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As some of you who know me are aware (because I've been crying about it for a long time), I have been unemployed for 13 months.
Three weeks ago I finally got a job in deepest, darkest Irvine.
I've been cycling to work, as I alway have at my previous jobs.
this new gig is the furthest I've ever had to commute. 20.5 miles each way. The tough part about it is I have to cross Orange County on some very busy streets with lots of stop-n-go traffic lights. At the end of the week I am too beat to think about all the fun M.R. rides I used to do when I had no day-time commiments.
So this got me thinking, how do others deal with commuting?
How far do you ride?
How do you "clean-up" once you get to work?
Where do you stow your bike and gear?
What do you do when it rains?
I have developed my own ways of dealing with the challanges over the 22 years I have been biking to work, but I think it woud be of interest to many of us to learn how others cope.
BTW, cycling to work is a pure joy. Many days, it is the best part of the day for me. Always has been and still is.
I did 15 miles each way daily for about a year, then 10 each way for another year. I also did 13 miles each way throughout university, sometimes twice in a day. That seems like a pretty comfortable bike commute distance. Not so long that it is a total drag in the morning, but long enough to get a real workout without too much difficulty, and you can add 5-10 miles on the way home if you are feeling frisky. If you have a lot of lights on your route, maintaining a 12mph average can be difficult, and there are limits to how much time I want to invest in commuting. I don't mind if it is quite a bit longer than in a car, since I get so much more out of it, but I also want to have time for other things in my life besides commuting, working, and sleeping.
How do you "clean-up" once you get to work?
I ride in cycling clothes. My work clothes are carefully folded in my bag. Even freshly ironed shirts look fine when I get to work so long as I fold them carefully. I've had a shower on site for the last year, so on 70% of days, I'd just shower and change when I get there. On the other 30% of days, I shower before leaving for the ride, and just clean up in the bathroom a little, use some deodorant, and put on fresh clothes. Since I was clean before and don't lave the sweat on my body, I smell just fine all day long. I don't keep my commuting habits a secret and I ask those I work closely with to just let me know if I'm smelling offensive in any way. I've never had a complaint yet. Having a shaved head probably helps. Sweaty hair would be pretty nasty. I am pretty rank by the time I finish my ride home on the days I don't shower at work, though.
Where do you stow your bike and gear?
Bike can usually fit in my cube or there is always some out of the way corner. the nature of the software biz is such that people tend to be pretty laid back if you aren't at a defense contractor or fortune 100 company. My gear is usually decorating my bike in various ways, drying so that I can wear it home. I also usually stick some of those stick on hooks on my wall and hang things to dry in my office/cube. Not an option if you host meetings in your office in the first half of your day, though, unless you work in a locker room.
What do you do when it rains?
Don't try to stay dry in the rain. Just make sure you are warm. If it is really coming down, there is just no way to stay dry on a long ride. If I had 20 miles to ride, I'd likely drive or take public transport if I KNEW it was going to rain on my way to work. I don't much care if I'm soaked on the way home. My messenger bag hasn't leaked yet, but I wrap my computer in a shopping bag, just in case.
I ALWAYS have a lightweight rain jacket in my seat bag, and this time of year, I've got leg or knee warmers, arm warmers, and a wind vest in my bag every day. Conditions are just too variable and riding when cold sucks. If rain is actually likely, I carry a more effective rain jacket and rain pants, both of which serve to keep me warm more than dry. Full finger gloves are also a requirement, and I have some snowboarding crab claw things for inclement weather.
You're a dark century guy, so you likely have good lights, but if not, it is worth spending the money on a real lighting system. It makes such a difference to safety and comfort when fighting with the cars on dark streets at night, especially in the wet.
I have a posh bike commute, less than 2 miles. Although I sometimes ride to work from my eastern base of operations 13 miles away. However It is not by coincidence that I live close to work even though I was fresh out of school and without a job when I first got my apartment. I took a very nerdy approach to reducing my commute, having lived in fear of my mom's commute.
As I was nearing graduation, I methodically began plotting potential job opportunities in my fields of interest on Google Earth and comparing them with apartment availabilities. I discovered a moon shaped cluster of job activity in 3D graphics between Venice and Santa Monica.
