Update: I've decided the sub-title of this post is "I still don't want a pickle: s/motor/bi/"
It's about an 8 mile drive to work, and I decided that it was time to see about riding my bike instead. And there's all sorts of reasons for doing it, and people ask ("But what about...") about all sorts of reasons for not doing it. But the biggest reason is that instead of dreading the drive home and wondering if I should take the freeway or surface streets (and not caring much more about the trip to work), I actually look forward to the commute, each way, whether it's cold and foggy, or hot and sweltering (I'm not yet prepared for rain, so I'll drive if that's the case, 'cuz you know that in Southern California we're afraid of melting if it rains, even a little).
I used to cycle ~8km to work (uphill to work, downhill on my way home), and I really enjoyed it. Especially because there was a shower at the office. My new office is only 2km, which is just enough to get warmed up (or soaked if it pours..)
Anyway, get a decent raincoat and rain pants, proper fenders, and put your stuff in a waterproof pannier (I use those). I was considering getting spikes for my back wheel, but thanks to the shorter way to my current office, and global warming, I changed my mind... But I assume that riding on icy/snow-covered streets isn't something you do a lot in southern california.
Re:there's no bad weather, only bad equipment
runrig on 2008-09-30T15:32:48
There's no shower at my office, that's one of the reasons I've been putting off biking. But it is downhill most of the way to work, and it's cool in the morning, so it's not too bad...
Someone at work asked about fenders, and there's one spot where they water a hillside and all the water runs down across the bike path to the creek, which took me by surprise the first day...now I just slow down for it. I get to take the bike path for the first couple of miles, but if it rains too hard, the freeway undercrossing is washed out, the way around is long, and the best part of the trip is ruined. So I'll just avoid the rain for now
:-) A pannier would be nice, as I don't really care for a backpack and the accompanying lack of airflow and inevitable sweatspot. But as I'm carrying a laptop, I think the backpack provides better shock absorption...though I guess you would pad the laptop in the pannier.
...riding on icy/snow-covered streets isn't something you do a lot in southern california. No ice or snow to be found around here (except sometimes on a very clear day in the mountains). The most important equipment on the way home is water. I normally go through a couple of 22 oz. bottles...someday I may try one of those camel pack things.
Re:there's no bad weather, only bad equipment
runrig on 2008-09-30T17:04:56
...now I just slow down for it. And besides, there's a hairpin turn at the bottom of the hill.
panniers designed for laptops
markjugg on 2008-10-01T02:20:41
There are panniers specifically designed for shock absorption of laptops. I use the Arkel Commuter bag. It looks decent, too!
As an alternate solution, before I had that bag I just rolled up a fuzzy fleece jacket and put that under the laptop as a kind of pillow. Because nearly all the shock is vertical, this simple solution worked fine.
