c/bike-commuter-tips

My bike lock jammed shut right as the rain started pouring

I was trying to leave work on Thursday and the key just wouldn't turn in the lock. I got soaked for 20 minutes trying to wiggle it free before a guy with some WD-40 saved the day. Anyone have a better lock brand they trust?

My neighbor told me he stopped wearing headphones while riding after a close call at the 4th Street intersection.

My buddy called my bike light setup 'a hazard' last Tuesday

He said my front light was angled way too high and was blinding everyone coming the other way on the bike path. I honestly hadn't even thought about it, I just slapped it on. So I went home and spent like 20 minutes adjusting it to point down at the road about 10 feet ahead of me. It's way better now, I can actually see the pavement cracks. Anyone have a good rule of thumb for how far ahead your light should shine?

Just hit 1,000 miles on my commuter bike this year and the chain is shot

I track my rides on a basic app and saw the number this morning after my ride into downtown. The chain started skipping on the last hill, and the shop told me it's completely worn out. How often do you all check your chain to avoid getting stuck?

I found out my bike commute is way cheaper than I guessed

I was bored and looked up the AAA cost of driving per mile for my old car. It's 74 cents a mile for a sedan, which blew my mind. My 5 mile round trip commute would cost about $3.70 a day to drive. I've been biking it for over a year now, so that's a lot of cash saved on gas and wear. Anyone else run the numbers on their own route?

A guy at the bike shop said my seat was way too low, and he was right

He showed me how my knee should be almost straight at the bottom of the pedal stroke. I raised it about two inches and my ride to work in Seattle is so much easier now. Anyone else get a simple tip that fixed a big problem?

I finally gave up on the 'all weather' commuter and bought a second bike

For two years I tried to make one bike do everything, a heavy steel gravel bike with fenders and racks. It was a tank, slow and a pain to haul up the three flights to my apartment. The choice was clear: keep struggling with one do-it-all bike or get a second, lighter one for dry days. I picked up a used aluminum road bike for $400 last fall. Now, the gravel bike stays set up for rain and hauling groceries, and the road bike is for when the forecast is clear. My average speed jumped from 12 to 16 mph on my 7-mile route, and I actually look forward to the ride instead of dreading the weight. Has anyone else split their fleet like this, or do you think it's a waste of space and money?

Changed my mind about wearing a backpack on my ride to the office

Used to just throw my laptop and clothes in a regular backpack for my 4 mile commute. My back was always sweaty and it felt heavy. Borrowed my friend's pannier bag that clips onto a rear rack for a week. The bike felt way more balanced and I wasn't a mess when I got to work. Anyone else switch from a backpack and notice a big difference?

I see a lot of people in my town using their bike lock wrong, and it makes the lock almost useless.

My mechanic told me my flat tire was from a tiny piece of glass I picked up a month ago, and now I can't stop staring at the road.

He said 'that little speck sat in your tire for weeks before it worked its way in,' and now I'm paranoid about every shiny thing on my 7-mile route, so what's the best way to spot debris without crashing?

My dad said I'd never need a rack, and I believed him for years

He told me when I started riding to my summer job in 2012 that a backpack was fine, and I stuck with that for almost a decade. It wasn't until last fall, when I started a longer 7-mile commute, that the sweaty back and shoulder pain got real bad. I finally got a basic rear rack and a pannier, and it was a total game changer. My back doesn't get soaked anymore, and the bike just handles better without the weight on me. Anyone else put off getting a rack for way too long because of some old advice?

My neighbor saw me loading my bike in the rain and said 'You know, you're already wet.'

I spent two weeks trying to fix a weird clicking noise on my ride

It was this faint click with every pedal stroke that started after a rainy week. I checked the chain, pedals, and crank arms, greasing everything I could think of. I even took the whole bottom bracket apart and put it back together. The fix ended up being the rear quick release skewer; it wasn't tight enough and was shifting slightly. Has anyone else had a simple fix for a noise that drove them nuts?

That weird clicking sound from my rear wheel took three whole evenings to fix

I thought it was just a loose spoke, so I tightened a few... no change. Then I checked the cassette, still nothing. Finally found a tiny rock stuck between the tire and rim tape after taking the whole wheel apart. What should have been a quick look turned into about six hours over three days. Anyone else have a simple noise turn into a huge time sink?

Just had a flat from a tiny staple that took me 45 minutes to find...

I was checking the tube in water twice before I saw it stuck in the sidewall tread. Anyone else have a weird puncture that hid from them for way too long?

Bought a $40 'all weather' phone mount that launched my phone into a puddle the first time it rained.

PSA: I was inflating my tires wrong for years until a shop mechanic in Denver pointed it out.

I always pumped them to the max PSI on the sidewall, but he showed me that's for max load, not comfort, and dropped them 15 PSI. Has anyone else had a basic maintenance habit they needed to unlearn?

PSA: A goose in Denver decided my bike was its new nest last Tuesday

I was riding through City Park around 7:15 AM and had to stop at a light. This big Canada goose just waddled over, sat right on my front tire, and wouldn't move for a solid five minutes. I tried talking to it, ringing my bell, nothing worked until a guy walking his dog clapped his hands. Anyone else have a wild animal try to claim their ride?

Finally got my morning route under 20 minutes

After three months of tweaking my path through downtown Denver, I shaved off 5 minutes by cutting through a park I thought was too crowded. Anyone else find a shortcut that felt risky but paid off?

Serious question, why does everyone say you need to carry a spare tube?

I was biking to my office in downtown Denver last month, about 8 blocks from my building, when I got a flat. I had my patch kit, but no spare tube. Everyone online says you're an idiot if you don't carry one. I sat on the curb, found the tiny hole in my tire, sanded it, put the glue on, and waited the full five minutes for it to dry like the instructions say. The patch held perfectly and I rode the rest of the way. A tube costs $8 and takes up space. For a simple puncture, a $2 patch kit works fine if you're not in a huge rush. Has anyone else just patched on the go and been fine, or am I really pushing my luck?

I started carrying a spare tube in my bag after a flat on the 4th Street bridge

For years I just had a patch kit and a pump, figuring that was enough. Then I got a flat on the 4th Street bridge last month and spent 15 minutes trying to patch it in the cold before giving up and walking. Now I always pack a spare tube, which gets me rolling again in under 5 minutes. Has anyone else switched from patching to carrying a tube for their commute?

Got a flat right before the big bridge on my way to work this morning.

I was on the 2nd Street bike lane in Portland, and I heard that awful hiss. Had to pull over and change the tube in the rain with my hands freezing. What's your go-to trick for a fast roadside fix when you're already running late?

My neighbor asked me why I still ride in the rain

I was locking up outside my apartment in Portland yesterday, soaked from the ride home, and my neighbor Frank said, 'Man, you're still doing that? I'd just drive.' I mean, I always just thought of rain as part of the deal, you know? But him saying that out loud made me realize I've been putting up with being wet and cold for years without really thinking about it. Maybe I should finally get some real rain gear. What's the best waterproof jacket you guys have found that doesn't cost a fortune?

Appreciation post: My local library had a bike repair station I never noticed

I was walking past the downtown library branch yesterday and saw a sign for a public bike repair stand. It has a pump, basic tools, and it's free to use. I've biked past that spot for two years and never saw it because it's around the back near the community garden. I checked it out and the tire gauge actually works, which is a nice surprise. Does your town have any hidden spots like this for quick fixes?

I rode through downtown Austin last week and saw a huge jump in people using those big, bulky e-bikes for their commute.

It got me thinking about how the extra weight and speed changes the whole feel of sharing a bike lane, especially on crowded streets like Congress Avenue.