Sure enough my first couple freelance jobs were close enough for an easy bike commute except for one that I drove to. Then I got the full time job I have now that is close to home and even closer to the bikerowave (which I did not know existed until later).
Living close to work made the choice to go completely car free a much easier thing. In college I did most of my commuting with rollerblades and buses with some bike commuting and walking. Then I was given my mom's old car for graduation and I got lazy and had to slowly relearn cars aren't always better. Midnight Ridazz was definitely influential in my growing to love bike commuting.
My current commute is only 1/2 mile so some of this is from past experience of my 12 mile one way commute:
How do you "clean-up" once you get to work?
Wet paper towel sponge bath in the giant handicapped stall in one of the bathrooms at work. Thankfully I don't smell, confirmed by friends and enemies alike, so it's not that big o deal.
Where do you stow your bike and gear?
Bike clothes go in the back pack that I had my street clothes in. Bike gets leaned against the wall 15 ft from the guard desk. If someone steals from right in front of the guard, they got big balls, more power too them, they can have it.
What do you do when it rains?
I've never been car-less so if it was a deluge I'd cheat and drive. Otherwise, lightweight water resistant (not water proof) bike jacket, and the same shorts, shoes, etc, that I always wear.
My commute is 24 miles each way, 20 of which I ride and then bus the final 4 miles. Since I ride fixed, the hills in Calabasas are more than I want to tackle before I start my day!
I like to cool down on the bus.
I bring a change of clothes and a towel.
I got my work to install a bike rack indoors but I usually keep it in my office (because I like looking at it!)
BUt I agree, the best parts of my day are riding to and from work!
As for rain, I'm gonna get a set of fenders and jam it out in the rain!
I don't really commute for work right now, as my office is taken home and parked right next door.
But, when I was doing security, I had the luxury of fairly, good-sized guard shacks with all the fixings.
Just so long as I got to work on time, I always stuck the bike inside and rinsed off in a shower that happened to be in the back of one of the shacks I was posted up at.
There's always the old join-a-nearby-gym trick Gym membership is way cheaper than car ownership, and if it is a chain, you can use it elsewhere, too.
Another trick is to avoid, at all costs, cleaning up or even showering, until after you've cooled down and stopped sweating. I keep sweating for about 20-30 minutes after I finish a long ride, even if I shower, so I either work for 30 minutes (catch up on email) in my riding gear or, if I can't do that for etiquette reasons, I show up early and eat some breakfast at a coffee shop nearby. I hate riding on a full stomach.
I'm lucky in being able to be picky about employers. If an employer won't tolerate (or even encourage) my 'eccentric' commuting habits and corresponding behaviour, then I'd prefer to work elsewhere. It sounds like you don't have the luxury of making that choice, which is unfortunate. Hopefully, workplces will become more tolerant and encouraging of those who choose not to burn petroleum or sit in a cage on the way to work.
i only commute some times, maybe 1x or 2x a week, tops. it's about 11 miles each way, downhill going to work, uphill coming home. some of the things that kind of put me off about biking to work is the fact that i get sweaty pretty easily so cleanup is tricky but also i have to lug around my laptop which is both bulky and fragile. at this point i just use a backpack or messenger bag but the load (puter, tools, spare, lock, clothes, lunch sometimes) gets to the point where it makes riding not as enjoyable. thought about using panniers or racks but i like to keep my bike minimal, light, and easy to handle through traffic. oh yeah, so far i had the luxury of putting my bike in my office but recently i got relocated to a smaller, shared office space so while i can still bring my bike, i definitely don't feel good about doing it on a regular basis. but i refuse to leave my bike outdoors for extended periods especially with the increased theft around LA.
"LAMC 12.221A16) Provides for the inclusion of bicycle parking and employee showers in the new buildings 10,000 square feet or more."
I work from home now, but at previous places I used to bicycle commute, I engaged both HR and Facilities Maintenance to figure out bicycle storage and a shower. I had to quote the above referenced law to one HR person to get them to cooperate, but everyone else was very helpful.
One place I worked didn't have a shower, but there was a gym right across the street, so HR arranged for me to have "Shower Only Privileges" there.
