>>>>> ETA: Can a mod please correct the spelling of 'COMMUTING" in this title? THANK YOU!
Inspired by the "We should not be flying" thread, I decided to rethink my transportation choices and try bike commuting. It's only 5 miles to work. Spoiler alert: I am totally loving it!
So I cleaned up my old hybrid bike from 1992, attached safety lights and the original panniers to it (purchased for a long distance cycling trip never taken) and planned out my route on Google Maps. Dallas has been known as one of the least bike-friendly and pedestrian-friendly cities, but they've made good strides at adding bike paths throughout the city and suburbs. I found a decent route that takes me half the way on wide bike paths through neighborhoods, then through a commercial district where I can use sidewalks and crosswalks.
I've discovered some things during my 2.5 week experiment:
- On average, it takes about 3 times longer to get somewhere by bike than by car, at least around here.
- In the Texas heat, it's more comfortable (and safer on skin) to wear long sleeves and long pants. I'm using long lycra running pants with a long sleeved sunproof shirt. In 95+ degree weather, that bit of sweat cooled by the breeze of biking keeps my temperature good. I've just ordered a long sleeved merino shirt (!!!) to experiment with as well.
- Long pants only for me from now on, because I got poison ivy the first few days after biking through a field when I ran out of sidewalk. Grr!
- I'm using Keds shoes with flat pedals. No special bike shoes.
- It's significantly more comfortable to make the bike carry the load, not my back. So no backpack for me: the panniers are the BEST. I fit my work clothes in one side (in a large Eagle Creek spectre cube) with a small toiletry kit. Other pannier has my Daylight Backpack with computer and all my work stuff. I have a hard case "bike trunk" on the back rack that holds my lunch or anything else that needs to be flat.
- You notice totally different things on a bike. I feel numb and disconnected from my environment in the climate controlled bubble of a car. But on a bike, you feel like you're a part of the world. I notice temperature changes in the shade, the smells of the creek, the sound of twigs cracking as I roll over them, the extra effort required to go up the slight hills I never even knew were there. I've seen lots of rabbits, a hummingbird, an armadillo (RIP), and I've passed a Great Roadrunner three times on one of the bike paths. Did you know they're native to DFW? (I googled it.) Cool! Beep beep!
- I bought a Foldylock for about $80, which sounds like a lot considering the current value of my vintage bike, but I really don't want to get even my old bike stolen. The common wisdom about bike locks is to not spend more than 10% the cost of your bike, but my common wisdom is to get the strongest lock possible because I don't want to get my only bike stolen! Also, if I ever got a more expensive bike, I'll use that lock with it. So what's the use of a cheap lock?
- I'm paranoid about leaving the bike anywhere, and not every place has a spot to park your bike. So far, Walgreens let me take it inside the store and lean it on a wall while I shopped. CVS, same thing. A restaurant let me put it in the back where the wait staff was.
- I got a huge feeling of satisfaction from reusing good quality equipment I bought decades ago. "Buy it for life" is the way to go.
- It takes a lot more planning to do things. A quick or unexpected errand isn't always possible on a bike. I've had to resort to a borrowed car a couple of times.
- Hygiene? I've figured out that you can cycle slowly and sweat a lot less. And do a freshen-up with water and towel in the bathroom, or some Chamois Butt'r skin wash (nice). Changing into clean clothes after cooling off and washing a bit seems to be just fine. I shower when I get back home in the evening. Also, I just discovered Lume deodorant. It is AMAZING.
- I haven't been to the gym for my early morning routine since I started biking, partly because of my disgusting poison ivy leg, but also because I'm already getting an hour of cycling in a day. That means I get to sleep 2 hours longer. Win win! The extremist in me is considering quitting my gym membership, and putting all that saved money towards a folding bike, which I'm already eyeing, because that would let me do things like take the train downtown with my bike, or go into restaurants with it.
- I feel like a little kid when I get on my bike. It's a very different experience to running or exercising. You really get a feeling of connection to your "trusty steed" that takes you back to childhood, when your bike gave you that first taste of freedom.
I'd love to hear other people's tips for bike commuting!
The roadrunner sat there watching me! Didn't even act scared:
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