Biking to work, week two

[rhu]

It's amazing how biking to work has changed my whole attitude. I feel resentful when distance or carrying capacity forces me to take the car someplace. I've struck up a smiling acquaintance with some of the others riding or jogging along the carriage lane. And I feel an irrational sense of pride as I near the end of each ride for getting there using nothing but the power of my own muscles.

My time has improved marginally, mostly because I'm getting better at pacing myself so I don't blow all my energy too soon. (I'm also getting better at figuring out which gear I want to be in.) Fortunately, the halfway point is also pretty much the highest elevation, so each ride starts with an uphill climb while I'm fresh, followed by a pleasant glide the rest of the way.

Comments

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

I know! Doesn't it totally rock!

If carrying capacity is an issue, you can get paniers - or even a small trailer.

[530nm330hz.livejournal.com]

I did get a panier (thanks in part to your recommendation) which is great for my day-to-day stuff. But I had to go grocery shopping last night, and .... well, I suppose a trailer could have accommodated the volumne, but I don't think I could have handled that much weight.

[42itous.livejournal.com]

If I need to pick up more groceries than my panniers hold, I tie two evenly-weighted plastic bags to my handlebars. If you get a relatively shallow totebag this works too. But they do have to be evenly weighted, because tying a heavy bag to one side only will unbalance your steering.

[tmcay.livejournal.com]

I can identify with your change in attitude.

When I commute to the office I can manage my briefcase and gym bag bungeed to my rear rack while also carrying a backpack with my change of clothes. That's about the limit of my carrying capacity for now, but in the future I'd like to look into ways to build on that system for supermarket trips.

[rikchik.livejournal.com]

If I see you this weekend I'll have my panniers with me - I can show off my carrying capacity :)

[42itous.livejournal.com]

Can you recommend your panniers? I want majordomo to stop borrowing mine. :)

[rikchik.livejournal.com]

Definitely - I believe they are Detours B-49 Panniers, sold in a pair. There's a zippered top pocket and the main bag rolls up before clipping. (I got mine at the cycle store on Mass Ave between Porter and Harvard.)

Cargo, etc.

[(Anonymous)]

Glad to hear you're enjoying the ride. It's so much less stressful than driving, plus you get the health and environmental brownie points.

As others have suggested, there are some great panniers out there. I like the Topeak MTX "trunk" bag with fold-down panniers. I keep locks, a few basic tools, etc. in the center bag, and I can fold down the panniers to carry a raincoat, change of clothes, etc.

-pd