The Facilities Maintenance crew always has some space somewhere for me to park my bike and hang my wet clothes. But mostly, I preferred to park it outside, and let the clothes dry in the sun while draped over the bike.
Hey... what do you guys do with your shoes?? Dress shoes, work boots, etc.? Do you leave them at work? Would make sense?
Oh... and of those that do the dress shirt/tie thing... When you roll them up... any special technique? Like nice and tight? And... (one more i swear) any secret of taking some wrinkles out once you unravel your shirts? Thanks in advance!
Ah! My commute is only two miles, four miles round trip. But! I bike home for lunch, so I end up doing about eight miles.
I don't clean up because it doesn't matter. (Because a) the commute is short and b) there's no dress code or anything really.)
My bike comes in with me and hangs out.
Ah, when it rained, I drove, very sad. But! I am currently looking for a frame to begin building my (dream) commuter bike - some sort of steel mixte or step through frame in a 44cm (Even with the sloping top tube, the seat post can be too high...I'm 4'10.5" with a 28" inseam)...so! If any of you seen one around!....
I like riding in the afternoon because it gives me a chance to enjoy these gorgeous days.
Distance: About 20m between work (Santa Monica) and home(Torrance), I got this job a month ago.
I JUST started commuting by bike last week, so I haven't run into the rain problem yet. I take the beach path, and I have really crappy lights so I take the bus home if I get out after dusk. I hate those days. '^'
I work 6 days a week, but I start school again this week, and school's a block away from work, so I'm gonna be riding to and from SM everyday soon.
Cleaning up: All I do is bring a riding shirt, and my work shirt. I change when I get there, pat myself dry with paper towels and drink Ice water. Since I work around an oven, being sweaty isn't too big a deal for me.
The great thing about riding the beach path is there's no lights to have to stop at.
The lame thing is runners or pedestrians who block the path even though you shout you're on their left several times.
Also, wiping out cos you're going too fast on those sandy turns and getting minor road rash like I did this morning really sucks.
But it takes me the same amount of time to ride as it does when I take public transport, so I don't even bother anymore if I don't have to.
Well, since I had to flip-flop back to my security gig, I basically just wear my uniform under my light, windbreaker.
During hot-weather, I just roll the sleeves up.
Shoes.
They're the worst thing to have to carry.
I bought a pair that I keep at work.
That solves it for me.
My single speed workhorse commuter bike has toe clips (feet belts), so I can also ride with my indoor soccer shoes and wear those on the job sometimes.
Word... I wish I can keep my bike right next to me. I've got 13 miles each way. Glendale to Panorama City. And have a 24hr fitness near me.
My main issue is choosing a route going north and south. Coldwater cyn has a bike lane but waaaay too many apts and driveways. Plus I'm riding my fixie which I'm still trying to get used to it so I'm just kinda freaked if a car might pull out fast and what my reaction would be (I've got a front brake). Van Nuys is nice and wide from chandler but gets tight and bumpy after the tracks. I'm probably a wussy and should assert myself on coldwater. Anyone ever used Hazeltine? Not too shady?
digablesoul responding to a comment by Noble Experiment
07.13.09 - 10:27 pm
Yes! Baby steps... I haven't been able to do more than twice a week. The main motivation for me is to lose weight and I hate the gym... But love to ride. Hopefully then I can contribute to the "lost weight" thread that's out there. One day...
Man, I would kill to have a shower at work. Such luxury. I only have 5.5 miles to go each way, though....but I can still get nice and sweaty. I don't really smell, either - it's the helmet hair at work that's the problem, easily solved by a small travel hair dryer and some hairspray in my desk drawer. Luckily, the parking garage next to my building has good, safe bike parking, so I'm good there.
I haven't ridden to work in the rain yet. I ask Rev. Dak to drive me. I'm a wimp.
I'll preface this by saying that I'm not the most hardcore bike commuter (I have to drive sometimes) but this is what I do.
My commute when I'm in school is 10 to 12 miles one way. During the winter term when I had to book it to work after class i was doing a 30 mile round trip. Right now, my commute just to work is just 8... I ride it like a time trial, because it is when I'm late!
