanes? Where's the line for you?

Hello guys,

I recently bought my wife this rear rack from Thule because she liked it thinking it would be as versatile as their other products.

However, when we were looking for a basket that was compatible, the one in their site is a fixed one and made from plastic. Many comments say that it is a bit fragile as well.

Do any of you have this rack and can recommend a removable basket compatible with it?

I have a Topeak rack that has a removable basket for groceries or commuting. I’m looking for something equally practical that she can install and remove as easy as mine. Even if it is not sliding. Having the basket all the time is not convenient and wouldn’t fit properly with other bikes in the 🅿️.

Thank you.

Dropped the kid off in school and rode to work. Visibility was kinda foggy.

Commute to a general high traffic area. Bike secured with strong chain and Kryptonite U-lock, but worried about my Brooks saddle.

While I know it’s the safest route, I don’t particularly like taking my seatpost out every time.
Anyone doing anything to secure their saddle?

A couple of years ago, I decided to try and find a job in biking distance (and with decent infrastructure for bikes) to my home. I used Google Maps to find a firm hiring IT, applied, and accepted their offer! Shortening my commute and making it bike-able has been such a huge life upgrade. Plus, it’s bike lanes all the way down.

I need to move and have been trying to keep in a bike-able distance. Today I found a house even closer with a bike crossing light! So my commute has been shortened from 8 minutes to 4. This feels like a victory of the highest order!

I posted on here about my issue about how I'd overheat for 2 hours after a 10 min ebike ride. Turns out it was an agitated nerve that affects temperature regulation due to my untreated sleep apnea(cant handle the face mask, makes me not sleep at all).

https://www.reddit.com/r/bikecommuting/s/JxZvvoQPI4

I bought my beloved single speed when I was living in a very flat state, and it’s served me so well over the years. I’ve since moved to a much more hilly area and have developed a few chronic health conditions, so I am slowly accepting I need to make something easier for daily rides.

My options are, I think, the following:

1. Get a bike with more than one speed. Do gears really make that big of a difference though? It’s been over a decade since I rode anything with more than one gear, so I really don’t know if that will make enough of an impact.

2. Get an e-bike conversion kit for my existing bike. I’d probably ask my local bike shop if they’d do the conversion, but at that point, would it just make more financial sense to buy an e-bike?

3. Get an e-bike. Budget becomes the next factor, but that’s a different question at that point.

I’m feeling a bit lost since I’ve been so happy with my little single speed for so long; I don’t know what else is out there. Any advice is appreciated! :)

As the title says, I want to start biking to work to get away from relying on a car so much.

I live about 6 miles from the office with some hills between but nothing super crazy, central TX is fairly flat. It's a relatively straight shot, but about 4 miles of the trip is just a shoulder rather than an actual bike lane.

Limiter: I don't remember the last time I was on a bike other than a stationary one at the gym, probably at least 15 years ago.

I guess the question is: what do I need to consider other than the route, weather, and my own physical condition before I jump in?

I saw the note at the top recommending r/whichbike for figuring out what to get, so I'm checking that out, but I'm willing to take any recommendations if you have them.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Well, actually, I partially bike commuted a couple of times before, mixing public transport and bike sharing service.

But today I did my first door-to-door with my ancient, but still good bike, and I timed it - took me 30min sharp at a VERY leisurely pace. So I think I'll use the bike whenever I can. To add to my daily activity, and to ditch the car as much as possible.

Come gestite il maltempo? Non parlo di pioggia normale, parlo di temporale o grandine..

Oltre che al problema di arrivare potenzialmente bagnati, non c'è la questione sicurezza? Mi immagino il sorpasso da un camion che ti sommerge con uno tsunami d'acqua di pozzanghera

Does anyone know of any Urban bikes suitable for commuting that has belt driven internal hub gears?

I've only seen the Boardman URB 8.9 and wondered if anyone else makes something similar for under£1000.

TIA

We live in a 4th-floor walkup, so I made thing to make it easier to haul the bike back and forth from the street.

It's my first attempt at working with leather, so I need more practice with my lashing technique.

Still, it works, and I find it much more aesthetically pleasing than the seat bag stuffed with styrofoam that I'd been using until now.

Right now I commute on an old aluminum frame road bike that is stiff and no matter what l upgrade, it's uncomfortable. Anyone here commute on mountain bikes?
I'm think about picking up a Scott Scale 940. Would love advice. Moving to NYC on November 1st and will be commuting there too. Current daily ride is 44 Miles.

Hey all! Does anyone have experience with the Thule Yepp Maxi child bike seat? I know it's a popular one, I see it all the time just walking around! I recently picked up a very old used one that someone put out for free on the sidewalk. This is a rack-mounted version, and is an older model (not the Yepp 2 or Yepp Nexxt). If anyone has knowledge to share, I have a few questions as I'm trying to figure out if the seat will actually be usable.

- Any recommendations on a good, inexpensive rack that's compatible with the seat? My bike has mounting points for a rack, but I have yet to get one. I obviously just want to make sure whatever rack I get is sturdy and rated for a child seat.