I almost always bring an extra shirt because my shirt is always really sweaty. It also a good idea to carry some deodorant (I like Mitchum). At work, I have to change anyway. No one has negatively commented on my odor yet... at least to my face.
At SMC, I have to lock it up 40% of the time. A lot of times the professors are nice enough to let me bring my bike to class. At work I put my bike in the back room by the A/C and solvent tank. Luckily the places I commute to are very bike friendly.
When it rains I wear a long sleeve or wool jersey and a rain coat. If it's raining hard then I wear bike shorts under my regular shorts or pants. Some days, I'll wuss out and drive... I don't like to commute in the rain because I get sick and people drive so bad.
Damn you've been commuting to work as long as I've been alive!! I can't wait until I get like that. Maybe I'll see you on the road one day. The ride to and from work or school is definitely the best part of my day. I also realize that I'm a lot less stressed out when I get to my destination and I have better attitude.
I ride seven miles with a mile of up hill right at the end. I just try to get there about 20 mins early to dry off then change my shirt. sometimes i bring 3 shirts. one for the ride there, then a dry one to put on when i start to dry up. i find it soaks up the sweat better then the shirt that is drenched. then my work shirt when im dry. I to would kill for a shower at work. Does anyone else find it a huge relieve when you get to acually ride your bike without a back pack on.
buckchin responding to a comment by Velocipede
07.14.09 - 1:27 pm
I ride 2-2.5 miles each way to work, about 5 miles a day roundtrip. Not a huge commute ( planned my living situation this way), but I would have never had the initiative to ride next to buses and cars if it weren't for riding with MR and learning what a joy riding could be.
I leave a duffel bag of polo shirts, a hanger of a couple dress shirts and khakis, and my steel toe work shoes at work. No one cares what I wear cause it's a manufacturing plant and you're just going to get dirty anyways. When I get to work, my office is super cold, so by the time I put on my work shirts, I'm already dry.
I also find it a HUGE relief to not have to bike with a bag once in awhile. You feel a ton lighter and faster. I have to admit though, a chrome bag was probably one of the best investments I made. I can carry my files, laptop, bike tools, lock, my lunch, breakfast and coffee thermos in there without busting my shoulder or back.
i am officially car free as of yesterday.
i was without a car from 2002 to 2007 but back in those days i never commuted (or even rode my bike!!) more than 3 miles at a time.
now i have about 28 miles round trip.
and fortunately i can take the beach path for most of it.
and i feel comfortable doing that because it never rains in southern california. just too easy.
Try Whitsett for your North/South riding. I highly recommend it. There's still lots of apartment driveways but almost zero commerce and the pavement is fairly smooth. It's a much mellower vibe than Coldwater or Van Nuys Blvd.
Only 1 mile each way, and I come home for lunch, so a total of 4 miles commuting each day (I kind of which it were further for that reason... but I'm thankful when it's really hot out.) Like Gary, I chose to live close to where I work. I got this job offer while I was living in Canada, so it made sense to find an apartment within walking distance to work, seeing as I wasn't bringing a car to the States.
How do you "clean-up" once you get to work?
Because I live close, there's not really much to do about cleaning up. I'm also allowed to wear whatever the hell I want to work, so my usual bike-greased jeans are fine.
Where do you stow your bike and gear? They let me bring my bike into the Graphics Department, where it rests just outside my office. I'm lucky.
What do you do when it rains? If it's a light rain, I just throw on a raincoat and deal with it. If it's heavy rain, I throw on my rain boots, grab an umbrella, and leave the house 15 minutes early to walk! I like walking in the rain anyway.
I think there isn't much coping in my situation... because I've made it easy for myself. So that's really only the advice I can offer. Make things easy for yourself when you have the choice. Maybe Burbank isn't the hippest place around, but it works.
I ride every day. But, I can't commute by bike, because I live on an island.--and I am not allowed, by law, to ride my bike over the causeway from the island to the mainland.
But, before I moved, I rode to work most of the time. I lived in Covina, and I rode to Yorba Linda and Placentia, every day, for the most part....there were some driving only periods in there.
My ride was easily 56 miles a day (round trip), and 2600 ft. of climb in a day.
On Mondays, I would finish it up with a Badger Song ride.
That's my commute (or was my commute).
tern responding to a comment by canadienne
07.14.09 - 4:44 pm
How far do you ride?
6-10ish minute 2 miles to bus stop
20-30ish minute bus ride
15-20 minutes 7 miles to office
How do you "clean-up" once you get to work?
Mexakin sink shower, wash face n arms and wet wipe with paper towels.
i bring a change of clothes everything but shorts or pants i ride with cuz its mostly my back that gets super sweat mode.
Where do you stow your bike and gear?
On my extra desk right next to me.
What do you do when it rains?
seat with a wet ass the WHOLE DAY
oh snap thats the mission to work after its another 3miles to bus then bus ride over hill then another 3-6 depending if i go around the park for extra miles in my day
I ride 7 miles to get to SMC and 8 miles to go home. This summer I'm riding to school 4 days a week. Last semester it was 5 days a week.
I usually head out an hour before my class starts so I get ~30 minutes to dry off, drink something cold and cool down. I sometimes bring an extra shirt because my back gets soaked from carrying a bag. I usually shower 1 or 2 hours before I head out, this keeps me from smelling like ass when I get to school.
Luckily I've had teachers let me bring my bike into the room but I still bring my mini U lock in case I need to lock up to a rack. Telling the teacher the bike is really nice and you don't trust locking outside usually convinces them to let me bring in the bike if they were reluctant.
without taking any hills it's 44mi round trip. taking hills it's about 38mi round trip (same route going to work but on the way home i take grand avenue hill from chino). Rowland Heights to Chino. i do this commute once a week.
How do you "clean-up" once you get to work?
i ride with cycling clothes on. all my work clothes are folded in my bag. i carry a mini-deodorant stick and toothbrush. i freshen up in the break room's restroom (washing my face brushing my teeth again. i also carry a small towel. change into my work clothes (the shoes are permanently in my department's locker, so i just change to it when i get there).
Where do you stow your bike and gear?
my bike is stowed in my department's office. it's a little room where we keep all supplies.
What do you do when it rains?
question one answers it, i ride to work once a week and when it is raining on the day i'm to ride to work, i drive.
I just started working again last week after being happily unemployed for 5 months. All i did was hustle rides late at night. Now i have to get up at 4:00 and be at work by 5:40 in order to change my cloths and cool down. I live in silver lake and i take the lovely bike path to riverside almost the whole way to CBS radford. It's 13 miles one way. I'm using my fixie and averaging about 20 mph. I jump into the handicapped bathroom stall and change everything. I put on all dry cloths for work. I then lay out my bike cloths in a hidden area to air out and dry by the end of the day.
Shoes were a problem so i just wear Vans slip ons for riding and work now.
Riding home is the funnest part of the day because i don;t go crazy in traffic. I still have a car but i never use it really.
oh yeah i wanted to post how i clean up. I saw the shamwow commercial and laughed my ass off, so my girlfriend bought me the Shamwow pack for a joke gift.. well it totally works for cleaning up and drying me off and it super light in the bag. I just leave my bike on stage for now with my tools. Bikes don't seam to get stolen at my work (yet?)
whirrd... My company is super chill about having my bike next to my desk because there's this huge space fit for 3 cubicles but nobody's using the cubicle between me and the marketing director so it's been there since i've had that desk in two years. Plus I forgot to add that I have my clothes on a credenza so I change to a pair of clothes after I shower for work.
I rode my bike in the valley once but it was pretty wide. I just hate the three lane speedway on victory from say the intersection at woodman and victory to my friend's house at costello and I hate riding on the sidewalk. Its just that on my second time riding there, I actually managed to use google maps to use residential streets. But Van Nuys is nice and wide.
My commute is good and wierd. I commute mostly in Torrance and there's bike lanes in Arlington. Carson Street between western and vermont is nice and wide. Carson Street between vermont and figueroa sucks because of the in-n-out burger people want to drive to next to the on-ramp of the 110 southbound and then the right lane is still clogged for those who want to take the right lane to the 110 northbound on-ramp. The weird part of my ride is going through old Torrance. I've been offered meth from a guy in a cruiser. I had a woman honk her horn and call me a slut (I have long hair and she thinks i'm a chick). I had day laborers ask me how much for my bike. I had soccer mom suburban drivers pass me a Jesus pamphlet. The only thing that sucks about my commute is riding through Crenshaw blvd.