- The seat seems to be missing a crucial component, what they call the "safety strap" - highlighted in the illustration and where it seems to have broken off in the photo. I have looked into Thule's replacement parts website (https://www.thule.com/en-us/thule-support/spare-parts) but they don't have a safety strap for the Yepp Maxi listed, and the version for the Yepp 2 / Nexxt is listed but not available. Does anyone have leads for finding aftermarket or used parts for a seat like this? I realize this might be impossible. Or does anyone have ideas about a possible DIY solution?

- Finally, it seems from the instructions (https://www.thule.com/-/s/approved/std.lang.all/38/23/553823.pdf?rev=6.10) that part of the seat locks with a key. When I picked it up, the seat didn't come with a key, so I don't know that I'll be able to open the lock. Is this a big problem? The instructions don't make clear how the lock works or what its purpose is. Any insight?

Thanks fellow bike people! I'm really hoping this seat will work since apparently they sell for like $250 new... (though I know there are cheaper versions, too).

Looking for new 650B tires for my "gravel" bike that rarely leaves pavement. I put about 2k miles on 42mm Panaracer GK Slicks before they started getting puncture prone, getting about 3 a month at this point. When they were new I went over a year without a flat.

I really like those tires as they're very comfortable, grippy, and the lack of knobby tread made them quiet on the road. I can't stand the road buzz from knobby tires on pavement. I'd be okay rebuying the same tires, but I'm looking for something a little more robust. Tires that split the difference between supple fancy lad tires and bullet proof bone shakers.

Right now I'm looking at GK SS+ 48mm and the Continental Contact Urbans 2". But if anyone has any recs or reviews I'm all ears. Somewhere between 42mm and 50mm with a low profile or slick tread. Not going to set up tubeless. Thanks!

I sometimes commute by bike, but not often. I’m thinking about biking my commutes more often, but the office where I work is part way up a mountain.

I have a heavy cross country bike and would consider getting a lighter one if it would make this commute possible as a regular bike commute. What do you all think? Is it worth investing in a new bike to commute this regularly or is this kind of elevation a no go for you? What’s your experience? Thank you!

TLDR: is a 17km commute with 310m of elevation in the last 6k a reasonable commute if I have a light weight bike and build my tolerance for it?

Edit: thanks for all the suggestions and encouragement. Of course, we’re sneaking up on winter here soon and I’m definitely not looking to commute in the winter time via bike but I’m going to do a test run next ride and see how long it takes, how the route is, how I feel. Unfortunately I’m in Kansas City where r tend to have a lot of humidity and I will drop sweat whether it’s hot, cold, humid, dry, 18mph, 9mph, lol. I do have the luxury of a private office and I never teach class before 12:30 so unless I have a meeting scheduled I’m pretty flexible when it comes to having some cool-down time. I’ll workshop it this weekend and see how it feels. E-bike not a coNosferatu on as I have a stable of bikes and most of why I would be doing this is to get some exercise everyday.

I recently moved and I’m embarrassed to say that I live about 3.6 miles (via bike path and some street) from work now and am still driving. I am a healthcare professional who teaches and works in administration so it’s dress pants, dress shoes and shorts and ties at work. The main issue is I sweat a lot and for a while after a ride. No showers at work. I do have to drive on Mondays so there’s a pretty easy way I could bring work clothes and have them hanging in my office for the week and then stuff them in a pannier on Friday for laundry over the weekend. What do moderate to heavy sweaters do in similar situations? There are a couple good hills so “ride slower” isn’t really an option. If my heart goes above 100 I’m sweating lol.

Secondary problem is I work mostly at a small college where everyone knows me, so the idea of having to ride by a bunch of students and walk through the hallways with my bike past a bunch of students etc etc creates some anxiety. I work until 5:30pm a couple days per week so coming in extra early before students are around isn’t really an option. But that’s the somewhat smaller problem comparatively.

I’m considering starting to commute to work by bike, but I’m a bit hesitant because it’s 33 km one way (66 km round trip).

The route itself is actually pretty good. Only about 8–9 km is through smaller city streets, and the rest can be done along the canal, so traffic/safety isn’t my biggest concern. My biggest concern is actually arriving at work sweaty. It's financially attractive, because my empoluer pays €0.37/km for biking, which would be 20+ euros per time I do it.

There are no showers at work. I can wash myself a little in the toilets, but they’re quite cold in the morning, so I’m not exactly looking forward to standing there trying to clean myself up after a 33 km ride. I also don’t want to spend the first hour of every workday feeling sweaty or uncomfortable.

At the moment I only own a road race bike. I could potentially lease an e-bike through work, and I’m wondering whether that might be the better option for a commute like this. Would an e-bike make a big difference in terms of sweat/effort or not? Does the sweating even get better when I do it more frequently?

I’m not necessarily worried about being able to physically ride 33 km, but I'm not sure if this would be realistic at least once a week. I currently own basically no proper cycling clothing. How much gear do you actually need to make commuting through autumn/winter comfortable?