Torrance. Land of some ridazz, town full of bored weirdos.
does anyone have a good route from LBC (signal hill/traffic circle) to DTLA (actually, USC)? i just noticed that the LA river goes north eastish instead of north west. LB blvd all the way?
Alright... Now I'm looking for a tire to replace my Gatorskin. Sooo... from all the advice (thanks everyone on the "tire pressure" thread) I'm going bigger from 700x28 to 700x32. I'd like to go 35. This is going to be a two part question.. I'm riding on an 80's Nishiki Custom Sport and was wondering what's the tire clearance for that frame? Is there a way to get a ruler and just measure?
I've been reading some really great reviews on the Schwalbe Marathon Plus but called every store in the LA area and they don't have it on stock. Will order online.
And last question... What tires do you guys ride on?
How far do you ride? 13 miles each way, East Hollywood to Santa Monica, but I usually take half on the 720 bus.
How do you "clean-up" once you get to work? Luckily my work attire is casual. I just use the bathroom and throw some water on my face. In the summer I'll bring a shirt and put that on during the day. I wear Sambas or mountain bike shoes so I don't bother with different shoes. I usually wear wool knickers or shorts year round.
Where do you stow your bike and gear? I just put it in my office. I do have a secure lot with an attendant, but I'm loathe to leave my bike out of sight for that long.
What do you do when it rains? I have a Gore-tex jacket and most of my bikes have fenders. I can also take the bus for all but two miles if it gets really heavy. If I was committed to riding a lot in the rain I'd use a British-style rain cape, but thankfully you would rarely need that in L.A.
I just use plain Paselas, in 28 and 32 depending on the bike. Paselas tend to run small. I find that true 35s are pretty hard to fit on most bikes. 32s are fine for most riding, though.
It's hard to figure out clearance with just a ruler, best way is to find an existing wheel and mount it. Or you can research on the Internet, the iBOB list is a great resource to figure stuff like this out.
My bikes that need thinner tires I use Michelin Pro 2 Race 25s, I love them because they are pretty plump for a 25.
cabhauler responding to a comment by digablesoul
07.19.09 - 4:34 pm
There's a recumbent store somewhere deep in the 818 that sells Schwalbe. I think it's called "The Recumbent Store" or something equally unimaginative like that. They're hella expensive, they're heavy, and they're not worth. I bought a pair and got a flat within my first week on them from a nasty shard of glass.
If you're going to get a flat, you're going to get a flat. The best you can do is keep decent tires on at all times, change them before they're too worn, and try to avoid riding through too much debris on the road.
And for God's sake, why are you riding a fixie?? ;)
hatehills responding to a comment by digablesoul
07.19.09 - 6:23 pm
Yeah... Bent up Cycles. I've all ready spoken to them. lol.. recumbent store. So what did you do with them? Heavy... they rolled slow too? What tires are you riding on now?
On the fixie... I remember when I went to Bike Town Beta and the minute you noticed it (cause i didn't have the tunes) I felt like apologizing to you... lol. I know. My plan was to keep it a singe speed but then... I got a taste of the fixed side and then just felt odd freewheeling... so I switched it back and there it's been. I, just like you, hate the hills and other than this crazy heat, is one reason why I love the valley. One thing I don't like about the valley... and riding fixed. Heading south on Whitsett @ Victory, there's a nasty elevated manhole.. and me being a fixie novice riding clipless.... almost flew over my handle bars but didn't and recovered. But... that freaked the hell out of me. I just didn't know what to do with my legs!! But I'm good.
But yes.. on what you were saying on getting flat. It'll happen and it's all about being prepared. Well... this time I bought those Park Tools Emergency Boot things that jbachez recommended, have my spare, and patch kit. It's inevitable... just be prepared right?
@cabhauler...
That Ibob thing has some really great info! Thanks man!
I may be temporarily held back right now, but I could only remain out of the limelight for so long.
As for Pizza-Eagle, we had a falling out after I was caught eating his brother.
I just carry a spare tube. I keep the patch kit at home. Change the tube on the road. Patch the blown one back at home. Then keep the patched one as my new spare. I don't like fucking with patches on the road, especially since you need to wait at least 5 minutes to let the glue dry. Nobody's got time for that shit. Especially on your way to work.
I'm using a Gatorskin as my rear tire and some other random Conti on the front. But honestly, I've had good luck with most tires because I change them every 800-1000 miles. Check once a week or so for big cuts and you'll be less likely to get surprises.
For work, I carry:
Tube
Lever
Pump
Those Medicated/Witch Hazel wipes somebody mentioned
A towel
Change of clothes
Extra batteries for my light
My camera
I keep a change of shoes at work. Carrying shoes sucks.
hatehills responding to a comment by digablesoul
07.20.09 - 1:27 am
Currently unemployed but up until a few weeks ago I biked to work everyday.
How far do you ride?
noho to encino - 6.5 miles in the morning, 8 miles in the afternoon (due to taking the bike path around lake balboa instead of cutting down burbank to sepulveda since I'm not in a rush in the afternoon)
How do you "clean-up" once you get to work?
I would bike in comfortable clothes and bring more professional clothes in my messenger bag. When I got to work I would wash my face and change my clothes. I just put my bike clothes back in my bag for the rest of the day... would have been nice to dry them out though. I also carry deodorant and sometimes these face wipes that I got from trader joes, just cuz I don't like having sunblock on my face all day.
When go to job interviews since I am looking for a job I usually find a starbucks or mcdonalds that is close to the place I am interviewing at. Every starbucks and mcDs has a bathroom so I change there, wash my face and then go to the interview, since it wouldn't make sense to freshen up on site at a job interview.
I am trying to make or find panniers that can double as a regular looking bag because I don't like carrying stuff on my back when it's hot out... or really ever but especially when it's 100. I might go the fanny pack route too...
Where do you stow your bike and gear?
Fortunately I was able to store my bike inside the office. At first I was locking it up outside though. Sometimes you just gotta ask... usually there's some place you can keep it inside where it won't be a prob.
What do you do when it rains?
I have some rainproof pants that are big on me so they fit right over the pants I'm wearing. They are supposed to be for backpacking or camping so they fold up really small which is nice. I usually find a place where they can dry and then stick them in my bag. I also wear a waterproof jacket and I have a rack on the back of my bike that blocks the rain... I should prob get a front fender too though... I wear my contacts for the commute cuz I'm blinded if I try to wear my glasses in the rain. When I get to work I change back to my glasses though cuz contacts irritate my eyes after a while. Lights and a bright jacket are key to my peace of mind on a rainy commute...
In SF and other places people have been using Carrotmobs to get businesses to upgrade their facilities to be more energy efficient and environmentally friendly... I was thinking that we might be able to use them here to get businesses to put in bike commuter facilities like showers, lockers, and secure bike parking. Anyone with me?
Here's my typical work commute for the past year and a half.
The camera mounting was to one of the spotlights on the handlebar with electrical tape carefully placed and a cloth as a barrier between the light glass and the viewscreen.
On my main bike,I use Freedom Ryder tires.
No problems so far for 4 months now and i run over glass,potholes,jump curbs on em.
I ride from Hollywood to Venice Blvd. Downtown every weekday.
and yes I get my own parking spot LOL
Wow, you folks dig up some old threads!
Since I started this one, I'll update my status.
I just started my new job (after 35 months of unemployment, not counting the six weeks I worked at that really crummy job in Irvine) this Monday.
This week is all training off site, but of course I am cycling to that as well.
Next Monday Is the first day of school. I'm teaching high school computer graphics in Fullerton. Its 12 miles each way, and cycling there will be a breeze. Looking forward to riding my bike most days and maybe inspiring some students to join me.
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Ridazz Roulette!
As some of you who know me are aware (because I've been crying about it for a long time), I have been unemployed for 13 months.
I have Sweetskinz on my mtn bike.
On my main bike,I use Freedom Ryder tires.